I'm known to build and sell computers to friends and their family around town. Nothing major, maybe 10-20 a year. I don't make alot off of it, but its fun, and I often will offer them my used parts at a discounted price so I can upgrade easily 
Last year I built a computer for an elderly lady. She already had an old compaq and was familiar with it, going from 3.1 to 98 would be the only change. I think she has handled that okay and mostly just uses aol with it.
Anyway one of the items she requested was a scanner. I've walked her through using it 2x. She took notes, twice. A while back she managed to hose her computer (I have no idea how, but she corrupted the registry). Anyway now she has a fresh install and says she still can't scan. I"ll admit scanner software isn't very user friendly. Thats not my fault though that she can't use it. It works and I show her it works and how it works....
Today she called and said she has her computer expert friend (also elderly....sometimes is known to run around dressed as "Nana the Clown" or so the story goes that I've heard 800 times) is over and just can't get it to work. I said I"d come out friday again.
I only guarentee my labor and time for 60 days, after that there is just the manufacturers warrenty and if they want me I'll charge my usual rate of $35 an hour. I often do replace parts and stuff for people who have bought from me for no labor charge just because they aren't problemsome. She is a headache. This is the last time I'm going to her house before I tell her that I'm going to have to charge. Its just very frustrating, and the moral of the story is don't give tech illiterate old people scanners
On a side note, does anyone know of some really really easy scanner software for a twain compliant parallel scanner?
Ahhhhh I feel a bit better.......well except for all that time that I"m going to loose on friday.....
Last year I built a computer for an elderly lady. She already had an old compaq and was familiar with it, going from 3.1 to 98 would be the only change. I think she has handled that okay and mostly just uses aol with it.
Anyway one of the items she requested was a scanner. I've walked her through using it 2x. She took notes, twice. A while back she managed to hose her computer (I have no idea how, but she corrupted the registry). Anyway now she has a fresh install and says she still can't scan. I"ll admit scanner software isn't very user friendly. Thats not my fault though that she can't use it. It works and I show her it works and how it works....
Today she called and said she has her computer expert friend (also elderly....sometimes is known to run around dressed as "Nana the Clown" or so the story goes that I've heard 800 times) is over and just can't get it to work. I said I"d come out friday again.
I only guarentee my labor and time for 60 days, after that there is just the manufacturers warrenty and if they want me I'll charge my usual rate of $35 an hour. I often do replace parts and stuff for people who have bought from me for no labor charge just because they aren't problemsome. She is a headache. This is the last time I'm going to her house before I tell her that I'm going to have to charge. Its just very frustrating, and the moral of the story is don't give tech illiterate old people scanners
On a side note, does anyone know of some really really easy scanner software for a twain compliant parallel scanner?
Ahhhhh I feel a bit better.......well except for all that time that I"m going to loose on friday.....
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