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mythicfoxOne of my most dread fears has come to pass: my mother now owns a computer. My mom's finally decided she's had enough hearing QVC, the Home Shopping Network, and the Food Network's various shows pimping their respective websites and not being able to do a thing about it. As near as I can tell, she apparently thinks she's missing out on the wonders of the internet so she's acquired an HP mini-notebook.
Which means that I, as the family nerd, have been tasked with the job of trying to explain how to use an unfamiliar computer...
...that uses Windows Vista...
...over the phone...
...to someone almost completely computer illiterate. (She knows how to operate Microsoft Word and that's it; she's never actually owned a computer before)
I'm sorely tempted to tell her "Look, you broke it. Just turn it off and put it down until I can be there in person." She's turned everything off and is going over the manuals and stuff that came with the computer first, but earlier on the phone I was actually unable to talk her through setting the computer's clock. Now, again, part of this is because I never upgraded to Vista, so I'm unfamiliar with it. But looking at Sean's new computer (which I'm typing this on while he's doing something else), I can tell that it should not be that much of a chore.
In other computer-related news, I finally got around to replacing my PDA's folding bluetooth keyboard. My old one died on me late last year and I was getting by with a Palm-brand infrared keyboard (which I despise because the keys are the wrong size and some are in the wrong places) until I was able to find an affordable replacement. But that's at least one more thing out of the way.
In unrelated news, I need to get the headlights in my car realigned. I had a bulb burn out, and after much research and hassle was able to replace the bulb on my own without having to drag it off to a mechanic (those of you who are familiar with mid-2000's Chevy Cobalts will understand that what I performed was a feat of true technical wizardry requiring partial disassembly of the grill). But in the process, one of the lights is now slightly out of alignment; just enough to notice if you're looking for it. But I imagine that it's preferable (read: cheaper and/or easier) to change the bulb myself and have the alignment problem dealt with than it would have been to find a mechanic and pay way too much money just to change a halogen lightbulb.
Nothing really else of interest to report. Catch you folks later.
Which means that I, as the family nerd, have been tasked with the job of trying to explain how to use an unfamiliar computer...
...that uses Windows Vista...
...over the phone...
...to someone almost completely computer illiterate. (She knows how to operate Microsoft Word and that's it; she's never actually owned a computer before)
I'm sorely tempted to tell her "Look, you broke it. Just turn it off and put it down until I can be there in person." She's turned everything off and is going over the manuals and stuff that came with the computer first, but earlier on the phone I was actually unable to talk her through setting the computer's clock. Now, again, part of this is because I never upgraded to Vista, so I'm unfamiliar with it. But looking at Sean's new computer (which I'm typing this on while he's doing something else), I can tell that it should not be that much of a chore.
In other computer-related news, I finally got around to replacing my PDA's folding bluetooth keyboard. My old one died on me late last year and I was getting by with a Palm-brand infrared keyboard (which I despise because the keys are the wrong size and some are in the wrong places) until I was able to find an affordable replacement. But that's at least one more thing out of the way.
In unrelated news, I need to get the headlights in my car realigned. I had a bulb burn out, and after much research and hassle was able to replace the bulb on my own without having to drag it off to a mechanic (those of you who are familiar with mid-2000's Chevy Cobalts will understand that what I performed was a feat of true technical wizardry requiring partial disassembly of the grill). But in the process, one of the lights is now slightly out of alignment; just enough to notice if you're looking for it. But I imagine that it's preferable (read: cheaper and/or easier) to change the bulb myself and have the alignment problem dealt with than it would have been to find a mechanic and pay way too much money just to change a halogen lightbulb.
Nothing really else of interest to report. Catch you folks later.
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no subject
Date: 2009-01-10 07:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-10 08:08 pm (UTC)As the resident photoshop wizard I am expected to run my dad through everything I've learned in 10 years with the program and a college degree by only sitting down with him a few times. I feel your pain.