The text to follow is my answer for the survey question in PC magazine's recent online poll. The question was asking about your best and worst experiences with technical issues and repairs.
Original custom-built machine has been re-built twice. Experience has taught me to either learn how to do things for myself, or pay the long dollar for technicians who really don't give much personal attention to the goals and objectives I have for my software and pc. The rules of the day seem to be:
"get it running, and don't worry if it doesn't purr."
"teach and show just enough features for the customer to screw things up again, in about 6 months.
Microsoft has lousy tech service. It's maddening for the non-tech user who's trying to go to the "industry leader" of "state of the art" software for help. After trying to figure out vague "help" texts, and become familiar with the terms- just to state the problem - one can quickly rue the day they have to contact MS support. You'd better not have a real job, so you can linger at the computer waiting for an answer to the carefully constructed question you sent them. When you do get an answer, it's usually in the ballpark, but closer to the concession stand than the playing field. It's then that you realize you are corresponding to someone for whom English is a secondary language - no wonder they are eager to archive your case if you don't reply within 6 hours that they had the miracle cure.
The very best help I've had in years came from the technicians at
www.windrivers.com. I visited the free chatroom, just to feel it out, hoping to find a tiny glint of light. What I found was akin to brilliant sunlight breaking through clouds. Here was a treasure trove of real answers, patient guidance, and encouragement from working technicians - people who were not only experts, but also caring people, passionate about sharing their knowledge in order that you could once again fall in love with your computer.
