Comment Report problems (Score 1) 962
My biggest wish is that people would actually report problems when they have them. This is how hardware and software is improved: users say what's wrong with it.
One of the things I hate to hear techs tell non-techs is that "all computers crash". Too often, when I worked in tech support, I had people let real hardware problems go until the warranty ran out because, well, "don't computers all crash?"
Also, how best to report problems. Error messages are important, even if you can't understand them. Copy and paste them if you can, or do a screen dump if you can't. While it's true that if e-mail is most important to you, then "I'm not getting any e-mail" is a valid description of your concern, it isn't going to help tech support help you when the real problem is that everything is frozen and you can't even move the mouse.
I suppose then you've got to have a section on dealing with tech support.
I would also recommend some reference to the expert effect: if you rely on advice only from tech geeks when purchasing hardware or software, you'll get hardware and software that only a dedicated tech geek would enjoy. King Ludd.
Jerry
One of the things I hate to hear techs tell non-techs is that "all computers crash". Too often, when I worked in tech support, I had people let real hardware problems go until the warranty ran out because, well, "don't computers all crash?"
Also, how best to report problems. Error messages are important, even if you can't understand them. Copy and paste them if you can, or do a screen dump if you can't. While it's true that if e-mail is most important to you, then "I'm not getting any e-mail" is a valid description of your concern, it isn't going to help tech support help you when the real problem is that everything is frozen and you can't even move the mouse.
I suppose then you've got to have a section on dealing with tech support.
I would also recommend some reference to the expert effect: if you rely on advice only from tech geeks when purchasing hardware or software, you'll get hardware and software that only a dedicated tech geek would enjoy. King Ludd.
Jerry