Nerd types have preferences. Nerd types have feelings. Nerd types have friends. We consult each other during online games and on the phone. We share knowledge and compare notes. We gather at LAN parties and even become festive. One thing we always laugh about is the rocket scientists that surround us. Ask a nerd a question and if she or he doesn't know the answer they will immediately admit, "I don't know." Ask a rocket scientist and you'll be treated to a variety of responses including outright lies and a charming little number called the denial dance. Our knowledge is very much a collaboration and the preferences vary from nerdling to nerdling.
For instance, one of my favorite applications is Microsoft Word. The 2003 version is awesome and the 2000 version is pretty darn good. Haven't seen much of 2007 since my purchase of Office 2003 was made in 2006. At the same time I abhor and despise Microsoft Outlook no matter what version. Geeks as a general rule don't like Outlook. We do like Outlook Express. Most techs I know are using GMail. We tell everyone this is by far the best way to email, but folks won't listen. They go off on a rocket scientist adventure. We tolerate Word Perfect because it is used in many legal offices due to the scripting capabilities. Microsoft Word is still preferred. By the way, Word will do anything Word Perfect will do with the exception of the occasional Word Perfect crash. You will have to download some Word utilities available at Microsoft's site.
When the tech shows up to perform work most customers get wayyyy more than they realize. Computers are usually scanned, the startup area is checked, defrag is run if needed, and many other tasks are performed. Yet, we do NOT possess the ability to read minds. Again, technicians CANNOT READ MINDS! For instance if you tell a tech your office guru registered Microsoft Office on a new machine that is now on the desk at home then you should consult the office guru if the registration form starts showing up a few days later. When your real tech arrives, sets up your machine to go online, installs the antivirus software, puts anti-spyware protection in place, networks your machines to share one printer and many other techno-voodoo delights don't think that she or he is reading that office guru's mind. And don't even think the real tech should be responsible. You misinformed him assuming a task had been performed properly when it wasn't.
It's time to put away the soap box. No one ever listens or absorbs the above truisms with a grain of salt and tries to do better, but I feel better. After all, I am a nerd type with feelings...
"There comes a time in the affairs of man when he must take the bull by the tail and face the situation."
~W. C. Fields
No comments:
Post a Comment