[pianotech] In agreement with David, NOT

[Gerald Groot]

Of course some problems can be related to the software or to the website
itself.  Like on Piano World for example.  There have been times where I
couldn't log into it.  Rather than make the assumption that it was the
websites fault, (it may or may not have been) I fired off an email to a
couple of friends that frequent it about as often as I do (which is a lot)
to see if they were having problems too and they were in a couple of cases.
We found out later on that it had been hacked into.  That pretty much
explains it all.  They resolved the issues and all was fine again.  

 

More often than not it is the person behind the steering wheel that creates
the problem from a lack of understanding what they are using or what they
are doing in many cases with computers.  That's what I have been told by a
couple of computer IT friends.  I am FAR from being a computer guru.  I pay
my cousin to fix it when I run into trouble.  The problem is, that these
same people will rarely admit that they are at fault.  Now, that may or may
not be the case with some people in here, I don't know,  but it happens a
lot more online than any one of us is likely willing to admit.  

 

Yes, it goes without saying that there is always going to be another
learning curve next year or next month.  

 

I figure the board is doing the very best that they know how and are trying
their hardest to resolve whatever complaints have been lodged which have
been plenty.  I certainly wouldn't want that job right now.  

 

Everyone in here knows that there are "certain members and non members here"
who seem to thrive on pushing buttons and/or complaining about something.
That's my beef.  I get sick of it too which is why I choose to bow out of
most conversations.   However, I pay my dues too and am entitled to my
opinion on the matter once in a while as are you and so, I said what I had
to say about it.  J  And no I am not pissed off.  At least, not yet.  J

 

If I do have a complaint about something in particular I pick up the phone
and call home office to find out what's going on if anything.  If I have a
problem with my internet connection, I do likewise.   I call my internet
provider.  One time I was trying to order something on the PTG website and
was not able to do it.  Rather than come in here and complain about it, I
called them instead. They said they were having a problem with that part of
the site and so I just ordered it on the phone right then and there.
Problem solved.  J  

 

I empty out my cache at least every other week. 

 

Jer

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of David Skolnik
Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2012 7:23 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] In agreement with David, NOT

 

Gerald -
The tech (computer, that is) info that has been traded with this thread is
interesting and, hopefully, useful.  The exchanges have been civil.  Here's
my question:
Assuming that some percentage of your hypotheses are accurate, with regard
to the genesis of the technical problems people have been experiencing, and
that, totally apart from HL software or Board of Directors leadership
questions, there is an on-going cultural problem with regard to the constant
re-training demands that today's technological evolution places upon the
user (which is all of us), do you nevertheless leave room for the
possibility that some of the problems ARE, in fact, related to the software?


And why are you so offended by the complaining?   If there was a credible
response, earlier in the process,  there would be less need of repeated
complaining.  That's a generalization, one not worth getting caught up in
parsing. 

David Skolnik
Hastings on Hudson, NY


At 02:39 PM 2/2/2012, you wrote:



And less complaining.
 
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [ mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org
<mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org> ] On Behalf Of Encore Pianos
Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2012 12:57 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] In agreement with David, NOT
 
Just so you will know, Gerald, my computer is 1 year old, HP Notebook, with
I-5 processer, 4 gigs RAM, 500GB hard drive.  Upon the advice of a software
developer friend, I run Windows 7 Professional because it is very stable (it
is).  Norton 360 auto defrags for me and does other housekeeping for me such
as anti virus, malware, etc.    I use IE Explorer 9 for online activities.
 
I do occasionally buy things online, and this is the only time I have ever
had problems making such a payment.  
 
I had no way of knowing that flushing the browser cache is recommended
trying to make an online payment with the HL Program, and thus had not done
so before making my effort.  That said, no one seems to be getting ready to
nominate HL for the Good Housekeeping Award for software development.
Suffice it to say that it is not a tidy program, and is given to occasional
psychotic episodes.  So where did the problems I had originate?  I don't
know any more than you do, which is to say that neither of us know.  That's
an honest statement of my level of root knowledge.  
 
Common sense may tell us a few things, but it doesn't tell them with
certainty.  For that you need good facts and sound reasoning.
 
Will Truitt
 
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [ mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org
<mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org> ] On Behalf Of Gerald Groot
Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2012 12:22 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] In agreement with David, NOT
 
I agree with you completely.  My cousin builds and maintains computers for a
living.  He says that we should all delete the caches periodically, that we
should all run defrag on occasion and that we should all go through and
delete things that we no longer need or use.  Instead of letting it fill up
the computer.  Mine is set up to defrag weekly and to back up every other
day.  He says that our computers will run quicker, smoother and will have
less "hiccups."
 
Jer  
 
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [ mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org
<mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org> ] On Behalf Of David Boyce
Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2012 12:14 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] In agreement with David, NOT
 
It is not "just a few people bitching as usual", in my view. That does not
seem to me to be a very helpful turn of phrase, or assertion.

I have been subscribed to this list since 1996 (with a different email
address at first) so I suppose I might have some idea of what has, or has
not, been usual over the years.

It has become clear that clearing the browser cache is an issue and makes a
difference.  Well it's good to know now what to do, BUT, in no other online
payment scenario - and I buy lots of stuff online, from lots of different
companies - have I EVER found it necessary to clear my browser cache before
proceeding.  

And if you do not know beforehand that this step might be necessary, and if
you have never come across it before in relation to online payments, how are
you supposed to guess that this is what the problem is?  Out of all possible
problems?  And if you don't correctly guess it, then you are liable to waste
a frustrating hour trying to get things to work.

I am not by nature, I hope, one who "bitches".  And it was the nature of the
helpful interactions on this List (as I have said before) that persuaded me
to join the PTG as an overseas member.

Best regards,

David (one of the Davids!)
www.davidboyce.co.uk

I haven't read hardly any of the dues crap.  Just a few people bitching as
usual.  But, for all of you complaining about not being able to sign in,
much of it could very well be "user error" as I never have problems signing
in and you do all know there is such a thing as picking the phone and paying
dues over the phone line don't you?   Or you could send in a money order, or
cashier's check or a business check or a bill pay.  There really is nothing
wrong with the old fashioned way of doing things either.  
 

 

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