Why Change To Windows Vista: Part 3 of 4

Why Change To Windows Vista: Part 3 of 4 We are almost there, this is part 3 of 4. Actually it has somewhat more meat than Part 2, but once again starts trailing off towards the last few reasons covered by the Tennessee Mountain Man today. Computer man can't help but wonder if a third grader actually did prepare Microsoft's reasons to smile or upgrade to Vista. Enjoy. MS#51. "Because you live to play" The Tennessee Mountain Man actually wishes Microsoft had this one right for the average American. But, alas Americans play less than the citizenry of most other countries. Outsourced computer repair techs, unlike the money moguls at Microsoft, recognizes it now takes two people working not only full time but over time to feed and clothe the family. "Because we love to play", may have been more accurate; but living to play? Americans have long proven their propensity to live for work unfortunately. Remote helpdesk 1 is the proof in the pudding! Who has time for computer games? As to whether Windows Vista makes the games easier, faster, more fun....give me a break. MS#52. " Take control of game time" Kudos !! MS#53. "Because you can get more done when you work together" Microsoft's brain storming appears to have produced great and long followed general rules for success in any endeavor. "The house divided against itself cannot stand". Mutual cooperation on the job, in sports, or in family affairs goes a long way. As to inviting people to work with you on projects over the Internet, a company network, or an ad-hoc wireless network....We had been doing that for years... long before Windows XP was corrupted to come up with Windows Vista simply to enrich Microsoft coffers. MS#54. "Stay entertained wherever you go" Some of these remind old online computer repair geezers of some of the motel ads on TV. Come On!!!!!!!!!! Wow! Online helpdesk would have never thought of that little trick before Vista and without the help of Bill Gates! N E X T !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MS#55. "Because success tomorrow starts today" Amen!!!!! Today is the first day of the rest of your life, but P L E A S E get a life. Hopefully not after Microsoft's blueprint. The rest of this reason, like most of their reasoning, appears to be little more than someone "making work" or needing to fill newspaper space. Speaking of needing to get a life! MS#56. "Print what you see" Hogwash!!!! Unlike the rest of mankind, apparently Microsoft never heard of Windows 3 or the "print screen" command. MS#57. "Because you don't need a PC to watch your home movies" Really? Can you say Kodak? How about Polaroid? Well, don't! Outsourced it services still needs the online pc repair work. MS#58. "Fill your home with music" Yes, please! Music soothes the savage beast! Maybe Microsoft needs something besides elevator music, however. We used to do that with a radio which had a red light that burned when the radio was on. As a lad the Tennessee Mountain Man used to set for hours with an eye glued to that light watching radio shows. Those were the days!!! Dacomputerman knows all about that! That was all before WMP 11 and Microsoft's control over his entertainment choices. MS#59. "Make a masterpiece" "Blend your photos and home videos into a rich movie experience, complete with soundtrack, titles and credits, and creative transitions." So Microsoft can report you! You do know, they know what you had for dinner last evening and whether you skipped breakfast this morning, don't you? Listen....sounds like they are the phone with an artist formerly known as Prince now. MS#60. "Because you want your video memories to stay true to life" "Windows Movie Maker lets you retain high-definition quality as you capture, edit, and publish movies from your HD camcorder." The remote computer repair folks told me this is "déjà vu all over again". Dacomputerman thought he was just getting old and senile. Oh, and don't forget this little ditty: "Some product features are only available in certain editions of Windows Vista and may require advanced or additional hardware". MS#61. "Stand strong against hackers" "The easy-to-use Windows Firewall with Advanced Security provides advanced protection to help shield you and your PC from malicious attacks." Come on...come on! Stop laughing and get back to work. MS#62. "Because it remembers what you like to do—and helps you do it faster" Please refer to MS#59 above! Then go immediately to the Prefetch File located in C:\\Windows and dump it's contents. Do this daily and note the improvement in OS response time. MS#63. "Help is always available" By now most people have learned to avoid the helpdesk of major computer companies including Microsoft...maybe especially Microsoft and certainly especially if your first language is English. Fortunately also most people ignore the recommendation in this reasoning. Otherwise a lot of us would be out of business. MS#64. "Keep your files confidential" Can you say, déjà vu once again? Swamp land, anyone? anyone? how about a bridge? MS#65 "Send a fax on the spot" "Windows Fax and Scan makes sending and receiving faxes directly from your PC as simple as using e-mail. With fax templates linked to your address book, it's easy to retrieve a fax number, attach your documents, and just click to send." Kudos!!!!!! someone caught sleeping?! MS#66. "Because everyone goofs sometimes" Never heard of restore points before Vista ,huh? MS#67. "Because e-mail is your lifeline" "He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword". MS#68. "Stay on top of your family's schedule" The old magnet on the refrigerator didn't work, I doubt this will. But maybe it will work better for you than for the old da computer man, MS#69. "Because you want the quality of your printouts to match the quality of your work" O.K. Kudos!!!!!!!! MS#70. "Your PC is ready when you are" So is your significant other!! Right. Just keep the aspirin handy...headaches do happen! And, don't miss the standard little caveat at the end of the reasoning. MS#71. "Keep your favorite things at your fingertips" Favorite things have nothing to do with computers or Windows Vista. Please excuse the computer man while he day dreams a bit. Favorite things...O.K. unmentionable. So move on to Meerschaum pipe, BCA smoking tobacco, Scotch, T Bone, Lobster....alright...alright...moving along. MS#72. "Get the latest news delivered right to your desktop" schhhhhhh! Please don't tell Microsoft that these news tickers have been around forever. MS#73. "Because your photos and home movies don't have to be stuck in your PC anymore" ho! hum!! MS#74. "Because your memories need a little mood music" How many times and ways can we say, déjà vu? MS#75. "Because you want professional-looking photos from your own printer" And, How many times can you take, déjà vu? If only Microsoft had considered that question!! tmm

Why Change To Windows Vista: Part 2 of 4

Why Change To Windows Vista: Part 2 of 4 Having caught his breath and dispatched the laugh monster (just in time for Halloween) the Tennessee Mountain Man is ready to resume his look at Microsoft's 100 Reasons Why we should be using Windows Vista. In Part 1 of Why Change To Windows Vista, Remote Helpdesk 1, examined Microsoft's reasons 1 through 25. Today we will cover reasons 26 - 50 so lets get started. MS#26. "Because you're a multitasker" While Scientific studies reveal the hidden costs of multitasking as technology increasingly tempts people to do more than one thing at a time Bill Gates and Microsoft keep pushing for more. If anyone were tempting Microsoft employees to use anything other than best practices there would be one of Microsoft's infamous law suits. Aren't all of us forced to multi task toooo much as it is? Back off Gates! MS#27. " Because your computer can keep up with you while you're on the go" Lik e the pager and the cell phone, the curse of the hand held, laptop, note book and other portables is that all technology, including our computers, have kept up with us too well...no uninterrupted vacations, dinners, shows, golf games, or romantic sessions. Get this contraption out of my bedroom! MS#28. "Enjoy your memories, larger than life" Sorry, The Tennessee Mountain Man finds nothing new here. MS#29. "Take the handwritten approach" O.K. Been around forever. Ever checked out at the store or used an ATM with a touch screen? How about Monday Night Football? Been there, done that. MS#30. "Restore your PC in an instant" Hello! I know I am not as smart as the Microsoft gurus but haven't that covered this already, in Part 1 maybe?! I guess that is why he is Bill Gates owning Microsoft and I own a remote helpdesk performing online computer repair services. In the army we taught by telling students what we were going to teach them, doing the teaching, and then reiterating what we had told them. But, we didn't try to cover it up calling it three different lectures. P.S. Don't miss their last caveat. MS#31. "Because your PC lets you know if something's wrong—and helps you fix it" Sorry, The Tennessee Mountain Man could find nothing new here either unless the user has been more lazy than most. It was all available with earlier, faster, less expensive, and less intrusive operating systems. Now the Tennessee Mountain Man is in danger of becoming repetitive, but Microsoft is not giving me anything to work with here. MS#32. "Streamline IT management across your business" Oh!!!!! So!!!!!!! It is actually just an upgrade Microsoft Server 2003 with all the patches and fixes included. MS#33. "Preserve a lifetime of memories" It has a back up feature!!!! Really? MS#34. "Connect to the network at work or school" Not to mention connecting at your motel, Mickey D's, your grand ma's, and a million other places. Kids and businessmen have been doing this for years...Next! MS#35. "Because you'll know it when you see it" And we haven't seen it yet....moving right along.... MS#36. "Get a "do-over" when you need it" And I have some swamp property I need to unload before you lose everything. MS#37. "Keep your info under lock and key" This may be the best reason so far. But, let's face it, if Microsoft and the U.S. Government can't keep hackers out of their own stuff do you really think you have a chance? On the other hand, have you lost the pass words to get into today's IBM laptops? MS#38. "It's the cure for red-eye" No, they were not brazen enough to say it would keep you from working nights. What they are doing is touting an existing technology. MS#39. "Relive your memories…each and every one" O.K. Microsoft likes to be redundant, remote computer repair services does not. MS#40. "Because you love what you do" Especially when the windows operating don't crash or lock up, and performs more reliably like Ubuntu. But watch Microsoft's caveat at the end of this reasoning. MS#41. "Because your PC will stay up to date, automatically" Has it not done that for years? Oh, yes, I'm sorry. The Tennessee Mountain Man almost forgot. This is apparently our warning that Microsoft will come through the back door and make any changes they want whenever they wish despite our desires and upgrade and maintenance settings. MS#42. "E-mail your photos without worrying about the file size" Oh, really? The ISP on each end of the spectrum may have different ideas. MS#43. "It's parent friendly" What is that supposed to mean? It is slow? Because it is! Oh, sorry they are referring to parental controls like the ones parents and bosses have used forever. Got it. MS#44. "Because you have a need for speed" "Need to speed up your computer? Simply plug a USB memory stick into your desktop or notebook computer and let Windows ReadyBoost do the rest." O.K., I could, but I won't. Kudos!!!!!!!! MS#45. "Because you hate all those boxes and wires" That is why we had already eliminated them.....next... MS#46. "Your music can look as good as it sounds" At Branson maybe! Now just what does this do that is an improvement over XP? MS#47. "Let the fun start now" Are we having fun yet? No!!!!!!! MS#48. "Stay connected wherever you go" Duh!!!!!! We just covered this subject! MS#49. "Take your workspace with you" Although Microsoft remains redundant, I can't help but respond....The labor laws of the U.S. makes provisions for breaks and meal times. I want to get away on occasion and Microsoft wants a robot chasing me around demanding more...more...more...more! MS#50. "Get more out of the web" Watch the caveat as Microsoft makes a johnny come lately feeble attempt to catch up with other browsers. Is the Tennessee Mountain Man speechless yet? No, but we'll take another stab at it tomorrow with "Why Change To Windows Vista: Part 3 of 4". tmm

Dealing with Technical Support - 10 Useful Tips

Most people who work in an office environment, buy computer products, or have a computer at home have had the “fun” experience of dealing with technical support. It’s not always the easiest, or most pleasant, experience but hopefully this article will help you make the best of the situation the next time you call. Below you will find a list of things to keep in mind the next time your computer breaks down.

1.Stay calm – Don’t yell at the support person on the other end of the phone. He is there only to help and the more angry you are the less help you are going to get.

2.Get to the point – Ask your question or explain your situation right away. Don't beat around the bush.

3.Don’t be arrogant – You are calling technical support because you need help. Don’t try and be a smart guy.

4.Call for yourself – Don’t call for a friend, relative, or coworker. It’s very difficult, for the person trying to help you, when you are repeating information that you got from someone else.

5.Stay at the computer – Make sure you are at the computer with the problem when you call. It’s hard for someone to help you through a problem if don’t have access to the computer.

6.Record the error – If you are calling about an error you saw, make sure you write it down. It’s hard for someone to help you if all you can say is “There was a box on my screen that had writing in it”.

7.Find out how many people are affected – The priority of your call can be greatly influenced by the amount of people it is affecting. If the problem is affecting a number of people it will probably be escalated to a higher level.

8.Be patient – By default, technical support usually has certain questions they are required to ask. These are not meant to make you angry, they help in the process of solving your problem.

9.Know what kind of support is offered – Ask around the office before calling to see what kind of support is offered. Not all technical support centers offer “How to” help. If your support group does not offer this type of support you may have to get a coworker to help.

10.*The Golden Rule*: Technical support is trying to help - The reason you called, in the first place, is because you needed help with something. Try not to make it difficult for the person on the other end to help you.

These tips aren’t just some random bunch of words I have put together. I am one of the people you get on the phone when you call technical support. I have been working in a Help Desk environment for almost two years and have heard almost every excuse, lie, and problem you can imagine. For me, it makes things much easier if the caller follows these simple rules. Technical support is made up of people too. Try and treat them as you would want to be treated and I guarantee your next experience will be much better.

Big Brother Is Not A TV Show

Big Brother Is Not A TV Show

Monday, 1 Oct 07

As an old cop, I have witnessed George Orwell's "1984" come of age. I recall an incident in 1970 when an agent had gotten some particularly juicy information on a target. A chill went up my back as he proudly and boldly proclaimed "big brother is here" as he strutted down a corridor laughing.

I thought, 'boy the people just don't know'. Truth was, little did any of us know. Most of us did not know when Martin Luther King, Jr was under surveillance for political reasons nor when Brit Hume of Fox News Channel was being shadowed for political gain.

Big Brother thinks of us in real simple terms as pigs. Let the Tennessee Mountain Man tell you how to catch wild hogs. First you find a trail where they travel or a place where they feed. Second you plant some food there everyday. At first the hogs will avoid the area because of the human scent and free food. After all they are bred to forge for themselves, and smart enough to fear people.

After a few days they can resist the easy food no longer despite the danger. Now you put up a short stretch of fence. The pigs are again standoffish for a few days but not long. Now you build a stretch of fence at a 90 degree angle appended to the first. Give the hogs a few days to become acclimated and build another stretch of the fence.

This is done until there is only a small opening for the pigs to get in and out and they will. Finally on a pre-selected date close the gate and you have a enough wild ham, shoulder, bacon, sausage, and pork chops to feed your family and all your friends for awhile.


Long before President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society there were other men with similar dreams stoking the feed lots, dangerous men like Mussolini, Marx, Hitler, and Stalin. There are equally dangerous men today like Bin Laden and Ahmadinejad operating under the guise of fundamentalist religion
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Someone has said we must learn from history or we are condemned to repeat it. So the question becomes have we learned.

Have we learned anything when we quietly endure our own government stripping away our personal rights and civil liberties in the name of national security while the highest court in the land stands idly by? Have we any privacy when Google can photograph us almost at will and claim it is their right to do so? When our cell phone company knows where we are within a square mile or so right now? When the black box in our car records where our vehicle has been and when and more?

Do you feel secure in your home when your ISP monitors your e-mail and your surfing, and Microsoft clandestinely enters your computer and does who knows what? When the satellite positioning device in your hand, in your car or in your boat can and will tell anyone where you are at given anytime? When traffic cameras and even highway toll centers record where you are, when , and what you are doing? Such data is being subpoenaed and used in civil court today.

How about when you go into a lounge, casino, mall, large office or residential building, store or church and realize you are being monitored by people watching your every move on hidden cameras. Those cameras are recording what they see...you and me. When you walk down the street or go for a walk in the park do you ever consider your every step is being recorded by cameras in police cars, cell phones, and private businesses and residences as well as the police department where staff monitors those cameras 24/7/365?

Do you really think that is bad? Consider the poor souls who became trapped in the pig pen and forgot how to care for themselves. All too often those forever uneducated folk trapped in poverty in the public housing projects skeezing and pleasing skeezers while chasing their next fix know only how to take what they want at the point of a gun. Especially when the nanny state cannot or will not provide.

Now that you are sufficiently paranoid about Big Brother maybe it is time to seriously reflect on what kind of world and country we want to live in tomorrow, and how we get there from a land adrift so far away.
tmm