… but everyone thinks I am.
Just because in my professional life I’m a computer programmer, that doesn’t mean I know everything about computers. Heck, I’m a Mac guy and haven’t really touched a Windows box in ages. I know Vista sucks, but that’s about it. 😉 And yet, all my Windows-using family and friends call me for help with Windows, always starting out with “I know you’re a Mac guy but I was hoping you’d know…”
But yet, because “I do stuff with computers” I have various people always calling me and asking for help. I don’t have any idea, but this flowchart summed up my strategy perfectly:
Flowchart courtesy of xkcd.
Stuff From Hsoi 
It’s gotten to the point that when my family calls me about unfamiliar hardware or software I just say, “Google it, because that’s what I’m going to do if you ask me to help you.”
Sounds like a more direct way to handle things. 🙂
hsoi, I could really use some help. About 6 months ago, I ditched these little picture boxes with glass in them called, “Windows” and went to something with lots of kernels but isn’t corn, I think they call it Linus…no that’s from Peanuts…uh Linux, yea that’s it. Suddenly, something is really wrong with my PC…it works all the time! What’s my problem?
-Rob
Let me try Eseell’s approach…. Google it. 😉
Ah, that feels so much better. *grin*
And hey, since it’s Linux anyways, the only way you’ll get support is to go online and find some 13 year old kid in Finland that can understand it. 😉
Ha, it’s true! Actually, when I have an indepth question, I must admit, I bug the brother in law. To be fair though, he a programmer for windows AND Linux and is familiar with both systems. I try not to bug him, unless it is a serious issue. Often, he has encountered it before (at least Linux issues seem to crop up across the board and be rather uniform), and knows the answer.
Besides, I’m using “baby” Linux, Ubuntu is the Linux for morons, but works great!
-Rob
I got to try out Ubuntu. It’s pretty slick and well put together. I have to give them credit there.
Linux has come a long way… but they’re just not going to hit mainstream. Basically, Apple did with Mac OS X what the Linux folks wanted to do: bring the power of Unix to the masses, but make it pretty. 🙂