How much time do we waste each year figuring out laptops and projectors

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

There's ALWAYS a problem with these things.

The solution everyone tries: Screw the VGA connector in.

WTF. That stuff is creating contact. Unless you're sitting at an awkward angle where it might fall off, I don't even bother screwing them in. My computer at home isn't screwed in. That way I can pull it right off if needed. But of course 99% of the people don't get this.

Sometimes it's as simple as a source not detected by your laptop. A simple solution is simply to unplug it and replug it in. Of course screwing in connectors tighter doesn't really help.

The other thing people do is restart their laptop. This usually ends up working, but essentially isn't this just reinitializing video drivers? Of course it should work then, but part of me wonders if M$ needs to get this straight. I've had problems where I've had to replug the VGA connector in (and rarely restart), but I've never noticed this on my Macbook Pro. Perhaps Apple got it right, but to me this has got to be a MS Windows/Driver issue.

Bottom line is... how much time do we waste in companies trying to figure this out? Last week we spent 10 minutes on this when a vendor came in. Yesterday my boss was trying to do some training session. I tried to help. Replug, unplug, restart projector, make sure projector input was good.

I still don't know a definitive fix, just a set of possible fixes (and screwing in the VGA connector is not one of them)

 

[Leros]

We had a guest presenter once. He brought a macbook and spent about 3 minutes trying to figure out how to plug in the VGA cable. I guess he didn't know you would need an adapter. After failing, he gave about a 2 minute presentation and said he was done.

 

[MoPHo]

None. I get an intern to do it.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Today whoever set up the projector for my group's presentation plugged the laptop into the "monitor out" (passthrough out) VGA port on the projector rather than one of the "monitor in" ports.

I suspect that had I not been there, much head scratching would have occurred.

 

[Kalmah]

Buy:

1)vga cable
2)vga-dvi adapter
3)s-video

Shouldn't ever have a problem right?

 

[Leros]

Buy:

1)vga cable
2)vga-dvi adapter
3)s-video

Shouldn't ever have a problem right?

Also, there should always be a document cam in the room. Presenters should always bring a hard copy of their slides just in case of technical failure.

 

[eldorado99]

One time I got a phone call (while I worked at the helpdesk) and it turned out they didn't take the lens cap off. Their face turned pretty red when I went down there to take it off for them.

 

[ChaoZ]

I had a class where the professor would spend 10 minutes every damn class to get the projector working. It after 10 minutes and it still wasn't working, which was most of the time, he would call for someone to come fix it. So we basically lost about 25 minutes of time right there. Needless to say, I didn't learn shit from that class.

 

[amdhunter]

lol our projector has a monitor out and a vga in, people always stick it in the monitor out.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

What I want to know is why, in companies where crucial information is routinely carried on laptops for presentations, does no one ever check the readiness/compatibility of the projector, microphone, lighting, white board, lectern or, hand outs? Oh, that's right, some accountant figured out they could save a nickle by eliminating the facility/meeting planner position.

 

[lokiju]

Never had an issue myself but have sat there and watched people fumble with projectors for long periods of time.

Everything from lens cap to wrong port on the projector to not toggling out their external display, etc.

 

[xanis]

Every time I watch someone try to figure out how to use a projector, I cry a little on the inside. Generally it's one two things:

1) the cable isn't properly connected
2) the projector is set on the wrong input

Seriously people, it's not goddamn rocket science.

 

[TwiceOver]

Heh. The other day I was asked how to shut off our projector, I told them to hit the orange button labelled "power" (kinda being a smart ass). The lady came back saying that didn't work. She held it in, pressed it, it just wouldn't turn off.

The projector was on a table and she was standing in front of it blocking the lens. When you hit the power button it shows on the screen "Press power again to shut off". She couldn't see that because she was blocking the image.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Never had an issue myself but have sat there and watched people fumble with projectors for long periods of time.

Everything from lens cap to wrong port on the projector to not toggling out their external display, etc.

My favorites are the folks whose job it is to be a presenter fumbling around for minutes on end. Yay professionalism!

 

[xanis]

My favorites are the folks whose job it is to be a presenter fumbling around for minutes on end. Yay professionalism!

I never got this. Not only is this Technology 101, but YOU'RE A FRIGGIN' PRESENTER. Get your shit together.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Heh. The other day I was asked how to shut off our projector, I told them to hit the orange button labelled "power" (kinda being a smart ass). The lady came back saying that didn't work. She held it in, pressed it, it just wouldn't turn off.

The projector was on a table and she was standing in front of it blocking the lens. When you hit the power button it shows on the screen "Press power again to shut off". She couldn't see that because she was blocking the image.

Yeah, that's as dumb as clicking start to turn off the computer. Oh wait...

 

[Leros]

Yeah, that's as dumb as clicking start to turn off the computer. Oh wait...

I got really confused a few days ago trying to turn off my friend's tv. I kept pushing the power button on the remote and nothing happened. His remote has a "Turn off" button on it.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I had a class where the professor would spend 10 minutes every damn class to get the projector working. It after 10 minutes and it still wasn't working, which was most of the time, he would call for someone to come fix it. So we basically lost about 25 minutes of time right there. Needless to say, I didn't learn shit from that class.

Sounds like my thermo class. It was a total waste. I remember sitting there and just talking with my roommate. I swear I should've just gotten up and helped although the prof had one other guy help him from time to time.

50% of the time the solution was to get the other guy's Macbook and it worked flawlessly.

But honestly, I swear sometimes its a Windows issue. I've had it happen more than once or twice. I know how to output to my dock and monitor no problem. Sometimes the Fn + F8 just doesn't trigger it with the projector. I believe the plug and play driver is supposed to pick it up but sometimes it fails to reset or detect it or something. This is why a restart 99.9999% of the time guarantees a success.

 

[Pepsi90919]

There's ALWAYS a problem with these things.

The solution everyone tries: Screw the VGA connector in.

WTF. That stuff is creating contact. Unless you're sitting at an awkward angle where it might fall off, I don't even bother screwing them in. My computer at home isn't screwed in. That way I can pull it right off if needed. But of course 99% of the people don't get this.

Sometimes it's as simple as a source not detected by your laptop. A simple solution is simply to unplug it and replug it in. Of course screwing in connectors tighter doesn't really help.

The other thing people do is restart their laptop. This usually ends up working, but essentially isn't this just reinitializing video drivers? Of course it should work then, but part of me wonders if M$ needs to get this straight. I've had problems where I've had to replug the VGA connector in (and rarely restart), but I've never noticed this on my Macbook Pro. Perhaps Apple got it right, but to me this has got to be a MS Windows/Driver issue.

Bottom line is... how much time do we waste in companies trying to figure this out? Last week we spent 10 minutes on this when a vendor came in. Yesterday my boss was trying to do some training session. I tried to help. Replug, unplug, restart projector, make sure projector input was good.

I still don't know a definitive fix, just a set of possible fixes (and screwing in the VGA connector is not one of them)

So, to summarize:

- You use outdated analog VGA at home
- M$
- Macbook Pro

 

[fleabag]

I got really confused a few days ago trying to turn off my friend's tv. I kept pushing the power button on the remote and nothing happened. His remote has a "Turn off" button on it.

This wouldn't happen to have been a Zenith, would it?

 

[Leros]

This wouldn't happen to have been a Zenith, would it?

I don't remember.

 

[kalrith]

I had a guest speaker in college that couldn't remember the password to get into his computer. His presentation was quite short even considering that he spent 15 minutes trying different passwords.

 

[iamwiz82]

Projectors and bluetooth are not conducive to a happy help desk.

 

[Leros]

Projectors and bluetooth are not conducive to a happy help desk.

I don't know what went wrong with Bluetooth. It seems like a fairly simple technology, but devices never seem to cooperate. I always feel like I'm wrestling with my bluetooth devices in order to get them connect and work.

 

[CountZero]

I don't know what went wrong with Bluetooth. It seems like a fairly simple technology, but devices never seem to cooperate. I always feel like I'm wrestling with my bluetooth devices in order to get them connect and work.

Early USB was a giant hassle as well. Though it seems like bluetooth should be pass those early stages by now.