CNY-RIC Tech Fair

Originally uploaded by kboutelle

We attended the CNY RIC tech fair thingy yesterday. It was cold, wet and we were glad to be there. I think we may have drummed up some very good interest in our Help Desk product.

I should mention that we have affectionately named our Help Desk as the “Team Task Manager”. You can find out more by visiting http://511i.org.

Now, tonight I have some relief. Maybe it’s not me. Just maybe it’s them, the fearful learner. This article by Phyllis Korkki touches on some key points made by Deborah Compeau. These points revolve around the person on the other end of the phone and their fear of doing something new or inability to grasp concepts.

This doesn’t completely leave me in the clear, at least I don’t believe it does. It gives me reason to take a serious look at how I am presenting my “help”. I think I’m already addressing this with the use of more personal, interactive “on their own time” help. The video that I’m producing lately I think will help but I don’t think that it’s the complete answer by any means.

There, I said it. I’m beaten, I can admit it.

I’ve tried to use Mac, Linspire and Ubuntu Linux as replacements for various versions of Windows throughout the past several years and all fail me miserably. Difficulty of configuration, lack of software and my own lack of ability with these other OS’s leave me falling back to Windows time and time again.

The obvious answer, if I really wanted to leave Windows would be to devote all my spare time to learning Linux or Unix or Mac so that I would know how to solve problems the same way that I can with Windows but why? Really? What problem do I currently have that could be solved by this nearly immeasurable waste of time?

The answer? None! I am deft at problem solving in Windows. So much so that I have literally had near zero down time with my latest computer. Even when I completely reinstalled my OS recently this was only due to my desire to try out Vista. I quickly reverted to XP but at least I tested the waters.

My solution? Microsoft Virtual PC 2007.  With it I have 4 computers at my disposal with the click of a mouse. I have Windows 2000, XP, Vista and Linspire to choose from. So, this means that I can configure any OS to meet the needs of any potential audience and provide an experience that mimics theirs.

I’m rambling, I know. Random thoughts are flying out of my fingers. I can’t think. Need sleep.

“Take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you’ve never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you’ll never get back.”

Sorry, can’t give credit to the original writer, such is the problem with email forwards!

Yippee.