Main > Everything Else

PC Repair Business???

<< < (8/8)

CCM:

--- Quote from: leapinlew on January 05, 2012, 12:31:47 pm ---
I would avoid going to peoples homes, and have them travel to you for issues. I don't repair computers for money anymore, but when my friends need something done on their computers, I have them bring them over. Also, look into logmein and teamviewer for remote diagnostics.

--- End quote ---

+1 


I finally have my friends and family trained to bring me their computers, I don't do house calls.  Most people don't get that it can take hours to diagnose and remove a virus.  I have no interest in sitting at someone's house watching a scan run!

MonMotha:

--- Quote from: leapinlew on January 05, 2012, 12:31:47 pm ---All I'm hearing is that linux sucks.

Why can't they get their act together? Even when linux looked promising, it never really took off. You can come up with a "grandma" scenario when Linux seems like it would work, but it probably wouldn't. Grandma would come home with a new camera, printer, or something and the distro of linux being used will choke on it. Linux is for the computer tweakers of the world...

--- End quote ---

I don't think it's that it "sucks", it's that it's "not Windows".  If you want Windows, buy Windows.  It's that simple.

I would really rather not get into a heated evangelism argument over Linux versus Windows.  What it comes down to is that if running Windows software and plugging random $5 doodads you bought at the store into your computer and expecting it to work is important to you, then you need Windows.  If you just want to browse the web, check your email, write documents, make some spreadsheets, and play solitaire (which I'd say covers about 3/4 or more of what happens on desktop/laptop personal computers aside from PC gaming), then you could probably use Linux just fine, and server and embedded roles have especially compelling usage arguments.

Just please don't say it "sucks" and then give the reason of "it won't work with my Windows programs and random unpopular hardware".  That doesn't mean it "sucks", that means it's not Windows, and your usage scenario specifically requires Windows.  You'd probably be equally unhappy with a Mac.  You're a Windows user, and that's fine, but there are other usage scenarios than your own.

leapinlew:

--- Quote from: MonMotha on January 05, 2012, 02:32:41 pm ---
--- Quote from: leapinlew on January 05, 2012, 12:31:47 pm ---All I'm hearing is that linux sucks.

Why can't they get their act together? Even when linux looked promising, it never really took off. You can come up with a "grandma" scenario when Linux seems like it would work, but it probably wouldn't. Grandma would come home with a new camera, printer, or something and the distro of linux being used will choke on it. Linux is for the computer tweakers of the world...

--- End quote ---

I don't think it's that it "sucks", it's that it's "not Windows".  If you want Windows, buy Windows.  It's that simple.

I would really rather not get into a heated evangelism argument over Linux versus Windows.  What it comes down to is that if running Windows software and plugging random $5 doodads you bought at the store into your computer and expecting it to work is important to you, then you need Windows.  If you just want to browse the web, check your email, write documents, make some spreadsheets, and play solitaire (which I'd say covers about 3/4 or more of what happens on desktop/laptop personal computers aside from PC gaming), then you could probably use Linux just fine, and server and embedded roles have especially compelling usage arguments.

--- End quote ---
We agree on 1 thing here. Linux will do 3/4 of what you need it to. So, the moral is, if you want your computer to operate at 75% capacity, enjoy Linux.

The reason I cited the Grandma example is that it's often used as a reason why linux is fine. Honestly, I don't know anyone who only wants to just browse the web, check email, and create a few documents. It starts that way, but it isn't long before they want to print, use some software, edit some pictures, scan, or something that isn't easy or possible with linux.



--- Quote from: MonMotha on January 05, 2012, 02:32:41 pm ---Just please don't say it "sucks" and then give the reason of "it won't work with my Windows programs and random unpopular hardware".  That doesn't mean it "sucks", that means it's not Windows, and your usage scenario specifically requires Windows.  You'd probably be equally unhappy with a Mac.  You're a Windows user, and that's fine, but there are other usage scenarios than your own.

--- End quote ---

Unpopular hardware? Like a printer? Like dual screen monitors, video cards, scanners, and the list goes on and on! I've wasted countless hours trying to get things to work in Linux which weren't fixed until a new distro. On several occasions trying to upgrade to the newest distro, the upgrade crapped out and I was left rebuilding from scratch. Rebuilding computers got less fun after I'd done it a few hundred times. 

I'm ok with Macs. They have a good support community that isn't filled with a bunch of people that say "RTFM". It's easy to find out if a piece of hardware is compatible or not. The linux community is very very small. I mean, sure there might be a good amount of linux users overall, but the actual amount of users who are out there running the exact version of linux you are and who aren't total jerks? Very small.

I'm actually just giving you a hard time MonMotha. It's been a long time since I heard someone defending linux on the desktop. I'm not your average user in that I actually use linux both on the server and on the desktop and I've had a good amount of experience with it. I know when I should use it and my thoughts on linux are just my opinion and I'm simply giving my experiences. The best use case for linux I can come up with is when I need a solution, I don't have a budget and I have a lot of time. I'll keep playing with it, but until I see it's getting better it sucks.


Navigation

[0] Message Index

[*] Previous page

Go to full version