are you getting a bit burnt out with all the "I needa" posts?

I know I am......you know, the ones wanting a CCF or a Discrete Code fed to them? Those newbies who don't even take the time to look around the site in an attempt to find what they're looking for on their own?

I find myself not even taking a second look at those posts. If someone indicates that they're having some sort of problem, a specific problem, (and that they've already searched the site) then I'll go take a look........but I find those who want to be spoonfed very tiresome.




This message was edited by star50fiveoh on 05/31/03 12:07.

I think you are a little hard on them. Everyone has been a newbie. And being a noob maybe also means not to know that this great site has a very powerful search function or which keywords to look for.
I do not have any problems with questions which are answered in the FAQs or pasting a link to the discrete-code-pages into my answer. What I do have a problem with are people who use other people's CCF and think they have the right to demand changes from the author (I need an "B" not an "A" Button, why are the icons so large/small, why didn't you implement brand X etc.)
André

The ones that I hate are the ones who do need help. Wheather is for an ir code, a ccf or a problem. I then open it up read the post. Suggest some solution then it turns to find out they've already done it but didn't mentioned it in the first post.

Like this one right here.

Or one's that get the tottally wrong forum. Like this one. Now this person really made more mad because of the topic line. "real newbie, need help" Well this is what I have to say..... I understand that you are a newbie. But your not a newbie to this world. So use your knowledge and read the darn list of forums on the list of forums before you choose the forum that you want to post in. Since your using a pda for remote, why did you post a question in the pronto forum?

I also love the one's that post need help with a problem. But not even mentioning what remote they have.

Rob

I got this thing off a mate, dunno wot it is or wot it does, but it's got a remote that I'm hoping someone might 'ave a CCF for. Anyone?

To all the Gods,and all knowledge illuminated!
I can understand what you're saying but I urge you to think about this:
1) a newbie feels lost. If he isn't a ´computer specialist, I mean really lost.
My first help request some month ago had partially been answered before (hey, most of them have...)When requesting silent codes I used the wrong forum (this one) aso
The point is: also here the learning curve is steep and you quickly learn what to find, where and how.
2) for you guys who have already answered 2000+ questions my advice is: leave the newbie questions to the "ex-newbies-Now-pretty-remote-smart-but-still-no-kings". I understand that you don't feel like answering the same question 500 times. But remember: for this newbie it's the first time! So don't hate him...
3)"discreet codes needed" is a typical thread which per definition somebody needs something, without giving anything in return (except maybe thanks) So if you feel irritated about the zillions request, think differently: maybe 1 of 10 of these discreet hunters will start enjoying the support and also join the forum to answer "stupid" newbie questions. That's in my view the point of a forum like this one.
4)Why does everybody ask for discreets in this Forum and not in the "Discreet forum"?
Because everybody reads these threads. So while in the discreet forum you need someone to actually go actively in saying "Hey now I feel like helping some poor bastard, let's see if I've got some help to offer..."
In this forum I maybe be searching something else and just happen to see someone mention a device I've got. "Hey he needs discreet codes and I have them..."
So while in this forum the help is reactive, in discreet forum it's active (great difference!).
Now is this so bad? I beleive that's what makes this forum so good!

5)I wish to thank everybody who even though might hate stupid questions, but still during the last few month have answered my questions. They include people like Anthony,DanielTonks,Eugeny Olianov,bomberjim,LyndelMcGee,Star50fiveoh who seem to anwer most of the questions here. Keep it up!Don't hate us...

6)Nothing to do with this thread (shit, here goes the newbie again...): when going through old threads I couldn't help but wonder why Star50fiveoh responds to to threads that are 1,2 or 3 years old ???!!!! I would also be dead tired of answering questions if I started doing that...Just wondering....

Hang on! You're not suggesting he's related to G50AE are you? (Light the blue touch paper; stand well clear).

GA50 = star50(fiveoh)?

Hell I don't know, but one answers virtually every thread today and the other defunct ones... Makes you think
So are they complementary- or alter egos?

Another thing: I have a remote, but I don't know which device it controls nor where to point it. HELP!
There is a red button, 27 grey ones and one white one.Do you know the modell? Anybody? What are the cylindrical shaped things hidden in the back in a secret compartment?
PLEASE HELP!
I'll put this also in the X-10 chat forum just to be sure somebody answers!

As a more recent addition to the Self Proclaimed "Pronto Gods" I wish we could Anchor a post at the top of the Forum that would state the Parameters of requests and Let people know the general sequence of Events.

1: Read the FAQ, and other Documents here.
2: Do a Forum Search.
2: Check the Files Section

80% of questions could probobly be answered by 1 and/or 2, and it amazes me how often the files people are looking for are already in the files area.

Impaqt

Newbie questions really don't bother me. The posts I really hated to see were the "I got the greatest ccf in world" types. Thankfully, I can only think of 3 such individuals in the last 2+ years.

Dale's "buddy". What an ego. His website was hawking some sort of unregulated health food supplements. Actually, his ccf was quite good - graphically anyway, maybe even a top ten. I thought the navigation sucked, guess I'm just not a Mac person.

The guy with the Windows XP ccf. Eventually, after an obnoxious start, became a pretty good guy. Initially, the ccf was pretty bad, but eventually became pretty good.

My favorite was Shabaz (or something similar), never did post his ccf, even after repeated promises to do so. The best thing I can say about him is that we finally DID teach him to speak English.

Jim L

two things that annoy me
1) people who are asking for help, but have an attitude about it. Like we are some kind of paid helpdesk and it is our job to feed them the answer (not that I would act that way with someone at a helpdesk)
2) this matches a bit 1) and bit what Rob said. The guy asks a basic question that might have a simple answer. When you give them a possible solution they answer back that they know that and why are you insulting their intelligence

(i.e.
P1: My Pronto can't learn
P2: are you sure you are pointing the Pronto in the right direction?
P1: what do you take me for an idiot, obviously I know what direction to point the remotes

That is the answer most of the times, and he does not give enough info to preclude that answer. We don't know who he is, or how intelligent he is, why does he take it personally. Also we have all made basic mistakes before, like "stupid thing does not work, just to find out the power cable was not plugged)


So while in this forum the help is reactive, in discreet forum it's active (great difference!).

I agree, that the Pronto forum might have more activity, but discrete codes are needed by anyone that has a universal remote. So that forum means that the knowledge that such codes exist (or not) can be important for someone with a different remote.


I think people who want to help probably will. I see it this way, I got great help when I first started, and I come here anyway to find out what is new, so helping people with the knowledge I have gained is a way for me to give back.

Wonder who you're referring to?? The real problem was that you were just so damn RIGHT!!! Boy, can that be annoying. ;-)


Depends on the helpdesk:

Call to Dell, - "Sir, you'll have to call the software manufacturer for that problem."

Call to the software manufacturer - "Sir you'll have to call Dell for that problem."

It's also pretty hard to keep your cool with Philips tech support for the Pronto. Yuk, Yuk.

Jim L

I know what you mean Jim, but in those cases I try to remind myself that it is not necessarily the fault of the person at the phone or desk. But your stories reminded me of the time I tried calling Philips to find out if their Plasmas had discrete codes. Kept on getting transferred from one department to the other, never got an answer :-)




no one in particular.

Well, there was that guy you tried to help with all those "zippy" amswers. ;-) He sure seemed to fit the description. I'm sure Star knows who I mean. I wouldn't give him my phone number either.

Jim L

well, i think this thread is serving it's purpose and deserving of it's name change.

which was my intent, all along.

---

i would like to ad this about the PDA questions brought up by king.

there is PDA software out there (pdaWIN) that will allow you to import a complete Color CCF. Either one you download from the files section here, or one you build yourself using ProntoEdit.

Now many of those PDAers know nothing about PE, and come here looking for help with it (PE), sending them to the PDA Forum looking for help with PE is pretty much like sending them to a high school algebra class for the proof of fermat's last theorem...........it's probably there, but everyone else is looking for it too 'cause it's gonna be on a pop quiz, but no one else has the foggiest idea either.

yes, i know it's been solved, but that just adds to the confusion....

I recently bought a Dell Axim 400Mhz as an alternative to buying a color pronto (or marantz)
$250 -vs- $500+........go figger! And most of those folk on the Axim Sites/Forums have NO EARTHLY IDEA what a CCF even is. I've been telling them to come here (RemCen is already heavily referenced), but I tell them not to mention they're using a PDA, or they'll risk getting sent to the pit of the PDA Forum (a very inactive Forum). I tell them to ask for help with a PE problem theyre having, instead.........and never, ever, ever use the term PDA in their quest. I try to help them on the Axim Forums if i can, but............i will admit i don't know everything!.......ouch, that hurt!.....so i send them here with those caveats.

so, don't dismiss a PDA question so quickly........they are probably looking for ProntoEdit help, more than PDA help.

as a side note: this Axim is an awsome PDA, 400Mhz, it seems thare's not much this thing can't do. and compared to the $400 or so of other PDA XScale platforms out there, is there any wonder it has an ever increasing user base? (I paid ~$250, used, for mine.........used once!, and put back in all the original packaging. I don't care if it ws really used 10 times, it is in absolutely immaculate condition. you can find refurbs even cheaper, straight from Dell, with warranty. but this guy included a 128M SD Card and a 256M CF Card....whatta deal! (Axims use BOTH Cards at the same time WITH NO SLEDS or ADDONS.

in case you can't tell........i really like my new toy!

This message was edited by star50fiveoh on 05/27/03 14:59.

Just gotta tell this recent story about tech support, sorry, just bear with me.

My earlier comments about Dell were prompted because I just got a brand new digital computing machine from them. I also have a real looong story about them (even compared to below), which I won't bore you with, yet.

In any event, in the pursuit of the computer of my dreams, I also purchased an HP "All-in-One" (printer/fax/copier/scanner) online (not from Dell). Sooooo, I install the software (no sweat), then plug in/turn-on the printer and immediately run into several problems:

1 - The computer absolutely refuses to reboot into Windows XP (warm or cold boot) if the printer is left on. Christ - it's got "Built for Windows XP" stickers plastered all over the box. A call to HP tech support fixed this pretty quick. Had to alter one setting in Bios.

2 - Every time I turn the unit on, Windows gives me a "bong" and a little icon in the sys tray. The icon says "Safely Remove Hardware" - the hardware it's talking about is every single entry in device manager that relates to this printer. After 1 1/2 hours on the phone, tech support concluded that this was a "Windows feature". That's a quote, honest. Tech-speak translation: we have no clue how to fix it. Now in fairness, printer operation is in no way affected, and the icon does go away if you turn off the printer - but remember what those stickers on the box said?

3 - Much later, I just happened to discover a brand new entry in my scheduled tasks folder. It was labeled "FRU task - HP PSC 2210..." (the printer model #) and then a whole bunch of other numbers. It was scheduled to be run about every hour. 'nother call to tech support. Three techs had never heard of it - finally one guy was able to find it in a manual. FRU stands for Flight Recorder Unit. They should advertise this as the "Printer with Wings". It is used to collect data on the use of the printer/fax/copier/scanner to "Aid HP in designing and improving their equipment". DAMN - SPYWARE!!!! They reluctantly admitted that it could be deleted without consequence after I told them that my firewall wouldn't let the stupid thing phone home anyway.

All of this struck me as being quite funny in a very sad sort of way. I tell this story at my financial peril, since I own stock in HP. So please - BUY, BUY, BUY HP equipment.

Jim L