Know the difference between Personal IT and work IT?

underemployeed · #1 08-22-2011, 02:26 PM

I know I have seen a few posts where the work IT guy finally gets a grasp of what is wrong with the workers pc to find out it is a personal laptop and not a company issue they need to be dealing with. I got the other end, the gfs mother called us to come over and sort some issues out. First off, I don't know anything about crackberrys and then I was sort of annoyed when I learned it was a work phone, with you know a whole department who SUPPORTS that BS crapware she was using. I did give her advice to stand next to the window instead of actually going outside to get reception.

But seriously, why is it hard for people to understand. Personal computer problems, go to a tech you know on a personal level (ie - relative, family friend, IT guy at company your on first name basis with). If it is a work problem and your not self employed and there is someone who is paid to field annoying questions CALL THEM.

thehuckster · #2 08-22-2011, 04:58 PM

In the same vein, I can't count how many times this kind of exchange has occurred:

Friend: "Hey, you know computer stuff, right? I mean, you're a software engineer."
Me: "Yeah."
Friend: "Okay, my TV isn't getting any signal from the cable box. Could you check it out?"
Me: "Uuuh, well, I can see if there's anything obvious, but I don't know if I can really help if the problem is complicated."
Friend: "I thought you knew a lot about computers. Wtf?" [insert ranting and raving here]

Sometime I'd like to try to answer with something like this...

Me: "Okay, let me ask you a question. You're a doctor, right?"
Friend: "Yeah."
Me: "Cool. Can you tell me if this mole on my arm here is benign? I'm afraid it could be melanoma."
Friend: "I'm a podiatrist. I don't know."
Me: "Now you know how I feel. I'm a specialist, too. Just because I'm a software engineer doesn't mean I know everything remotely electronic."

Another pet peeve is when people expect me to help them pirate software. Following the same doctor realm...

Friend: "Hey, where can I find a bootleg of microsoft office?"
Me: "I'll see what I can do about that. By the way, could you give me some Ambien off da hook? I'll really appreciate it."
Friend: "Well, I can't do that. That would be illegal."
Me: "Touche, my friend."

underemployeed · #3 08-22-2011, 08:03 PM

I know people who use software of questionable legality, and it can be finicky and then when it doesn't work they would get mad at me. Or like a computer business owner I know said, running illegal stuff for yourself is one thing, if it breaks you fix it, if you give it to someone else you run the risk of losing your business when it breaks as they either call the manufacturer or some other shop who snitches. To avoid legal headaches is why I jumped on the Ultimate Steal for students, $60 for office 2007 Ultimate that was brand new with a much higher retail

Raveni · #4 08-26-2011, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Quoth thehuckster

Friend: "Hey, where can I find a bootleg of microsoft office?"
Me: "I'll see what I can do about that. By the way, could you give me some Ambien off da hook? I'll really appreciate it."
Friend: "Well, I can't do that. That would be illegal."
Me: "Touche, my friend."

I wish that I could pull off saying that without sounding like more of a jerk than the guy asking...