(no subject)

[dakegra]

I've thought up a sideline for my 'fixing your computer' business - explaining to people how their shiny new tech actually works.

Case in point - our friend H is up for the weekend, and her sons got together and bought her a satnav. She had a quick look at the instructions, panicked, and put it all back in the box.

Ten minutes of fiddling with it later, and I feel pretty confident that I can show her how it works in a way that she'll get - she doesn't need (or want) all the functions on it and some of the stuff in the manual is very badly presented.

So, for a small fee I can:
a. fix your computer (or if not actually fix, give you a fair idea of what's wrong with it)
b. get photos from your camera to your computer
c. help set up your wifi
d. help set up your new computer to pick up emails/transfer old data across
e. give you some friendly advice on what to look for when buying a new computer
f. build one for you
g. help explain how your new satnav/digital camera/digibox etc

H said she pays her little computer bloke £35 a go to sort stuff out (might have been £35/hour?)

worth looking into, I reckon

Comments

[miss-next.livejournal.com]

Good idea. I know a number of people who are driven to nothing but further bafflement by badly-written manuals.

[nalsa.livejournal.com]

Do not do F. Just don't. Every single little thing that goes wrong with the computer forever more will be your fault, and they'll expect you to fix it without being paid.

[myfirstkitchen.livejournal.com]

I second this, having seen this situation play out many, many times. By all means do some sort of fact sheet as an addendum to E, but don't actually do it unless it's a blood relative and you don't mind being beholden (and unpaid) to them forever.

H said she pays her little computer bloke £35 a go

[scaree.livejournal.com]

Things are generally more expensive down here - but computer repairs vary greatly. One of my customers who seems to be holding his head above water by offering evening and weekend assistance with computer stuff in your home charges £50 for up to 2 hours help, throwing in small parts (odd plugs, cables, screws etc) but charging cost plus collection for stuff like replacement drive. He still often finds himself doing 'free advice' for weeks after, though.

[missprinty.livejournal.com]

I've a feeling my bro gave his "little man" twice that to set up his latest computer two years ago. He also required help with the wifi and the nanny software on the kids' laptops. But he is clueless with the techy. And I'm still not sure if he got the voice recognition software to work with his Scottish accent, though his stories about his attempts were hilarious.

[(Anonymous)]

And where were you when my Dad got a computer, eh? I'd have paid you a lot more than that!

Jon B

[paula-abroad.livejournal.com]

i´d hire you.



where you gone, btw?