Technology - is it a fad??

My day was filled with technology. Think this technology thing is just a fad? Is it gonna pass and we'll get our pen and paper back? Please?

Our computer went out back in September, when it was only 5 1/2 months old. Ridiculous! Thankfully since we have so many fail over the past couple of years, I got the warranty this time. So when it went out, I took it to the store and they vowed to fix it in a timely manner - 8-10 weeks. Meanwhile they gave me a loaner to use. The loaner was fine, as a loaner. Another thankful moment - I had backed up all the data a mere 4 weeks before it failed so I didn't lose much when it crashed. I used and abused the loaner for the next 12 weeks. I started making calls in late November, trying to get my computer back to its rightful place, my desk. The motherboard had failed (just like the previous HP we had) and they were having to replace it. Ok - no biggie. Another 2 weeks went by and I checked in again and got the same story. This time I dug deeper. Yes it failed but not only that, they had replaced it 4 times and each one failed so there must be something else wrong too. They would get back to me. I waited another 2 weeks, giving the holidays precedence over my computer woes. Finally on 12/29, I called in and tried to get the situation resolved. Many calls to reach the superviser who was going to just replace the unit versus trying to fix it anymore were not getting me anywhere. I cleared the loaner unit of any data and packed it up and headed to the store to get the situation resolved, once and for all.

Our homeschool event was rescheduled due to an llness (Poor GS!!) and we headed to ChikFilA for some fun playtime before going to the store. I only had the older 2 with me. J was napping so he stayed home with Daddy Piper. Playtime was fun!! I had some great adult conversation, the kids played and food was yummy. I corralled the kids and off we went to the big city. We took the computer in and prepared for battle. I was helped right away and almost immediately, the manager took a snippy attitude. A bit of background info: I had grown up seeing my mother be angry and confrontational during interactions like this. I usually handle things like that - angry and rudely. I have tried since having kids and especially since they are older to see this now, to be nice and do things more adult like. Okay - so when she came across irritated and angry, I responded with kindness. It is a new theory for me but it worked SO WELL!!!!! She wasn't going to be able to resolve the issue right then, would take a couple of weeks. No, I explained, it had gone all long enough. 6 weeks longer than the promised return date. I wanted this resolved today. She replied it was going to take her a few hours to get it done. I countered I had a few hours to wait. I just wanted it done, today. This whole time I had two crazy monkeys running around, entertaining themselves with hide and seek around a big screen tv. The manager was not going to be helpful but I guess a nice customer swayed her eventually (that would be me). She said she didn't have a suitable computer of the same brand to switch me. I just wanted something was the same specs, didn't need to be the same brand. She left and said she would "check some things out". The kids and I went and used the restroom and then strolled back to the computers to see for ourselves. Yes the department was wiped out. Way less inventory than back in March when I bought the computer. We did happen upon a Touch Screen HP that I am coveting but $1000 for a new unit like that is out of the question right now. The kids played with the touchscreen and vowed it "The coolest ever". We spotted the manager walking into the area and then into the storeroom area, I assumed to check inventory. We saw her a few minutes later pushing a cart with a computer in it so we hurried back up front.

The manager had found a unit to give us!! Bonus - it had Windows 7!!!!! She had found something that was similar to our previous computer but a tad better with more hard drive and of course, the Windows 7 (so now we have a home network between the laptop and the desktop). She took care of the paperwork. By this time the hide and seek near the big screen was driving me crazy. I didn't need to replace a tv today. I quietly grabbed each child, put them in the cart and bribed them with a candy stick - all the while not getting upset or raising my voice. It took awhile but the customer service lady finished it up. I thanked the manager for handling it today and to my satisfaction. I also made sure to tell her manager the same thing. We went up and checked out, paying nothing but also getting the warranty extended for my trouble.

The moral of the story for me is to remain calm in these situations. It made me feel really good to get the whole thing resolved and not have any anger involved!

So then later in the day, after trying to get the new computer loaded up with all our stuff and spending the afternoon on a chat thing with Norton to upload the backup, Daddy Piper's new cell phone arrived. It was actually for me since the once I traded with my niece drops calls constantly. I wasn't due for an upgrade but Daddy Piper was so he got the phone and then we had to switch the phone lines around to get it to work. I headed to the Verizon store after taking dinner to a my friend with the sick kiddo (made 2 of these dinners so our dinner was done too!!). It took about 45 minutes there and me getting on the phone with Verizon but we got it done. Back home for more technology headaches. The backup files from Norton wouldn't restore. I logged back into support and I was 42nd in line!!

Bathtime, prayers and bedtime for the kids. I didn't spend much time this afternoon or evening with them :-( But they had a ton of quality time with Daddy, playing the Wii. Back to the computer - got it all fixed finally.

Finished the evening off watching a movie with my dear husband, while enjoying a much deserved Dos Equis and homemade pico.