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Is Computer Tech Support the Equivalent of TV Tube Testing of 50 Years Ago?
Cartouche

Posted on 02/11/2012 1:33:46 PM PST by CARTOUCHE

So I'm on the phone with Samsung Tech support in SOUTH CAROLINA - not Bombay or Sri Lanka, (thank you very much Samsung) to troubleshoot the connection problems with the other half's inability to print wirelessly from across the room to our recently acquired Samsung Color Laser Printer CLP-325W. (The HP 6300 was a gross waste of time, talent, and energy, NEVER AGAIN as they say in Tel Aviv))

And I'm musing that the process is not much different than when I would accompany my long past Dad with a paper bag full of Philco TV tubes to the local drug store where a TV tube tester was available. And, where replacement tubes were sold at exhorbitant prices for the TV denied family.

And I'm thinking with a wry smile, how little has changed in the human condition. And the Samsung 325W, while working perfectly for a week with crisp color laser printed images, including some from this website, is in need of some tube testing at Thrifty Drug's tube tester.

Fortunately, I paid for the extended warranty so that the Samsung 325W will assume room temperature back at Office Max and we'll try again next week on a hopefully fully competent new Samsung. Imagine trying to describe 2012's screen shots, printed in laser sharp color of a 1958 Honeymooner's episode from TV Land to a frustrated father whose tubes wouldn't light-up in Thrifty's tester?

What will I expect my grandkids to say of grandpa whose frustration with an actual American English speaking young man from South Carolina is expressed in this archived 2012 FR Treatise? Granpa, that is so 2012. What is Tech Support?


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: technology
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To: MarkL

Freight company in Independence, hummm. RLDS? Late since 18387? Sorry, my bad.


61 posted on 02/11/2012 5:51:48 PM PST by CARTOUCHE (Die onschluss ist kommen.)
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To: Future Snake Eater
probably wanted me to buy the newer version OfficeJet

U Betcha!

That said, I have three HP laser printers here on the home network (one color, 2 mono). When I updated my wife's machine (with Win 7 preloaded) I found that HP no longer supplied drivers for two of the three printers for Win 7. But they do have this Universal Printer Driver which I did get to work... So sorry HP, I'm not buying new printers just yet...

But sort of shows why HP is so confused lately. If they finally figure out is they are staying in the manufacturing business maybe I'll think about buying something with their name on it again... ;-) Oh, and they say rattlesnake tastes just like chicken...

62 posted on 02/11/2012 6:01:15 PM PST by NoCmpromiz (John 14:6 is a non-pluralistic comment.)
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To: NoCmpromiz

NoComp,
The primary reason we went with the Samsung color laser is that the HP 6300 ate so much ink it was ridiculous. The Samsung, when it works properly, produces such sharp copies that for the price is no comparison to other models in it’s class.
The tech suport today was impeccable, and for that alone I am very grateful. How many times have we all wanted to shout SPEAK FREAKING ENGLISH to some techie who goes by Nancy in Sri Lanka some 9 to 12 time zones from Kansas City?


63 posted on 02/11/2012 6:14:43 PM PST by CARTOUCHE (Die onschluss ist kommen.)
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To: NoCmpromiz

There dated yourself. Ala 1962 maybe? Class of ‘70 PHS Pittsburg Pirates.


64 posted on 02/11/2012 6:16:57 PM PST by CARTOUCHE (Die onschluss ist kommen.)
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To: CARTOUCHE

Try Google.


65 posted on 02/11/2012 6:28:29 PM PST by AppyPappy (If you really want to annoy someone, point out something obvious that they are trying hard to ignore)
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To: CARTOUCHE
Ala 1962 maybe?

Darn close! Our 50th reunion is in two years...

Ummm... and I grew up in Ohio so the National league team was on the other end of the state from me. But there was this team in Cleveland... You know, it's hard to get Indians news when you are in Yankees territory... ;-)

66 posted on 02/11/2012 6:30:53 PM PST by NoCmpromiz (John 14:6 is a non-pluralistic comment.)
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To: ThomasThomas

very good


67 posted on 02/11/2012 9:15:49 PM PST by tjblair (previewed)
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To: ThomasThomas

very good


68 posted on 02/11/2012 9:16:03 PM PST by tjblair (previewed)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Well, let’s not give the Java Junkies, hackers, and various malware distributors a free ride.

There are many computers out there that run well and would run forever if the owner never logged on to the internet. Especially the big blonde boobie sites.


69 posted on 02/11/2012 9:30:42 PM PST by djf (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2801220/posts)
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To: CARTOUCHE
Like everything else, printers are junk any more. I have paid my penance talking to useless tech support. The problem: the printers are poorly designed and are not robust.

I rarely have a printer that lasts more than an couple of years... except my almost 18 year HP laser jet 4l. Stuck an Ethernet print server on it and it works great! Thousands of sheets of paper. Even loaned it to my work for a month.

70 posted on 02/11/2012 9:43:24 PM PST by dhs12345
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To: djf

Kind of defeats the purpose... no Internet.

Maybe a Mac is a better option for the higher risk users.


71 posted on 02/11/2012 9:46:59 PM PST by dhs12345
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To: Chickensoup

That is the way it should work.

On most of my peripherals the drivers are on a disk. Lose the disk and good luck ever connecting that peripheral to a different PC.

Some of my peripherals don’t come with anything but a website to visit to download a driver. I’m never able to find the old booklets when I upgrade PCs so all those old peripherals become worthless plastic junk.

How hard would it be for every electronic peripheral to have a small ROM chip that holds all of the installation software on it. You plug it in and everything transfers automatically and directly.

My poor mother is 80 and terrified of her computer. The smallest problem and she quits using it for months, either because it doesn’t work right or she fears breaking something.

I’m sorry, NO appliance in the world should put that kind of terror into an 80 year old lady. Programming the VCR used to be like that until modern cable & satellite made it all obsolete.

We are deep in our computer dark ages, and the computer makers better get their heads out of their butts and rectify the sheer idiocy of infantile modern computers. We need a jump in technology. A big jump. The PC makers don’t seem to care. It is like IBM with DOS. They didn’t want a change. Apple forced them to make a jump to graphic interface and WYSIWYG.


72 posted on 02/12/2012 12:21:40 AM PST by Freedom_Is_Not_Free
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To: y6162
Might try RTFM or paying someone who knows how.

Indeed. Because most times it is a case of PEBKAC.

73 posted on 02/12/2012 5:40:59 AM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (Do all He commands. Receive all He promises.)
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To: CodeToad

The MS Windows OS has set the computing world back 50 years. If Bill Gates had adopted a unix based OS from the beginning when windows and X-11 were new concepts, and ditched DOS in the early 90’s, the computing world would be radically different( i.e. 10X better).


74 posted on 02/12/2012 5:51:13 AM PST by central_va ( I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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