Do we have the same fate as TV Techs?

[Berk]

I don't know if all people your age are technology savy. I'm 26 and most of the people whom I work with at my day job (who are within +/-5 years of me) are about as computer savy as a brick.

Even though its not in my job description I end up fixing most IT problems because it takes 30+ minutes just to get the computer help desk on the phone (the help desk supports the hospital that I work at and 17 others, so there are a lot of people they support).

The nice part of me fixing stuff is that I might be getting a "promotion" to work at an internal hospital help desk they are looking at forming here.

The industry will change, we all know that. But even with computers that are simple cheap and more "user friendly", people will still look for help. I know plenty of people my age that have issues using the cloud just for simple file storage and document retrieval.

The industry may shrink, it may change, but I feel that if you can adapt to the changing needs of technology, you will always be able to find something.

 

[Dameize]

I don't know if all people your age are technology savy. I'm 26 and most of the people whom I work with at my day job (who are within +/-5 years of me) are about as computer savy as a brick.

Even though its not in my job description I end up fixing most IT problems because it takes 30+ minutes just to get the computer help desk on the phone (the help desk supports the hospital that I work at and 17 others, so there are a lot of people they support).

The nice part of me fixing stuff is that I might be getting a "promotion" to work at an internal hospital help desk they are looking at forming here.

The industry will change, we all know that. But even with computers that are simple cheap and more "user friendly", people will still look for help. I know plenty of people my age that have issues using the cloud just for simple file storage and document retrieval.

The industry may shrink, it may change, but I feel that if you can adapt to the changing needs of technology, you will always be able to find something.

I meant in terms of virus related things not hardware failure. A lot of people my age dont know that much but I have noticed a fair few doing pizza tech prices on things. I dont charge a huge ammount but it is still within 10-20% of what my competitors charge some charge like 50% less ive seen some offering any fix for 20 pound including courier costs...

 

[edmar]

This is the reason why we need to adapt to new technologies. We always need to be one step ahead of our competition and even one step ahead of our clients. When new technology comes out, we should be the first to try it out. That's the only way I see. We don't want to be stagnant to what we know.

 

[andcorptech]

Well at 18 and only just going out into the world so to speak I think that computer repair is something still worth getting established in but i do accept it is somewhat saturated and I am going to need to be a bit of a jack of all trades e.g. phones, consoles etc. I know from people my age most are technology capable and my main point was those using our services now (probably 35+? (mainly)) will be almost gone in 20 years when im in my late thirties meaning those my age and younger will be capable of doing almost everything anyway and willl not need a tech.

We have alot of 18-30 year old customers who use technology but are definatley not savvy. We live in an area where mining is a big industry so we get alot of young miners all cashed up and breaking things all the time. They pay us to fix it rather than understand it themselves. I think ill be around for at least 5 more years but after that its anyones guess.

As for futureproofing , im learning robotics building and programming. I think its going to become more prevelant in 5+ years

 

[Berk]

I meant in terms of virus related things not hardware failure. A lot of people my age dont know that much but I have noticed a fair few doing pizza tech prices on things. I dont charge a huge ammount but it is still within 10-20% of what my competitors charge some charge like 50% less ive seen some offering any fix for 20 pound including courier costs...

Ok, I see where you're coming from. Viruses may go away, they may stay. I personally don't believe that any operating system will ever be virus proof.

I know what you mean about people fixing computers for 20.00 dollars, pounds, etc... I have one guy in my area that advertises to fix any computer problem no matter how big or small for $20.00 USD. I have people come to me and ask if I can beat his prices. I tell them that my prices are what they are, but feel free to go to him if they want to.

I mainly see "competition" such as this as someone who is doing me a favor by keeping away clients I don't want (i.e. cheapskates, the ones who "warranty" their work every 3 days because you obviously sent their computer back to them without the sides on the case, etc...)

Also, I mainly focus on business contracts, and even with the cloud most people I've talked to (don't have any contracts yet, but hopefully signing my first one this week) want their data backed up somewhere besides the cloud. I feel that this is mainly because the cloud is a new technology to end users, and most don't trust it yet. But most businesses would rather have a tech guy they can count on to help ensure that failures don't happen, or that if they do they have a professional they can rely on to fix the problem.

 

[pc-quebec]

In short, the Pizza tech may have the same fate as the dinosaurs, but they will always have a place for network tech. Simple to understand, any Joe Blow can purchase a PC and learn Windows 7 , 8 or whatever and improvise itself tech the next day. But learning Networking, Servers, Domain, Back-up, Failover Cluster, Routing, Mail servers …etc.; Well it’s not the same league and you need training and a job to get experience.

 

[keeperofthecode]

I see everyone on here reading this that has a business name with computer in it going and filing for a new DBA this week. I myself am going to sink all my money into Battlebots. Heck yeah!!!!!

 

[Appleby]

From your argument I can tell you that your problem is that you are in the computer business, not the technology business. Yes, your self defined business is going to shrink, especially if you cannot allow yourself to think of ipads, iphones, android devices, computerized home monitoring systems and other high tech home devices are computers.

I'm not at all arguing that there will be a new realm of business open up that is related to technology and basically require just as many techs as the computer repair/support industry requires today. That isn't what I was debating. I was debating the thought process that blindly says "Oh people will always have computers, so there will always been repairs, our business model isn't going anywhere."

And for the record, I do VERY little hardware repair anymore. I mean very little. My virus repair is 1/10th of what it was since the credit card processors seemed to have shut down alot of the scareware scammers. But my business has grown because of the services I offer, services like small business office setups and networking, pre-purchase advice, Kindle/iPad setup help etc.

From what I know I think appleby is only into apple machines so he would know what no virus income is like. I know you need to expand and Im always learning new things. Im currently learning how to repair blackberrys and laptop dc jacks etc im also studying networking at uni.

Not sure if you are referring to me or not but I have only touched an Apple computer 2-3 times in the last 5-7 years and I'm still looking for the right-click button.lol I do own an iPhone and an iPod but that's as far as my Apple knowledge goes. There is not near enough Apple computers out there in my small market to justify me learning Apple repair. I get about 5-7 phone calls a year asking if I repair Apple computers.

 

[Dameize]

Must be someone else lol

 

[Martyn]

Well I'm age the age where I don't have to worry too much about the future but as far as everyone else is concerned you just have to move with the times. Technology moves on and so do you. If you are that way inclined then you won't have a problem. I used to go into banks back in the late 70s early 80s where the typical person at the counter who saw you used a microfiche reader with fiche updated daily. Microfilm/fiche was around at that time but you don't hear much about it now. I used to repair all sorts of fiche and film readers and printers. I even used to repair the cheque readers that used to photograph the cheques onto roll film so I used to develop the film onsite in a black bag! Then I moved onto Space Invaders around 1980 then onto photocopiers. The only thing commonly connected in those days was the mains lead Then in the late 90s after having various of the old dos/286/386 etc computers everything went networked so I went on and did my MCSE and CCNA at aged 49. Up to two years ago I was a systems consultant and got fed up of the travelling nationally so went out on my own. As you can see there is always somewhere to move to, no panic needed. I'm thinking of adding connectivity to smart tvs as that is the 'flavour of the month' now. I talk to lots of people who just don't even know what they have.

 

[Screwloose]

I always find these discussions interesting ... I personally believe that techs will still be working out of their small shops or garages, etc in 15 years but like many here have said the business will move towards devices and connectivity. Sure there may still be desktop and laptop work but as both electronics, software and technology move forward there are many possibilities as to what we will be working on come 15 years from now.

People are smart and adaptive to change ... especially folks who work in our industry.

 

[Dameize]

To point out in this discussion im actually referring to the PC tech as is not expanding to other niches. Its fair enough saying 'yes expand!' but PC Tech as is.. fixing computers. Will we exist? Personally no we will not other niches will need to be found within 15 years.

 

[MSC]

I'm going to do more woodworking, and web based database development, as my backup plan.
Also it's good to remember that these customers who constantly who click on everything will always click on everything, and they will have children, and the cycle will continue.

 

[callthatgirl]

No.

Filll fill filly fill

 

[Cornerstone Technologies]

No.

Filll fill filly fill

As some of my professors would have said, this answer is not substantive.

 

[Screwloose]

Will we exist? Personally no we will not other niches will need to be found within 15 years.

Actually I beg to differ ... let me explain my personal view point a bit. We will exist. I refer you to a buddy of mine who said to me 18 years ago "Dude, it's all fine and great that you can make money working on peoples PCs but the technology moves so fast that in 10 years there will be something that replaces all of those PCs ... you just wait and see!"

Well I did wait and see while I continued to fix PCs and laptops .... 18 years later I work in a Corporate environment for my day job ( YaY benefits! lol ) but still fix PCs on the side and other than the expected changes and improvements PCs are still here. The focus of the work shifted but hasnt ceased to exist. I am still a PC tech 18 years later.

Sure, TVs will have more connectivity and yes tablets will most likely grab a huge market as are Smart Phones but we will still fix them and I really do not expect PCs and laptops to just dry up nor become so infrequent that we wont see much of that work. They are certainly becomning more disposable but that just shifts the work... the PC is still here and it wont disapear. Virii will still be out there ( if you really think thats going to disapear you are fooling yourself ) and other forms of mischief. Software evolves and becomes more "user friendly" but there will still be software issues to be handled.

PC techs will simply learn to shift and expand their work to where it is needed in the PC arena unlike a TV technician who can only work on the TV itself.

 

[jdpetrov]

In order for PCs/Laptops/Etc to die, Smartphones and Tablets will have to be able to handle every task that a PC can. Right now they can't.

The main issue is the OS differences between Tablet and Computer. I know Windows 8 might start to change that, but right now I can't use Adobe Creative Suite on a Motorola Xoom tablet. Yeah, there are apps that are CLOSE to the same functionality, but if I want THAT specific software I have to grab a Windows or Mac box to run it. Want to play Battlefield 3 at insane settings? You'll need a PC.

I won't be at all concerned with PCs "Going the way of the buffalo" until Smartphones and Tablets come equipped with insanely powerful chipsets and same OS's as PCs. Even with Windows 8 perhaps closing the OS gap, software makers still might only make their program run on Desktop version of Windows 8. Or Tablet Win8 might not have enough power to run it.

As long as Smart devices aren't identical to PCs, PCs will never die.

 

[Dameize]

If your going down the smartphone/tablet path give it five years IMO duel cores are already out and they are surprisingly powerfull. Just need a breakthrough in technology for micro parts and they will boom in production and increased support.

 

[callthatgirl]

haha, As some of my professors would have said, this answer is not substantive.

Well, I think many things are going to change, it's up to each of us to figure out how we adapt our businesses to be able to still service our clients.

I know one thing, people will always need help with whatever is trending.

 

[Dameize]

Well in an unrelated topic craig and I were talking today and he made the point that all devices are technically personal computers so in a way that is true. Like callthatgirl also said, whatever is trending will need people take a look at the internet for example with SEO and website design.