Geeks and Geek Squad/Consumer Technology woes featured on 60 Minutes tonight

[bjterry62]

Originally Posted by jominor

Well, when was the last time you performed surgery? Would you replace your brakes and transmission based on information in a forum?

They guy who works on cars for a living may wonder why people cannot replace their own gaskets.

It never ceases to amaze me how people translate knowledge of computers automatically into intelligence or lack of into ignorance. There are plenty of doctors who don't care about being able to setup wireless networks and they are GREAT doctors.

Can you unclog an artery? No? You must be helpless.
(BTW, I've been writing software for 12 years(C,C++, and Java) and I roll my own machines.)

I kinda laughed when I read the part about changing brakes because that's what I did to my car last month. Learned all the car / engine stuff from my dad and uncle, learned carpentry from my grandfather. Learned about electrical work frorm my dad. Learned to cook from my mom and grandmothers (maybe a little from Emeril :-). The thing I'm getting at is that a lot of kids don't have the wealth of knowledge that I was fortunate enough to grow up around. And some don't care for it even if they DO have it. Damn sad. The little things that I've learned from my elders have been more valuable than all the education I've amassed.

BT

[hemicuda]

Dad was always fond of saying "I've forgotten more than most of the mechanics in this town know" about auto repair/diagnosis. I just wish I'd taken more of an interest in my 'youth' and learned some of what he forgot. I'd have to get the book out now to rebuild a tranny; engines aren't too bad except remembering torque specs. Heck, I've built over a dozen PCs since I started tinkering; last one was 2yrs ago and it's still serving me very well except for Halo (vid card too weak I guess). Went to spec out a new system (got bored last week) and I'm so far behind the times I can't even tell which way the race is going. I guess in the quest to confuse people like me, manufacturers stopped using the Athlon/P4 type of specs that actually made sense and traded them in for whatever the crud they're using now.

[PhillJones]

Speaking onf the geek squad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBvUt2bIQFk

[hemicuda]

yet another reason long ago that I took it upon myself to try to learn the in's and out's of PC repair. Now I'm confounded by M$ software that thinks it's smarter than me.