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I have friends that no longer ask me to fix their computers. They don't like it when I tell them exactly why all that crap is on there. I will also tell them the next time I come over and find nine friggin' toolbars on there I'm leaving them and giving them a number of a computer store that charges $100 an hour.
The only other option is that you pay me $100 an hour, which is my going rate to anyone I don't know and pity.
Oddly enough the friendship doesn't suffer, but they stop removing all the software I install.... Hmmmm.
My favorite is the 5 year old computer.
This is how the conversations go now: "Can you help me with my computer?"
"How old is it?" Always my 1st question.
If they reply anything older then 4 years: "Time to buy a new one..."
I've probably sold a dozen computers that way for Dell or Compaq.
It's rarely ever a good idea to "help" your friends. I have a mechanic friend who fixed a radio as a favor once. The next week, the guy calls him up asking what he did to the transmission because it started giving him problems. Because as everyone knows, working on the radio can cause lots of problems with the trannie.
I'm no Tek_Freek but this article rings so true. I don't do friends, but I do both sides of the family. These are some of my recent favorite phone call questions:
1. M-I-L: Hi jtgjr, the internet is broken. Can you fix it?
2. M-I-L: Why can't I get my printer to print?
3. And this one just this week from my dear Daughter (Calling from school as I'm driving home from work):
HER: Dad, I can't get connected to wireless. It says my switch is turned off.
ME: Turn on the switch.
HER: There is no switch.
ME: Sweetheart, if your system is telling you that the hard switch is turned off then there is a hard switch.
HER: Dad, there isn't!
ME: OK, what's the computer make and model?
HER: HP? I don't know.
ME: Turn it over. There's a tag that should have the Make and Model on it.
HER: I don't see it. I have to get to class.
ME: Take a picture of the bottom of your notebook and email it to me. I'll be home in about an hour.
HER: OK, thanks.
ME: I got home about 45 minutes later and had a text from her saying she had "fixed" it. Undoubtedly found the hard switch. I checked my email to see what the model was. She sent me a picture of the Windows 7 license tag.
Don't strive to be me! I'm retired and I'm quickly losing ground on new stuff. I find I learn as much here some days as those who profess to be newbies...
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