What NOT to do

[psmylie.livejournal.com]

Let me share a little story with you concerning my younger brother, Greg.
Greg works at a place where he does "Unofficial tech support". I'm sure you know what that means... it's where you have some technical knowledge, so your boss has you do all the computer work in addition to your regular job.

Anyway, his boss had just recently bought a laptop from a distribution center... You know, one of those "Friday! Saturday! Sunday! Get new computers for ten dollars! Laptops for twenty dollars! Software for fifty cents!" type deals. Only, when you get there, the advertised prices are off by a few decimal places. Anyway, the boss decided to ask Greg to take the laptop home and install the OS for him, since Greg is so technical (as if installing WinXP is sooo hard).

My brother, being less wise in the ways of science than I, agreed. He powered up the laptop and was ready to install the OS. And my niece spilled some water on it (pfzzt!!! crackle, crackle, wisp-o'-smoke... laptop is now a $1500 paperweight). Of course, having been purchased from a distribution center, there is no warranty (expressed or implied).

Greg, feeling responsible, told his boss what happened and, once the his boss stopped freaking out, offered to pay for repairs. The paperweight has been shipped off to Compaq for repairs, and I guess we'll see what's broken (I'm hoping just the mobo is fried, but we'll see).

The moral of this story is that you should never take home other people's equipment if you can possibly avoid it.

Comments

[inahandbasket]

ya, seriously.
oops?

[j-digi82.livejournal.com]

Ick ...

Some guy left his POS computer at my house for over a year. All it needed for a $3 CMOS battery ... but he never paid up! So, one night ... after being slightly bleery eyed w/ my friend Zach and tired from working on these death machines ... I got an idea.

It was like 3 am, week night ... so I'm like, "Let's go throw it in the river." Now, about a year and a half later the guy wants it back. He calls non-stop and I don't get a moments peace! Damn! You try to be nice and help one person out WITHOUT EVEN BEING PAID! Heh, yeah right, fat chance I'm talking to him for $0.00 profit... whenever he calls I just don't call. It was an awful computer anyway ... prolly better in the river.

Pay your help kiddos ...

[psmylie.livejournal.com]

Just tell him he can pick it up himself from where you left it :)

[oddigy.livejournal.com]

... I don't know... the moral of this story SHOULD be "never leave cups of water sitting around laptops."

[oddball42.livejournal.com]

the real moral of the story is you never take work systems home unless you can absolutely help it, offer to do the install at the bosses place or fater hours for like pizza but never take it home if you can help it... liability man