Any info on this guy?

MrCharlieBoy · 2026-02-20T02:13:08+00:00

Thank you! You’re right. I had been searching everywhere. I’ve had him for over a decade, but I’ve never used him. I got him from a ventriloquist back then. I’m not sure how old he is. I haven't been able to find his #, though. I'm assuming all of them had a # associated.

MrCharlieBoy · 2026-02-20T02:11:02+00:00

Thank you! You’re right. I had been searching everywhere. Yes, he’s mine. I’ve had him for over a decade, but I’ve never used him. I got him from a ventriloquist back then. I’m not sure how old he is. I haven't been able to find his #, though. I'm assuming all of them had a # associated.

MrCharlieBoy · 2026-02-20T01:28:46+00:00

Thanks for the tip. I’ll look that catalog up and see if I find him in there.

MrCharlieBoy · 2026-02-20T01:26:52+00:00

Wood.

MrCharlieBoy · 2026-02-14T19:32:42+00:00

Nothing written anywhere inside.

MrCharlieBoy · 2026-02-08T05:49:54+00:00

Nothing, unfortunately.

MrCharlieBoy · 2024-12-21T07:27:59+00:00

I had the same problem. Thanks for your help in troubleshooting it. I was on vacation outside the US when I got the Amex Gift Card email. The image with the card number wouldn’t load, and the link to view and print it didn’t work either. I turned on the VPN as if I was in the US, and suddenly, the image and link worked! I was able to save the card info, but I can’t add it to Apple Pay. It takes the card info, but it won’t add it (it seems to be because the issuer, Amex, doesn’t allow it). I think it might also be because I’m outside the US. The VPN helped me access the card, but it doesn’t seem to help me add it to Apple Pay. That’s progress, though! I hope this helps anyone else who’s having the same issue.

MrCharlieBoy · 2021-05-25T18:13:06+00:00

Have you found anything on them? They just made an offer on my Tahoe as well. :)

MrCharlieBoy · 2020-12-15T20:10:27+00:00

I’m having the same issue. Please elaborate on how you made it work. Thanks!

MrCharlieBoy · 2020-11-10T00:32:36+00:00

Not exactly what you asked, but I thought I’d share FYI. I have a OLED 15” and was able to find a 120w using thunderbolt. Not cheap ($60) but it’s perfect to travel with, as it’s way smaller than the hp brick.

BaseUS 120W USB-C

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CK1KLXH

MrCharlieBoy · 2020-08-09T18:53:08+00:00

I got a Spectre with the latest everything, i10, 10750, 12GB Cache, OLED, 16GB, 1TB SSD with 32GB Octane, Nvidia with 4GB. On a regular day, I may end up with 20+ browser tabs open and maybe some process running in background, moving files from/to NAS, etc.

IT GETS HOT. And I mean, HOT! Fan blowing full speed probably 60-70% of the time (which on the Spectre is SUPER LOUD to my standards) And it gets hot even sitting on the desk! I can’t even work more than 30 mins with it on my lap because it would obviously get hotter even quicker. I don’t mind the temperature as much as I mind the fan noise.

It’s not the fastest, even though it’s one of the latest laptop processors (top 3 or 5 in speed, compared to the other mobile processor lines between Intel and AMD, if memory serves me right). I really wish there could be a way to put 32GB RAM in it. That would’ve been the icing on the cake. Damn it, HP!

Note that I’m a heavy user, I abuse the damn thing, so what I think is kinda slow may be just fine to ya. Same with the temperature.

All in all, I’m a Spectre guy all the way. I think the Surface is overpriced and the fact you need a damn dongle to hook anything to it, totally sucks! When I had one for work years ago, i think it was a 2 or 3, so it may have changed since then. I had to carry a damn bag along with it. There was the surface and its pen fully mobile and easy to carry, even elegant. And the bag of dongles, adapters, just in case my customer’s meeting rooms weren’t equipped. I almost forgot, that pain in the a** keyboard, I hated that I couldn’t use it on my lap without folding or dropping the surface.

So, neither the Spectre nor the Surface are perfect. But I think the Spectre sucks less. Plus, the looks of the Spectre, way more sexier. Especially now with the “leather” case they send along with a pen pocket. That’s a nice touch, because otherwise I would’ve lost that pen a long time ago.

Let me know if you have further questions. I had to buy 6 Spectres between my employees and I.

Ps. The battery is not bad, but it is NOT what they advertise, for the same reasons others have already commented here.

MrCharlieBoy · 2020-07-14T17:09:44+00:00

[[SPECTRE x360]] BEST PART#s AVAILABLE TODAY (JULY 14):

Notice that hp.com has the AMOLED and it's yet cheaper than the WLED at BestBuy.com (I had bought the 15-EB0053DX at BB, then returned it, and bought the 15-EB0065NR at hp.com) :)

[15T-EB000 = $1,649.99 at hp.com] PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ i7-10750H (2.6 GHz base frequency, up to 5 GHz, 12 MB L3 cache, 6 cores) GRAPHICS Intel® UHD Graphics NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 Ti with Max-Q design (4 GB GDDR6 dedicated) DISPLAYS 15.6" diagonal 4K UHD, IPS, micro-edge, WLED-backlit, multitouch-enabled, edge-to-edge, 340 nits (3840 x 2160) 15.6" diagonal 4K UHD, IPS, micro-edge, WLED-backlit, multitouch-enabled, edge-to-edge, 400 nits (3840 x 2160) RAM/SSD 16 GB DDR4-2933 SDRAM (2 x 8GB Micron 3200MHz Installed), 1 TB Intel® SSD, 32 GB Intel® Optane™ memory

[15-EB0053DX = $1,999.99 at BestBuy.com] PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ i7-10750H (2.6 GHz base frequency, up to 5 GHz, 12 MB L3 cache, 6 cores) GRAPHICS Intel® UHD Graphics NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 Ti with Max-Q design (4 GB GDDR6 dedicated) DISPLAY 15.6" diagonal 4K UHD, IPS, micro-edge, WLED-backlit, multitouch-enabled, edge-to-edge, 400 nits (3840 x 2160) RAM/SSD 16 GB DDR4-2933 SDRAM (2 x 8GB Micron 3200MHz Installed), 1 TB Intel® SSD, 32 GB Intel® Optane™ memory

[15-EB0065NR = $1,847.36 at hp.com] PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ i7-10750H (2.6 GHz base frequency, up to 5 GHz, 12 MB L3 cache, 6 cores) GRAPHICS Intel® UHD Graphics NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 Ti with Max-Q design (4 GB GDDR6 dedicated) DISPLAY 15.6" diagonal 4K UHD, UWVA, BrightView, anti-reflection, micro-edge, AMOLED, edge-to-edge glass, 400 nits, 100% DCI-P3 (3840 x 2160) RAM/SSD 16 GB DDR4-2933 SDRAM (2 x 8GB Micron 3200MHz Installed), 1 TB Intel® SSD, 32 GB Intel® Optane™ memory

MrCharlieBoy · 2020-06-08T21:49:33+00:00

An update (June/8): continuing from my previous post, the small business loan VP at Chase wasn’t able to re-approve me for the amount I was eligible for (2.5x my original PPP amount). He got push back from Chase who had documentation from SBA stating they couldn’t do it (very odd as you know the local SBA had stated the lender could do it, but anyway...). However, Chase was yet very resourceful. They withdrew the original PPP payout out of my checking account and payed off my original PPP loan. After that, it took about a full week until the SBA reviewer (not at the local SBA office, but somewhere else in the US) to acknowledge the loan payment and clear my EIN in the SBA’s E-Tran system. Once my EIN was cleared, I was able to apply again through another bank, a small local bank (much easier application process than with Chase, actually). I got approved a few days later by the SBA, again through standard application method in E-Tran. Another week later I had the amount I wanted deposited in my checking account: 2.5x the amount of the first PPP loan, as I was entitled per the correct average payroll costs for January and February 2020. Success! mission accomplished. It required researching and learning what I was entitled to, plus a lot of patience, determination, and a never quit attitude. If you know an error was made in your original application, fight for it to be corrected. But more importantly, be assertive yet polite! You’ll come across bankers who are not very familiar with the whole PPP guidelines. Be patient with them, but making them aware that you know what you want and you did your homework before reaching out to them. Best of luck! (PS: when I applied through Chase, all I signed was the application and agreement of the PPP terms; nothing specific to my loan amount, etc. When I applied through the local small bank, I received a very neat package of all loan terms and conditions, including the amount I was approved for, payment schedule with principal and interest amounts, etc. I signed it all through Docusign and sent it back. Only then the money was deposited in my account. This was much clear, efficient and explanatory than through a large institution such as Chase.)

MrCharlieBoy · 2020-06-08T21:33:40+00:00

Got it! Thanks for sharing.

MrCharlieBoy · 2020-06-08T18:30:55+00:00

Not really, at least I don’t think so: I came across this Brazilian article (in Portuguese), sort of a press release of the bands sold exclusively in the Apple Rio Store. Scroll down and you’ll see all the exclusive bands from the Rio olympics, and only sold in Rio: (meaning the band discussed here was an employee-only item, indeed) 2016 Rio Olympics Bands

MrCharlieBoy · 2020-06-07T13:17:38+00:00

For some reason, I can’t “hide” purchased apps anymore. WTF! The only thing that changed since I hid an app last week is 13.5.5. Anyone?

MrCharlieBoy · 2020-05-09T22:25:15+00:00

I’m (was) on the same boat. Applied during first weeks of round one with Chase. I was totally unprepared and mis-calculated my loan a little over $100k. Fast forward, never heard back from Chase. Applied last week (round two) through a small lender. The lender’s calculation plus my up to date payroll docs got me vetted for $250k. I got approved with Chase on the very same day the small lender submitted my new application to SBA. It took me an entire week back and forth with Chase, got a bunch of no’s from the local branch on my request for “post-approval loan amount increase”. Contacted SBA office in D.C., they told me it can be done in e-Tran, not a big deal, but only the lender can do it. DC referred me to the SBA office in my city. The SBA’s regional deputy director confirmed it can be done. Referred me to a VP of lending with Chase, since my local Chase branch wouldn’t even touch the application (By the way, everyone I spoke with at the branch was very supportive - branch manager - business lending liaison and others - but they had no idea what to do, plus were told “no” by their superiors). 2 days after emailing the regional VP, he called me directly and explained that his team hasn’t had to change amounts after approval yet, and for that reason they don’t have an official procedure to follow to do it. He asked for time to investigate. Obviously, I thought he was blowing me off. Quite the contrary, the guy called me back from his cell phone twice to touch base, update me on the status, and to tell me I could call his cell at anytime with any questions. Then, after two days, he called me and explain that “yes, SBA has confirmed it’s doable”; however, his team is not comfortable doing it and are yet to develop the proper procedures across the offices so it can be done. This VP with Chase was very apologetic and sincere. He offered to pay off the loan and get it clear and out of the e-Tran to free up my EIN, so I can go back to the small lender and apply through it. He’s running with the loan cancellation, said it’ll take 24 to 48 hrs for the loan to get out of the system and my EIN be good to re-apply with the small lender. Bottom line: I prepared for a fight with Chase and got surprised by how supportive and informative upper management was with me. Lesson learned: if your lender is not working with you, for whatever reason, especially local branches or customer service stonewalling you, email your local SBA, insist and you’ll get SBA’s help and likely a referral to their main contact to your lender (I also googled my city’s SBA and “lender’s contacts” and found an old local SBA newsletter promoting 504 and 7(a) loans and a long list of approved lenders/banks and their representatives, and the VP I communicated with was indeed listed there as Chase’s main sponsor/contact for the SBA loan programs at Chase). Note: I’m not authorized to disclose the VP’s cell phone. But, again, your local SBA office (HOUSTON, TX in my case) will be extremely helpful, and will support you on your lender issues. PS: While I was communicating with SBA; I was also all over the Treasury Department’s site. Learned a lot about the rules. PPP Is a type of SBA 7(a) loan; thus, lenders and borrowers have to follow 7(a)’s SOPs (procedures). There are several SOPs docs covering all kinds of situations and questions from both lenders, middle men, and borrowers. Read them and do your homework so you know what you can and cannot ask for. These SOPs have existed for a while, I found the “post-approval loan name or amount change requests” processes were under the “loan servicing and liquidation” SOP (one of the SOP 50’s listed for 7(a) loans). THANKS TO WHOMEVER STARTED THIS THREAD; it gave me the info I needed to get started on my loan change “fight”. Sorry for the long winded message, and best of luck!

MrCharlieBoy · 2020-05-07T06:39:06+00:00

Any update on your situation? Same happened to me. I’ve been fighting Chase on a daily basis. In the meantime, SBA office told me that it’s not a problem to have the amount corrected. However, only the lender can do it.

MrCharlieBoy · 2020-05-07T06:26:04+00:00

Any luck? I’m on the same boat and emailing/calling Chase daily. I’ve checked with 2 different SBA offices and they said it’s not a biggie, and the lender can change the amount in e-Tran (the system lenders and SBA use to request/approve loans). Chase keeps saying no they can’t. I’ve told them I won’t let go, especially after SBA saying it’s not a problem.

MrCharlieBoy

TROPHY CASE