User demanded ‘wireless’ PC, complained when battery died • The Register

On Name By Friday morning, Reg readers’ batteries can generally be a bit of low, which is why we at all times use the day to supply a jolt of amusement within the type of On Name – the reader contributed column during which we rejoice the lows and lows of tech assist.

This week, meet a reader we’ll name “Cathy” who, early in her profession at a PR agency, bought the job of constructing out new laptops for a bunch of customers, together with what she described as “a handful of delicate people” in higher administration.

“I referred to as to tell one of many delicate customers that we might be issuing her a brand new laptop computer, defined I would wish just a few issues from her to make that occur, and provided my help in finishing these duties,” Cathy instructed On Name.

The consumer had only one requirement: “Simply be certain it is wi-fi!”

This story came about at a time when not each laptop computer included Wi-Fi, so specifying it as a required function wasn’t uncommon. Cathy assured her colleague she may have a wi-fi laptop computer and delivered one the following day after migrating knowledge from the outdated machine and tucking the brand new one into a pleasant bag.

“I bought every part from favorites to her Outlook configuration and gave her a really transient primer on the place to search out wi-fi networking settings,” Cathy instructed On Name.

The consumer paid scant consideration and shooed Cathy away.

Later that evening, Cathy was on name and her cellphone rang.

Virtually earlier than she’d managed to say “Hello, Cathy right here, how can I assist?” the consumer bellowed down the road.

“THIS ****ING LAPTOP DOESN’T WORK! YOU GAVE ME A PIECE OF ****!”

Cathy politely requested for a proof of the issue.

“I WAS WORKING AND IT JUST ****ING SHUT OFF” got here the shouted reply.

Cathy went into troubleshooting mode, and ran down an inventory of questions that began with a request to recount any error messages the machine had displayed and ended with a question about whether or not the consumer had seated the ability twine snugly in its socket.

“WHAT POWER CORD?” got here the bellicose reply.

Cathy defined that she’d tucked the laptop computer’s energy provide into the good bag.

She then heard the unmistakable sounds of Velcro, unfurling cables, and a plug assembly a socket.

“It is again,” the consumer mentioned.

Cathy realized what had occurred and tried to be well mannered about it by suggesting the consumer had maybe struggled to search out the battery life indicator on her new machine.

“YOU SAID THIS ****ING THING WAS WIRELESS!” got here the obtuse reply.

“Sure,” Cathy replied drily. “It has wi-fi networking. Did you assume it had a nuclear battery or one thing? It must be recharged identical to your final laptop computer.”

After a quick pause, the consumer thanked Cathy and hung up.

“She by no means did point out it once more to me, I assume in hopes that I would not let that story slip to others within the workplace,” Cathy wrote.

However she did inform the story to On Name, and when you have the same story of clueless customers it’s best to too! Simply click here to send us an email and we might share your story on a future Friday. ®