Clean Up or Buy New PC?

[tw]

Originally Posted by Juniper

Not true. As I posted elsewhere, I recently got a quote of $117 to fix my daughter's cell phone. I fixed it myself with a $14 part. Most people DIY because it is cheaper. Do I really care about learning how to fix cell phones?

No. What you learned was more than just about cell phones. Or you learned that by fixing something else. Now what you learned has been expanded to include how cell phones work. Necessary details to prove your point are missing. However, if a shop charged an outrageous $100+ to fix a $14 problem, you have learned there is a problem with cell phone shops, or that cell phone dealer, or ... well you tell me.

So how long did it take to discover that a $14 part was required? You knew immediately? Or did you have to go shopping at your time worth how many dollars per hour? Insufficient facts are provided to confirm or deny your conclusion. Your conclusion does not provide the always necessary supporting details. So your conclusion goes into another box labeled 'unknown and unverified'. I cannot give your claim any credence (or respect or whatever it might be called) because it arrives without the necessary supporting details - the required reasons why.

I periodically fix other's computers for peanuts or nothing. Why? Many times to simply learn that what I knew still applies to current technology. That is the only reason I fix their machines. In a few cases, (due to my mistake) I paid $40 or $80 to correct my mistake. I didn't charge. I learned an expensive lesson - or in one case learned that hardware weakness still exists.

[Juniper]

Originally Posted by tw

No. What you learned was more than just about cell phones. Or you learned that by fixing something else. Now what you learned has been expanded to include how cell phones work. Necessary details to prove your point are missing. However, if a shop charged an outrageous $100+ to fix a $14 problem, you have learned there is a problem with cell phone shops, or that cell phone dealer, or ... well you tell me.

So how long did it take to discover that a $14 part was required? You knew immediately? Or did you have to go shopping at your time worth how many dollars per hour? Insufficient facts are provided to confirm or deny your conclusion. Your conclusion does not provide the always necessary supporting details. So your conclusion goes into another box labeled 'unknown and unverified'. I cannot give your claim any credence (or respect or whatever it might be called) because it arrives without the necessary supporting details - the required reasons why.

It was fairly obvious that the only problem was the LCD screen, because the phone was otherwise operational. I googled "cell phone repair" and asked for a quote from a shop. Then I figured, well, repair shops have to get their parts somewhere, right? I googled "LCD Screen Sony Ericsson W580i" and found it for $4 on eBay. Ta-da! It's just like replacing a memory card in the computer.

The repair shop - any shop - has to pay its employees. That is why you pay $100 for a repair that just needs a $10 part - the other $90 is labor. Same goes with car repair. I don't know how to put on new brake pads, so I have to pay someone who does, even though those pads might only cost $20. I could learn, if I was so inclined.

Granted the knowledge gained does translate to other areas -- if I learned how to fix the cell phone, or how to find out how to fix the cell phone, by putting memory in my PC through the years, I guess that would go along with your point. But I can't agree with the cause and effect here. I didn't put memory cards in my PC so I would know how to fix other things in the future, like the cell phone. I did it so I could have a faster PC without paying someone else to do it.

[tw]

Originally Posted by Juniper

It was fairly obvious that the only problem was the LCD screen, because the phone was otherwise operational.

LCD screens I had seen had speciality screws or other unique hardware. For example, one scree was a 'three star' equivalent to the standard four star phillips. Did not know LCD screens were that easily replaced or cost so little now. What vintage (year) phone?

[tw]

Originally Posted by Juniper

I didn't put memory cards in my PC so I would know how to fix other things in the future, like the cell phone. I did it so I could have a faster PC without paying someone else to do it.

But now you are walking away with knowledge about how simple memory installation is, concepts such as number of pins, speed, voltage, ... basically the repair shop no longer has a fool to take to the cleaners. Or that knowledge carries over into getting a TV fixed, buying household appliances, etc.- generally becoming a more informed consumer.

Or having learned about upping memory, you now have a better grasp of how much faster a machine becomes - or when it is faster.

Of course, since the memory upgrade went OK, you did not learn even more. We tend to learn more from our destructive mistakes. Either about how easily we do stupid things, or how reliable or consistent we really are. Why did they have everyone climb that rope in gym class? There really are adults who had to be taught how to screw in a screw. They never fixed anything. They never learned by doing. Simply climbing that rope is a lesson that we actually can do more than we had thought.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by tw

snip~ I periodically fix other's computers for peanuts or nothing. Why? Many times to simply learn that what I knew still applies to current technology. That is the only reason I fix their machines. ~snip

I believe you.