|
|
|
|
|
|
newsletternewsletter 288
Can You Trust the Reviews Can You Trust the Reviews Prior to buying a computer, printer, software, cell phone, or camera, I check out the online reviews. Online reviews consist of computer experts who review the products for a particular web site or magazine, and users who post their opinions. Who do you trust? According to PC World magazine, it’s very easy to fake reviews, and it is likely that half the reviews that you read may be fake. I like reading user reviews and check the reviews on many different internet sites. I do so by reading between the lines. I read the good reviews and the bad reviews and form my opinion about the product based on a combination of those reviews, actual people who use the product, and the editor reviews. To read the entire article, go to:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/152380/ Microsoft Frustrations I know everything. Not! With 30+ years of experience, I know enough to admit that I know nothing about computers. Computers appear to be very much like relationships. You may have lived with your partner (the politically accepted term), but you still can’t figure it out (your partner, that is). I live with my computer 24 hours a day. I know everything about my computer. I have a great backup system. I have appropriate virus and spyware protection. I avoid visiting internet sites that have free music, offer me photos of neighbors looking for dates, or offer FREE IPods. I also avoid opening up political emails and those emails offering me $12 million if I forward my bank account information to the sender. That being said, I do faithfully download all Microsoft updates. I recently installed the October Microsoft update. Three of the 16 files failed to install. This was the first time I have had a problem with a Microsoft update on any of my four computers (at least in the past two years). Now, every time I looked at my computer, I saw this little icon in the tray reminding me that I needed to install 3 updates. No matter how many times I tried, the updates would not install. Once again, this is just like some relationships. No matter how many times you try to fix them, it doesn’t work. Being a computer expert who knows everything, I searched the help section that explains why my updates didn’t work. I tried each of the suggestions. Next, I went to the Microsoft site. Microsoft had no help at all. I tried installing the updates by downloading the files from the Microsoft site. No dice. It didn’t work. Upon searching Google, I found posts from lots of other users who had the same problem. Computer owners with the update installation problem shared their experiences (much like sharing marital experiences). There was lots of bad advice available from “other experts”. I’m getting pretty angry now so I resorted to contacting Microsoft. I used Microsoft’s online chat and email. I actually received an email response within 24 hours. I was asked all types of questions. Was my computer plugged in? Do I have antivirus software? Have I installed anything new on my computer? What did I eat for dinner? I patiently answered all the questions by email. I received a return email giving me a proposed solution. The solution was to follow an 8 step process. Being computer literate, I followed the steps and it worked. My computer felt fine and no longer needed any updates. But wait. I thought, let me check to see if the updates were installed. Nope. Not a sign that they were really installed. The technician merely figured out a way to erase the needed update notification reminders. I emailed my technician again who finally confirmed that I was correct. My updates had not been installed. My Microsoft expert said that they were important updates and should be installed. I was told that I needed to contact the Microsoft Office Update Section. She was only part of the Microsoft Security Update Section. I started the process over by contacting the Microsoft Office Update people. After a few days of lame and frustrating emails, someone from Microsoft called me on the phone. 1 hour later, after the technician had taken over my machine to make changes, the tech person said that it was all fixed. I asked the tech the same question. The tech told me that the updates were installed. I told the tech that I didn’t see them. He said, “Well, they are hidden.” I knew that this was incorrect, but said, OK. He asked me if I was happy with his service, I said yes (more like, yes, because I give up). The next day I called my computer manufacturer who acknowledged my problem. He connected me with Microsoft. I stayed on hold for 3 plus hours and hung up. Well, I figured it all out today. I used System Restore to go back in time on my computer to a time when the updates were not installed. After doing the System Restore and waiting an eternity for my computer to reboot, a message came up saying that System Restore did not work and I was taken back to my original computer settings (before I used System Restore). OK. At least nothing went wrong. Then, a miracle occurred. My updates installed and actually appeared on my install list. 11 days and I solved my problem by accident. What does this mean to you? No matter how good you are, things happen to your computer. Make sure that your data files are always backed up. I think Microsoft is doing a relatively good job (even though they were no help to me). Computers (like relationships) are extremely complicated. That’s why we have marriage counselors, psychiatrists, and computer consultants.
We Mean Business (Outback Catering) I urge all newsletter readers, retail store owners and employees, and restaurant owners and employees to watch We Mean Business on A&E beginning every Saturday at 10 AM. It’s fun to watch and helpful. Episode #8. The team meets Doug, a struggling caterer who's been in business for 20 years. But while times have changed, the way Doug does business hasn't and he's barely surviving. A run-down facility with no signage, a vast collection of dust-covered knickknacks and an army of life-sized stuffed dolls from themed catering events are only some of the challenges Outback Catering dishes out to the team. As Peter struggles to convince packrat Doug that his junk collection must go, Katie is shocked to discover that the company's technological backbone is an ancient 1980s computer running DOS! Meanwhile, Bill tries to get Doug to think like a businessman and give his bright, motivated daughter Jamie a bigger role in the business. The team has a full plate as they tackle this massive makeover. If you missed any episodes, you can watch entire episodes online at: Look under Shows (you will have to click on more to see the entire list). Select We Mean Business. Select Watch Full Episodes Online! See complete summaries and more We Mean Business online videos on the Dell website at: http://www.dellmeansbusiness.com/ The show is sponsored by Dell, and pcAmerica and Dell do have a business relationship. pcAmerica software (Cash Register Express and Restaurant Pro Express) are featured in several episodes.
|
|