stupidest questions from PC users

[GFLPraxis]

Does your place have "totally managed desktops"? This is actually a euphemism for "It's totally locked down, we don't trust you". IT types love the totally managed desktop model, it keeps them busy, and in BMW's, for years. IT management types love to say that "the totally managed desktop is for the convenience of our employees". Uh-huh. Of course, everyone likes job security.

It's not some big conspiracy, you know. Since I entered the IT world at the beginning of this year I've found a newfound respect for the managed model.

Why's that?

Windows. You know how the more Windows apps you install, the slower the system gets? The more bloated the registry, the more bloated the Windows folder? Do you have any idea how easy it is to get viruses and spyware, especially when our partners use websites that only support Internet Explorer and thus our users must use it?


Do you know what happens when you don't manage users? I've seen it. Users with WeatherBug and dozens of toolbars and spyware all over the place. Even if a user is smart enough not to let that happen, they're bound to install applications that will eventually cause the computer to slow down and we have to do the work fixing it.

Everyone in the IT field in the building is an Admin. Everyone whose work does not require any software installations, ever, is not. And for every one of those users that is a good computer user and would never download spyware, you have 10 users who want to download "Fun Smiley Pack" because customization is soooo cute.

And I'm not exaggurating. There's a user group on one floor in which everyone had administrative priviledges, and they ALL had installed a Smiley Pack piece of adware and used it to communicate and when they got a new computer started complaining because they couldn't communicate to the other employees with the smilies.

And you know what? If you lock the users out from being able to mess with settings and install applications, Windows performs very well. You don't get near the level of instability a lot of home users get if Windows is either well maintained or the user is locked out of doing anything that would slow it down in the first place.

Of course, this is all because Windows is a piece of crap

 

[zephead]

*Where's the computer?* and everyone's reaction when I do point it out to them is very similar *OMG!!! THAT IS THING IS THE COMPUTER!!! 111 shift+1 shift+1*

I got the same reaction a few times with an iMac haha.

(explanation about managed desktops)

That's actually a really good point. If you can't install anything, no bogging. That's the same way with the computers at my school; I wonder why they're all so fast even though they're running Windows XP, and it's for that exact reason.

 

[pengu]

#4 This is as i am finishing up the job (1 hour)
Them: Let me get you some money
Me: Do you want an invoice?
Them: O, why, how much is it?
Me: $50
Them: OMG thats so much money.
Me: Its y standard hourly rate
Them: O you do this as a business?
Me: Yes?
Them: could you take $30, you only charged me 25 last time
Me: Last time I was only here for 30 minutes, so this time it will cost $50
Them: How about $40
Me: Well i can charge you 40 but you can never call me here again
Them: Its just that i had no idea it would be so expensive
Me: Feel free to call best buy, circuit city and see if you can get a better deal.
Them: Here's $40
Me: Thank you and goodbye

That was after them telling me abotu their trip to Italy and how her son is getting an iPhone for his birthday. I hate them.

um, you know you should really tell people at LEAST how much per hour (if thats how you charge). If they have no reasonable way to know (i charged them $25 last time is not reasonable.) then next time this happens, should it be a large amount (say 4 or 5 hours), you're probably gonna be several hundred dollars worse off.

 

[pengu]

Do you know what happens when you don't manage users? I've seen it. Users with WeatherBug and dozens of toolbars and spyware all over the place. Even if a user is smart enough not to let that happen, they're bound to install applications that will eventually cause the computer to slow down and we have to do the work fixing it.

Its so true. back when I was doing support, i was still on-site after an eDir migration on a monday and i got this:
Her: Why dont any of the links from the Intranet pop up??
Me: You mean the ones that open in new windows?
Her: Yeah....
Me: ok, i'll have a look.. does anyone else use this computer but you?
Her: no, just me.
Me: ok, here's ya problem. You have 5 IE toolbars installed. ALL of which are set to disable popup windows.
Her: oh, i dont know HOW they got there!?

 

[Cormier6083]

I went to the UPS store today to ship an iMac G3 and he was like "What the- What is this?" I said, "It's a computer." "A computer? I see a monitor. Where is the computer?" I said, "Thats is the computer." He was all freaked out.

 

[Sean Dempsey]

As a bipartisan PC/Mac user... I gotta say a few things:

1) most of these stories sound made up, exaggerated, or only "based on actual events.

2) Most of these people aren't "PC" users... they're garden variety morons. I mean come on, any experienced PC user probably knows more about how a computer works than a Mac, just not OSX. Anyone familiar with a PC isn't going to be like DURRRRRRRRR that imac has a computer inside it DURRRRRRRRRRRRR. Maybe if you quit showing your Mac computers to people with learning disabilitys or chromosomal problems, you'd get some responses besides "DURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR"

3) While PC users can be dumb when it comes to Mac's, what about lifelong Mac users forced to do something on Windows, or better yet, Linux command line.

 

[00hkelly]

I went to the UPS store today to ship an iMac G3 and he was like "What the- What is this?" I said, "It's a computer." "A computer? I see a monitor. Where is the computer?" I said, "Thats is the computer." He was all freaked out.

actually made me lol. iMacs actually tend to scare/confuse a lot of people "where is the big grey box?!?!"

 

[Nayrb]

While trying to help my cousin convince my uncle to let him get a MacBook for college I get "Vista is the future, eventually everyone is going to have to use it." I couldn't really get him off that idea that you do have a choice there is the issue of money. Looks like my cousin will have to suffer through a used pc until he can buy his own.

 

[MikeTheC]

As a bipartisan PC/Mac user... I gotta say a few things:

Um, Sean, I'm sorry but I have to stand up and tell you I disagree with every point you assert here.

In my experience, there are very few people even the IT field (as professionals!) who, in fact, actually know a G-D thing or are actually worth a crap.

In my experience, most of the people in the "computer world" seem, as you put it, to be afflicted by both learning disabilities (BTW, you mis-spelled "disabilities" in your original post) and chromosomal problems. Mind you, I've only been a part of the computer world since 1986, so my own observations may be limited.

And this doesn't even begin to describe the nature of non-enthusiast computer owners these days.

 

[darkcurse]

As a bipartisan PC/Mac user... I gotta say a few things:

1) most of these stories sound made up, exaggerated, or only "based on actual events.

Well thats because you haven't come across them. But seriously, the kind of things that I have actually seen and heard and experienced while dealing with PC users is too weird even for fiction.

2) Most of these people aren't "PC" users... they're garden variety morons. I mean come on, any experienced PC user probably knows more about how a computer works than a Mac, just not OSX. Anyone familiar with a PC isn't going to be like DURRRRRRRRR that imac has a computer inside it DURRRRRRRRRRRRR. Maybe if you quit showing your Mac computers to people with learning disabilitys or chromosomal problems, you'd get some responses besides "DURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR"

Well excuse me, are you calling my friends morons then?! Well ok maybe that was a bit exaggerated but 90% of people I've shown the iMac/Mac Mini to, had that reaction. I'm not judging them, just laying out the facts

3) While PC users can be dumb when it comes to Mac's, what about lifelong Mac users forced to do something on Windows, or better yet, Linux command line.

I am a recent switcher and fairly skilled with a PC, I don't mind mucking about with windows' registry and doing command line prompts and the like but I gotta say, OSX is by far the best. Since its based off UNIX it already has a terminal to which you could go and get all geeky and nerdy

 

[flinch13]

2) Most of these people aren't "PC" users... they're garden variety morons. I mean come on, any experienced PC user probably knows more about how a computer works than a Mac, just not OSX. Anyone familiar with a PC isn't going to be like DURRRRRRRRR that imac has a computer inside it DURRRRRRRRRRRRR. Maybe if you quit showing your Mac computers to people with learning disabilitys or chromosomal problems, you'd get some responses besides "DURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR"

If I may, I'd like to defend Sean on his #2 point. Not only was it freaking hilarious, but the vast majority of people I come in contact with daily are completely computer illiterate. Most people know how to run word, a web browser, and if they're under the age of 35, a program to play music. That's it. Most people don't need to use a computer for much. This doesn't just apply to older people either, most of my close friends at college are complete computards. Therefore, most people don't know what a computer CAN be used for, which is why a lot of people do end up going DURRRRRRRRRR. Really. I've seen it happen.

My family has had macs since the day I was born, and still, I'm the one to fix my friend's windows machines at school.

 

[Kashchei]

Sean may have a point, especially in #2, but this is a cathartic thread. Give us a break and let us vent!

 

[zephead]

Sean may have a point, especially in #2, but this is a cathartic thread. Give us a break and let us vent!

I just learned a new word.

 

[rodman109110]

I'm just waiting for the first ID10t to proclaim that Expose was ripped from Vista's Flip3d...

someone posted an article on here about someone comparing vista to tiger or leopard, not sure which, but she said stuff like "aren't widgets the same as gadgets", the flip3d to expose comparison, vista side bar to dashboard, and so on. it was pretty amusing.

 

[DoFoT9]

someone posted an article on here about someone comparing vista to tiger or leopard, not sure which, but she said stuff like "aren't widgets the same as gadgets", the flip3d to expose comparison, vista side bar to dashboard, and so on. it was pretty amusing.

what people fail to realise is that tiger came out..what a year/2 years ago. before vista kinda got up and going. people are so annoying sometimes they compare the most stupid things

 

[zephead]

Anyone familiar with the YouTube vid "The Real Windows Vista"?

It's funny in that some MS rep is explaining all the "wonderful" features of Vista to come in 2007, while the person who put together the videos is demonstrating it all already being done on Tiger, an OS from 2005.

 

[Fairly]

Yeah, I <3 the "because i can" thing. lots of ppl @ school says macs ae gay just 'coz they look cool! I hate it.

Well they do sort of look gay. What side of the field does Ive play on anyway? He designed toilets before he designed the iMac and the iPod? Whatever. But claiming it's macho to use Windows is like Happy Gilmore thinking it's good to have baseballs fired at him. Pain isn't macho - it's stupid.

 

[pengu]

Well they do sort of look gay.

so professional and minimalist is synonymous with gay now? clearly you don't mean homer's preference - "flaming" gay?

 

[FrankBlack]

It's not some big conspiracy, you know.

Yes it is!! The black helicopters will be circling your house any minute!!

Actually, I agree with a lot of what you put down. I know all too well, the problems that come up, when certain people are allowed full, uncontrolled access and admin priveleges, on both the Mac and Windows side. Can you imagine the chaos in a typical junior high school, if the little dears had full admin privileges?

There was an individual in my apartment, who moved a few months back. (Thank god!) He was Mister PC all the way. He was very impressed with his computer prowess. (legend in his own mind, I guess) He wouldn't have anything to do with Macs. "I thought they were going out of business", he once told me.

One fine morning, he approaches me as I was leaving for work. "Uh, my computer is really slow, and keeps acting weird". I asked what he had done lately. Pretty routine, until he said that he let the kiddies download some "free games" and install them. Uh, yup.

 

[XheartcoreboyX]

so far the stupid questions i got from pc users where..
-wheres the memorry card reader?!
-why is it one button only??
-why the logo is an apple?whats the point?! -i dont know either..-
because they are so ridiculous..their questions are aswell >_>

 

[Aperture]

-wheres the memorry card reader?!

I don't find this a stupid question at all. A lot of PCs have memory card readers and it is a valid question if they assumed Macs would have them, too.

 

[XheartcoreboyX]

I don't find this a stupid question at all. A lot of PCs have memory card readers and it is a valid question if they assumed Macs would have them, too.

i miss the memorry card for sure,but what makes that question stupid...its just like all that matters to them in a notebook is 1-bluetooth 2-memorry stick...many people are like that.they dont ask about the OS or the power of the machine..but they ask for these stuff only..

 

[PowerFullMac]

This is not really a question or anything but its funny and im not sure where else to put it...

Dad: "I know everything"
Me: "Ok then, how do you make a new directory in Terminal?"
Dad: "Well, you just get the Yellow Pages and put it in there!"

 

[DoFoT9]

i miss the memorry card for sure,but what makes that question stupid...its just like all that matters to them in a notebook is 1-bluetooth 2-memorry stick...many people are like that.they dont ask about the OS or the power of the machine..but they ask for these stuff only..

if apple started including media cards and what not that would be the day i loose total respect. they would look atrocious.

 

[clemensmg]

When I was reading the thread, I could recall dozens of similar situations with Windows users.

I'm doing physics in a major national research center and we have a quite heterogeneous environment here: Several Linux-flavors, AIX, Windows and some macs. Those (like mine) are mostly private machines that people also use for work. The first day I brought my new MBP to work and asked one IT-Lady what the proper procedure would be to add it to the network, she said sternly"Well, first, you have to bring it in so we can check for viruses, configure the firewall and everything! It ain't so easy".

Me: "Oh sorry, didn't know that...it's a mac."

She: "Oh, that's different then. Just give me 2 minutes to add a new account".

And one of the chief system administrators, who used to be a die-hard Linux fan, has converted into a total mac fanboy. He used to have two linux machines and one windows machine under his desk and to or three different displays. Then he bought a macbook, was thrilled and managed to get the biggest MacPro out there, with the 30'' apple display, installed Parallels on it and threw all the other boxes out.

He says he can run all other systems under OS X if he needs to, but he rarely ever needs to fire them up. He could do everything as fast as before, but most signifacntly faster, and it was more fun to do them.

So it's not that all IT-people don't know crap