April 13th, 2009
Tech support for your family and friends – do you love it or dread it? On this episode we try to give you some tips for dealing with the seemingly daunting task of being the resident techie to your friends and family. Listen to the tools and techniques we’ve used that have saved us from the migraine meds.
iChat AV by Apple (comes with all Macs)
ChickenoftheVNC by GeekSpiff (free download)
Tips for Tech Support
- Make a list of goals or tasks to be accomplished and stay focused on completing those goals
- It’s easy to get distracted, keep pen and paper handy for taking notes. Make the person a cheat sheet that covers what you reviewed so they can refer to it when they get stuck
- Reassure the person that you’ll review it first and then have them try it themselves till they are comfortable with the lesson
- Exercise patience! Do not condescend but tailor instructions to the individual’s learning style. If you’re not sure what their learning style is, ask them about it
- Use Google Docs to collaborate
- Try to draw visual analogies between familiar concepts like commonly used icons on different electronics
Our Picks
LoseIt iTunes Store Application Link
Listener Homework Assignment:
Be A Shining Star and Tell Us How You Get Your Über Geek On
Here are some examples of how we get our geek on:
TonyWalla uses an X10 Controller and software to help improve his marriage.
Allison Sheridan called TheMacMommy out on the geeky way she uses Twitter to “hashtag her kid” to create a baby journal for her son #LD.
DigitalFanGirl video blogs the unboxing of her electronics with the same maternal affection as videoing her human kids.
