Computers are NOT refrigerators!

One of my part time vocations is fixing computers and networks. Either as a contractor or someone calls me. It's funny, but I've come to notice that people treat computers pretty much like a refrigerator.

• No one pays any attention to it if it runs right.
• They stuff things in, and only take things out when they have to.
• They almost always take out the same things.
  
• Things are only fixed when they start looking really grotty, and are obviously not working right.
• Repairs are done when things are too far gone to help.
  
• The puns about how both can propogate infections could go on and on...

Most of the time, it's really computer servicing. The desktop or laptop is loaded with spyware or low-level viruses. Too many people rely on Windows firewall, or blame it for their computer slowing down and shut it off completely.
They either don't have any virus protection, or it's hopelessly out of date. One lady's system popped up a message saying her AVG software trial was 176 days past due! -- She wanted me to install a new free spyware and virus suite her cousin pirated for her. (I didn't.)
It's rare that there is a hardware problem.

The statistics tell the story. But there are real day to day concerns.
Australians came to the Internet and computers late. They've only had a few years to learn. Present government programs are offering $3000 worth of free training - 7-1/2 days - to get users more aware of what their new computers can do. To many though, a decade of computer- and Internet-phobic messages from government and the media have taken their toll. A lot of the positives have gotten lost in the message muck.
It's far more fashionable to resent or even hate computers around here.
The cost of Internet access, and the poor quality, hasn't helped. $69.95 a month for 100mb over a 128mbps line is joke. (Keep watching, there are more and better coming!) What has been a cheap utility item for the rest of the western world has proven an expensive, terrifying luxury around Australia. -- As if every fridge came with a cholera coating...

To their credit, some are learning fast the hard way about the problems of being always connected via ADSL. Usually these are small business owners who've grudgingly come to rely on their computers.
A few are getting very skilled at managing their computers, too. The over-35 and over-50 Internet users are taking things very seriously -- almost too seriously. Some of those folks are gonna push cheap computer tech businesses out of business.

You can't help but imagine Australians' attitude of treating computers like refrigerators is very much like the rest of the world.

A couple of tech companies are offering remote servicing: scheduled maintenance over the Net to keep systems running well.
A good idea, really. Once a month a tech logs in, checks the hardware and software, runs a few updates, then logs out after starting a virus scan. If there are any problems, there's a local phone number to call.
If you're not going to learn how to use a tool, at least hire someone to make sure it's running right.

People keep toys in their fridges and computers too.


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