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Tech Guru?

post #1 of 7
1/20/11 at 8:21am
Thread Starter 
Is anyone here lucky enough to have a tech guru in their life? I know there's a stereotype about grandmoms using their grandkids or nephews/nieces to fix their computers, but for various reasons I think there's a lot of truth to that. Anyway, that's not the heart of the matter. ... My question is, how can I find and hire a good/honest nice/non-condescending guru? Is there a way to "test" them over the phone or on email using trick questions, etc.? Hopefully it's relatively easy to spot a fake who knows less than I do (which is pretty little) but I have what I consider skills on the level of 8-9 years ago, so if I overestimate my abilities to spot a fake, it might be like walking on thin ice. So I'd really like a reliable, accessible, top-notch go-to guru who knows all or almost all the 2010/2011 stuff. Basically I need advice on how to find such a person without getting snookered.

Maybe I can do a rapid verbal test over the phone where I would name 12 products in rapid fire succession to see how fast the person can explain each one. Ideally I would like to throw in 2 trick questions - Maybe mention an individual software that is newly obsolete, looking for the person to say: "As of 6 months ago, nobody uses that software."

If someone can help me develop a Q&A using PM's, I would be very grateful.
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post #2 of 7
1/20/11 at 10:58am
I am usually the person my friends/family (outside my computer programmer dad) come to for tech problems, so I know what the more tricky problems are (even if I don't know how to fix them ). If I were asking someone questions to test their guru-ness, I would definitely bring up wireless internet connection issues, as that is where many "gurus" fall shockingly short. Beyond that, when most people say tech guru they mean someone who can fix problems with windows OS/internt connection/some peripheral device. So I would ask about specific issues in those areas.

As for asking about specific products, I would only ask about software you use or could forsee yourself using. Oftentimes you won't find a jack of all trades in that category, just because there is so much different software available. In general, I would say most people claiming any tech guru status will be able to help with software issues no problem, since those are extremely easy compared to OS issues or device driver issues (usually the problem with internet connection issues)
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post #3 of 7
1/20/11 at 11:07am
Thread Starter 
Thank you rad.
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post #4 of 7
1/20/11 at 11:16am
Your best bet is to just find a decent shop that friends use and are happy with the service. Beyond that friends and family that have kids in their later teens or in their 20s - though that's no guarantee.

Beyond that, read and learn. Don't use age as an excuse, and surely no one on here is going to claim that they cannot learn even basic stuff. It's a matter of telling yourself you can, not that you can't. (and make notes if you need to)

As for questions... well I could go down to the local computer shops in town with some questions that could stump them so anything coming from me wouldn't be fair. And I do not consider myself a tech guru by any means, just a person that survived using windows and moved on. There's a lot of software I have no experience with and even a lot of problems I never had to deal with on my own computers because of preventative upkeep.
Of course there's also the matter of me being rather cheap, I won't pay anyone money to fix something as long as I have brain and can learn to do it myself (well unless zoning/legality of fixing something would get me in trouble ).

What I consider basic questions probably never are.
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post #5 of 7
1/20/11 at 11:34am
Thread Starter 
Well you already know my secret desire is to hire you strangewings If I was "Oprah rich" you'd be my go-to person -- and you'd be paid handsomely. Seriously.

Anyway, what magazines should I read? I learn best through analogies, metaphors and everyday layman's lingo. What magazine is best for that? Or should I buy a "For Dummies" book?

Quote:
Originally Posted by strange_wings View Post


What I consider basic questions probably never are.
You're modest IMO.
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post #6 of 7
1/20/11 at 11:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by c1atsite View Post
Anyway, what magazines should I read? I learn best through analogies, metaphors and everyday layman's lingo. What magazine is best for that? Or should I buy a "For Dummies" book?
PC world is a good magazine for keeping up to date with computers, software, etc. They have how-to's in there a lot.
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post #7 of 7
1/20/11 at 11:52am
Go look at what your local library has, but honestly I've learn mostly by just looking stuff up online. But you'd need a starting point that a basic book may give you.

And there's still plenty I don't know, yet. I have a couple Swedish friends that are far beyond me. They like programming, my brain can't wrap around it very well.
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