What is Digg?150 Comments
- reevolutn, on 10/12/2007, -2/+107what if the problem is that their internets not working..?
- titlesaysitall, on 10/12/2007, -4/+82Tell them to unclog their tubes.
- kodek, on 10/12/2007, -3/+48Damn you're cheap :P
- tempusrob, on 10/12/2007, -1/+44I had a few relatives (and friends of relatives!) pestering me aaaall the time to fix their computer, with problems like "its' slow" and "the internet won't open." I work in IT, so at the end of the day troubleshooting *more* computers isn't something I really have in mind. The solution? Five simple words:
"I charge by the hour."
I keep it ridiculously low (like, minimum-wage low ... they *are* family for Pete's sake), but the result was that I don't get calls 3 times a week and they actually make an effort to learn more precisely what their problem is when they do call. They weren't too happy by the proposal at first, but they got over it pretty quick the next time they couldn't "open the internet." - AgentBlu, on 10/12/2007, -7/+42Simple, tell them to buy an Apple. And Im a windows guy......
- BigManOnCampus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+35My computer is so slow now, how do I get rid of all the icons so it will be fast again?
The guy at the desk said I have spyware. How do I get the government out of my computer?
I don't need the internet, I just want e-mail. - MrPig, on 10/12/2007, -1/+35Print it out and mail it to them... if they can figure out how to open the letter.
- Matt2k, on 10/12/2007, -1/+33"I charge by the hour."
Eek, you tell that to your family? Can't you work out some sort of labor trade. Meaning, trade an oil change with your mechanic uncle, trade some baby sitting with your in-laws, have your grandma cook some brownies. I don't mind going over to a friend or family's house if it means we get to kick back, drink a couple beers, and hang out for a bit while waiting for a virus scan to complete. You know, sometimes things get out of hand, but at least I don't look like a jerk when I politely explain that I'm just slammed and not able to come out this weekend.
If it's someone off the street, I charge a full hourly rate. If I really don't fell like doing it, I say "Look, I'm really sorry, but I'm tied up in projects right now" and refer them to Dell or a local repair shop. It works out
But don't be a jerk with your family and friends ;-) - NoOneButMe, on 10/12/2007, -1/+25Its a shame most users problems dont involve 'help, my internets not working when i go to site x with browser y after i downloaded spyware z by accident,' cause, if it did, this site would be great. But most problems arent like that.
- kodek, on 10/12/2007, -2/+27But then we have to teach them how to switch over, and then when they have problems, we're stuck helping them since most people use windows.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+26Oh sure...
"Just go to this website"
"Um... what's a website?" - davecor, on 10/12/2007, -0/+23That page has WAY too many words... you think these people who are pestering you are actually going to READ?
I was a wageslave selling computers for the blue-shirts then the red-shirts for several years. I can't think of a product other than computers where someone will plunk down $1000+ on a product with ZERO intention of learning how to use it.
If they have a problem, 50% of the people call the STORE for help instead of the company that made the damn thing. (Arguably, the part-time highschool kid may have a better shot at helping than the person in India, but it's not their job)
Can you imaging bringing your car back to the dealership for a repair because you got LOST trying to drive somewhere? Happens all the time at computer stores.
Core problem? 50% of people see learning as a burden and not an opportunity. - TenebrousX, on 10/12/2007, -3/+24I would never support that POS excuse of a company
- MaxPayne3476, on 10/12/2007, -13/+30All they need is Ubuntu?
thats a sick joke right? - eddie72, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15What do you tell them when the Website that was Dugg stops working?
- InfamousX241, on 10/12/2007, -0/+14The best advice to give them is "get a new computer".
It's not like they'll maintain it once it's fixed. - cphuntington97, on 10/12/2007, -2/+15Check out geek squad prices some time. $100/hour is a bargain.
- StatiK69, on 10/12/2007, -3/+15or "please contact the helpdesk while you are sitting at your computer and connected to the internet"
- slicedoranges, on 10/12/2007, -3/+15I send noobs to www.*****.com
- jonnygo55, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12Hey thanks a lot...Can't get to the site...
Can you come over and fix my computer? - Xenophix, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12I agree with you, man. People ask me crap all the time, and I'm like "Just because I work in an office doesn't mean I know why your speakers are ***** broken". It's frankly very annoying.
But yeah, I also agree with AgentBlu - Macs are greatness and very, very simple with very little chance of error. - quanta88, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9I generally will fix something in exchange for some food (pizza, pie, etc.)
The harder the problem the longer I'm there, and the more I'm going to eat... - Flopy, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11Forget about virii...the real problem are wormii
- hankyone, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9naaa, just buy this t shirt
http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts/frustrations/388b/ - mutt, on 10/12/2007, -3/+12Too cheap, if you want the calls to stop, charge ~$100/hour, most people are too cheap to pay that. And if not, at least its worth the effort.
- rnelsonee, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10Absolutely right. Look, if we're good at computers, that's our skill. We should help out others when we can. Most diggers probably aren't hitting 30 anytime soon, but trust me, by the time you get there, you'll have friends that have all sorts of jobs that can be useful for you. I've asked my lawyer friends law advice, and I've asked my doctor friends medical advice. They don't expect anything in return, so when if I can help them with a computer problem, I'm glad to help.
Now, if your friend is jobless and can't help you at all in life, then you just charge him in beer. A six pack of your choice if he comes to you, a six pack plus whatever he's got in the fridge if you go over there. And if it involves cleaning up spyware for three hours and/or restoring hard drive data, you get the six pack, all you can drink for three hours, PLUS any booze you want at his next party. That's the rate :) - teclo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9I started to do the same. The people my Mum works with are technical incompetents, completely useless with computers and I got requests to go and fix machines all the time. These are people I have never met before and my Mum felt awkward telling people "No" for me, so I said "I charge £40 an hour with a minimum time of 2 hours". The thought was the price there is similar to a plumber or an electrician but still low enough that if they really are that desperate then I make a bit of cash for something stupid.
These people think that if you work with computers you must love fixing any other computer related problems, doing it for free and with a smile.
It's like your car and mechanics, I wouldn't expect to be able to take my car to the mechanic and get him to fix it for nothing. Even though he is a distant friend of the family, thats just not on, so don't expect to get your computer fixed for free. - Rabbethan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8*****, now they are calling me asking how to fix "Temporarily Unavailable"
- MrTea, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11There are so many other things you can charge by the hour besides money. Meals, blow jobs, sex, snacks, flashes, etc.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Information wise, that site is worthless. It should also have articles such as "I'm just too ***** lazy to use google" and "I bought this computer for 25$ at a flea-market."
The solution to your problem, if you'r someone who others come to for help, is to pretend you know nothing about computers; things just work for you. Once you proclaim that you're a computer-literate individual, you're screwed. - Spo8, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Just tell them to reformat.
It's the only way. - PhillyMJS, on 10/12/2007, -4/+11Here's a link to help you out:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts/frustrations/388b/
And here's another link you can give to the computer illiterates who keep messing up their machines:
http://www.apple.com/getamac/
~Philly - GLJones, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9I can't believe you would recommend Linux to someone that can't even figure out the simplest of things in Windows. I like Linux, you like Linux, but Linux is definately not for newbies and the computer illiterate. Many of these people can't operate a toaster.
- tuxidomasx, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7i just don't help them unless they're family or close friends.
or if its a girl and she's hott.
but other than that, I'll ignore them.
or tell them its a hardware problem and they should return it if its under warranty. - noreturn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Why do games always seem to come into play? Did you ever stop to think that the vast majority of computer users do not, in fact, play games on them?
Jesus, sometimes people deserve Windows machines. - thelastknowngod, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9i just tell people that i have not used windows in about 4 years (true) and that i dont really remember a whole lot about it (not true). haha.
- EricG, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I usually charge family in home made chocolate chip cookies ... (in fact I am eating one such said cookie now as I type this)..
gotta be home made though.. for the amount of work I put it.. least they can do .. :-) - randydandy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6My usual answer when busy is "google it".
- johnny23, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I'm in absolute agreement. It's not that people can't learn about computers, its that they don't want to. There's no shortage of geeks who will spout the knowledge if cornered. Problem is, they just want the damn thing to work.
Like the cars and computers analogy, people don't give a ***** how it works, they just want it to get them from point A to point B. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6"Tell them to go to the Geek Squad"
This is GREAT advice! If you don't want anymore friends that is. - Klostrophobic, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6That site doesn't work. Can someone help me?
"The site you are attempting to access is temporarily unavailable.
If you are the site owner please contact your system administrator."
Help. - Phisolo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7I finally got my whole family switched over to mac! Now my support time is spent teaching them how to do interesting stuff. The whole family gathers 'round as I show them new tricks. I no longer spend my holidays sitting alone in their computer rooms re-running spyware and AV apps or installing drivers. It is much more fun to go over the finer points of iMovie, than to explain how often to update definitions in Ad-Aware.
My support time has not decreased, but I now enjoy teaching instead of cleaning up messes.
P.S. It is also nice to have my family no longer paranoid to open attachments. Some of them would constantly call when their boss sent something to ask if I thought it was "safe" to open.
-Ernie Dambach
"It is no small thing to celebrate a simple life" JRR Tolkien - wallclimber, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I used to visit this site a lot: http://www.techguy.org/ And have recommended it to many people. The folks on TSG will help with any computer problems, for free. They specialize in newbie-friendly, step-by-step instructions. Their forum sections cover hardware and drivers, security problems, all kinds of software, and they even have a nice Linux section with great people to help.
- dhughes, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5 Someone needs to make a computer and OS combo that will format the OS partition and reload the OS every time they turn it on, make it reboot at night if they leave it on. If it does it fast enough they won't even know.
- affanjam, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Just tell them that would they do something for you for free. For example, IF the person was an accountant and they wanted you to fix their computer because your family or friend, ask them if they would do your taxes for free
- breakaway, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5I thought this article would be a rant about having to fix computers for friends. Without getting paid.
I hate that *****. Who's with me? - Neoanarchist, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6@quanta88:
I love that haha. "The longer I stay the more I eat"
Illiterate Degenerate*: Fix my computer
Guanta: I'll take some spaghetti and apple pie al la mode (spelling?)
Haha ***** classic man!
* Just kidding lol.... - Makurosu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I started charging too. Of course now I don't get as many calls. Here's the deal. Lots of people aren't as computer illiterate as they let on. They're just too lazy to do it themselves, and they enjoy having people scurrying around doing things for them. It's called "narcissism." I'm not kidding. Some people are really like that. I work with a woman who has this guy come to the office to wash her car once a week. It's totally unnecessary. She just likes everyone to see that she has a "car wash guy" out there in the parking lot washing her car. It made me angry when I realized that I was the car wash guy for her computer. That ***** ended the day she received an invoice.
Don't let people take advantage of you. CHARGE MONEY for your services. You deserve it, and it keeps the abuse of your friendship in check. - smackjack, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Hey how do you setup an account in outlook?
- vinbob, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3while we're considering other sites... here's another..
http://www.nethomehelp.co.uk -
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