|
| DIY Tech Support | | Date Created: Apr 24, 2005, 10:39 PM |
(Wow. A post that has nothing to do with Star Wars! Can you stand the strain??)
Some interesting computer problems have recently led me to re-evaluate the status of tech support,lately. As I reported almost two weeks ago, my wireless internet service started having problems. After a couple of days worth of calls and fix-its with my local broadband supplier, and suffering the Continual Computer Platform bias common to Mac users, ("Oh, you have a MAC? This doesn't work with a MAC!"), I was able to fix the problem entirely on my own by just taking time to examine it, step by step. And trying the solution over and over again until it was completely solved. No thanks to Tech Support. No thanks to my broadband supplier. No thanks to anyone.
This morning, one of my good friends called with an urgent technical problem that I attempted to solve, and while we were talking, she mentioned a bigger problem that had driven her household nuts for some time, now. They had switched providers, and were having loads of problems trying to get their email from the new provider. They spent hours on the phone with Tech support, they spent time on the phone with Apple, they paid extra to obtain a Warranty for help, and none of these things solved the problem. They were about to seriously start looking for a new computer, because the email problem had become insurmountable... But then she called me.
Now, ever since I got my first Mac nearly a decade ago, I've been reading all sorts of magazines, spent lots of time on my machine getting to know how it works, and moreover have a load of resources available, should any problems arise. The only time I tend to call tech support is if the problem is not something I can easily solve, or if it seems the problem is elsewhere. People tend to call me for the tiniest of things, and I am relieved when I can find the solution for them. Makes me feel good. As it did this morning for my friend, who, with a little patience from me, and better yet -- through my use of the Internet to find a solution--was able to take care of that mail problem with just a little bit of typing and experimentation. In other words, the Tech Support that she paid for couldn't figure it out, but I did.
Which leads to my point. Nowadays, I think we should learn to rely more on our own resources. Get to learn your computer. It's quirks. It's needs. Keep your handbooks handy and don't be afraid to read through them every now and then. And when the answer puzzles you, don't forget there is the ultimate resource: The Internet. Chances are there are a lot of people out there with your same problem, who should be able to offer you a valuable solution. |
|
|
|
|
|
