Name the scariest situation of all time. [from zdnet.com ]
zdnet.com
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1999
Berst Alert - The Scary Truth About Tech Support
Jesse Berst, Editorial Director
ZDNet AnchorDesk
Trapped on a Texas highway with Leatherface?
Locked in a cell with Hannibal Lecter?
Seated in the front row during an Al Gore speech?
How about compelled to rely on tech support...
Today's tech support is subpar at best...
The situation will only get worse...
In today's overheated Internet economy, vendors rush products to market
with only a minimum of quality control, increasing the need for help.
And, since they are often forced to give away products for free,
they have no budget for tech support. The situation has gotten so bad...
... there is hope in the tech support world:
zdnet.com
SPECIAL REPORT THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1999
PC Help Just a Click Away
Neil Strother, Associate Editor
ZDNet AnchorDesk
"...won't you please, please help me?..."
That's not just a Beatles song, it's the cry of anyone waiting for tech
support. And it could be the theme song for AnchorDesk readers, who
inundate us with complaints about vendors unwilling or unable to help
with their own products.
That's why it's smart to be self-sufficient -- to equip yourself for
computer troubleshooting. But you can save yourself grief -- and time --
by tackling the basics yourself. Especially since free online help is
just a few clicks away.
Save these tech site URLs for the next time your computer gives you fits:
Whatis.com: When your PC acts up, chances are you'll get geek-speak
error messages. This site is a godsend for those don't know cookies from
crackers. Whatis.com defines computer-related terms clearly and
concisely. Click for more.
Updates.com: Maybe part of your problem is out-dated software or
drivers. This ZDNet service searches your PC for software that needs
updating. It also has a Hardware Advisor section with reliable advice on
how to update your hardware. Click for more.
PC Guide: This site can be a bit tricky to navigate until you get the
hang of it, but it's worth the trouble for the wealth of info relating
to the health and welfare of your PC and its components. In no time
you'll be an expert on BIOS, motherboards and processors -- or at least
come closer than you were before you started. Click for more.
ZDNet Help Channel: We're biased towards this sister site, but we think
it has the most thorough hardware, software and Internet advice around.
No matter how far you drill down on a problem, you'll get user-friendly
language and layer upon layer of tips, expert advice, bug alerts and
FAQs. Click for more.
Tom's Hardware Guide: This independent Web site presents advice on
buying, setting up and increasing performance of your computer hardware.
There's a lot of information here -- news and reviews and especially
tips -- presented in straightforward text format. Click for more.
Experts Exchange: Billed as a "knowledge sharing network," it boasts
nearly 2 million members. It offers a Help Desk and FAQs for many
popular software and hardware products. Click for more.
Ask-a-tech: This site provides free, Web-based support for end-users.
It's Canadian, eh. Click for more.
Nowonder.com: This site offers free tech support from its team of 1,200
volunteers Their aim is to solve real-world problems from the simple to
the complex. Click for more.
If you plug into these sites, maybe you'll find solutions to your tech
problems and you'll stop having "A Hard Day's Night."
Note: Do not copy or reference this SI Doug A K post, per see below.
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