PC tech support is broken; Look to the Library?

Actually, in a way, it could work

I’m not sure about the dollar figure, but if a certain amount of money from every computer sale went to libraries… It would be sort of cool to use the money to fund classes in basic PC repair and maintenance. I mean, we teach about the internet, catalog usage, and even web page design.

I personally find putting together a computer, and troubleshooting computers, as satisfying as teaching people how to use them. But I know I’m a weird duck.

Or perhaps the money could go to buying more computer repair/build-your-own books (although those seem to always get stolen).

There would be dangers involved though. I mean, I don’t like to work on hardware that doesn’t belong to me, my employer or a close relative. Even if I didn’t work for the library, and I was a volunteer running a “tech support workshop” in the library, as the article suggests… That is a liability. Plus the headaches of a hundred thousand people dropping in with their hardware when there are only two “techs” on hand to work on them… Even if those techs aren’t “officially” associated with the library… The library hears about it.

I don’t think the idea, strangely enough, is entirely unfeasible. But there are some logistical problems with cost, space, time, and staffing that would have to be dealt with.

Tech support is in a sad state. My mom’s old Dell (a relic from 1997, retired this week) was having problems a year or so back. She called tech support, because Dell’s supposed to have dandy tech support. She got an outsourced employee located in a country more than a few time zones away. He sort of fixed the problem… then (yes, nicely) called to follow up. At 2 am, ET. No lie.

That was mostly my mom’s motivation in letting me build her computer last weekend from a barebones kit. (That, and it was significantly cheaper than a brand name.)