Being a gadget enthusiast can be difficult at times. Besides the endless self-imposed search for perfection when it comes to devices and the way they function, you also end up being tech support for everyone around you.
After many occurrences of being called over by people to help fix speakers and set their email right, you sort of sigh internally and go along for the ride.
That said, one has to draw the line somewhere, so here’s a little guide of common statements and misconceptions that most new adopters of technology inadvertently end up with:
Every glitch you encounter is not a virus: In fact, viruses are quite rare these days, and inbuilt firewalls on computers and mobile app stores are now generally good enough to protect from most threats. Relax, there’s a solution, and it usually does not involve formatting the device in question.
Quad-core phone processors and ‘high memory’ computer video cards are not always great: The number of times I’ve had to reason with outraged people unable to fathom how their ‘quad core phone’ is slowing down is way too high. There are other numbers involved, a little research and reading reviews can help with that. After all, that steal price these devices sport was not achieved by wizardry.
What is the cloud?: Fancy term for storing content online instead of on a physical device. When something is uploaded to ‘the cloud’, it’ll be available to all your devices that can download it. Even if your device is lost or destroyed, your content remains safe. Well, mostly (some Hollywood celebrities may disagree).
Can you please fix this, this, this…and that too?: Sure, fixing stuff and enjoying the occasional look of wonderment on your face is what makes the task worthwhile. But here’s a tip, most problems can be solved by taking the time to go through all the options available in the ‘Settings’ menu. The one with the gear icon. There you go.
No, don’t explain it to me, just fix this. I’ll call you again if there’s a problem: Technology isn’t that hard to grasp, and can be quite fun, so take a moment to learn to operate the device you just spent hard-earned money on. Your gadget won’t try to take over the world if you mess up, and if it does, your local tech guy will ring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
These are just the basics, but they will go a long way towards helping you learn and get genuine help when needed.
And the day you start your own Whatsapp group and begin annoying large groups of people with pictures of cats, accidental typos and motivational quotes, you’ll know you have arrived. Enjoy!
