Monday, February 28, 2011

The Tutor Wears 3 Hats

Plugging in...

Although the Tutor was originally called for a visit to explain the unusual behavior of the MacBook trackpad, you know, the little glassy-like rectangle that substitutes for a mouse, the visit quickly turned into an all things electronics visit.

After the trackpad was explained, from using two fingers to scroll, two fingers to pinch, tapping and double tapping, tapping far right for a right click, and changing the sensitivity, the Tutor changed hats when asked "can you fix the audio on my new HD TV and Bose sound system"? Umm, OK.

The audio problem was simple - the incorrect INPUT had been selected from one of the three remotes required to run the TV, Cable and Bose sound system. The owner chose TV, a logical choice. But the TV wanted HDMI 1. Through a quick process of elimination, we started at the top of the list, and chose each option in order until the sound burst out of the speakers.

TV hat off, third hat on: "can you show me how to set this new alarm clock from A Sharper Image"? Thankfully, the client had kept the single, tiny sheet of paper packaged with the alarm that masqueraded as a manual. The three buttons on the alarm were simple enough to operate, but without the paper explaining which one to hold, for how long, then move the other, etc, etc. I think you get the drift. A wind up Baby Ben would have been easier... but do they make them anymore??

ALWAYS REMEMBER: before calling for help - is it plugged in, do you have the remote, do you the manual, and is it turned on?

Unplugged

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