Do we have the same fate as TV Techs?

[goldmercury]

I was talking to my granda today who was previously a television engineer from about the age of 16. When I was talking to him he said that he worked for a firm that had about 12 employees and each literally did about 10-40 jobs per day each on a home visit basis. This was in probably a 15 mile radius of where i live maybe even 10..

This was when tvs were popular. he gave me a huge insight on what he did and from what he told me it was pretty much the same as pc techs today. As tvs became cheaper though they became easier to replace and less prone to faults.

I know this has been discussed before but do you think computer technicians have the same fate as tv techs? that firm with like 12 employees doing an average of probably 25 jobs a day each plus competing firms (he said there was like 2-3 + shops) are now dead and tvs are very cheap and not worth fixing. I know a lot of pc stuff is software based but as windows is updated its going to be less and less virus prone just like mac osx is not very prone to getting viruses.

It just got my thinking really as I know a lot of people that are 15/16 etc are tech savvy and in a few years will be the threat that those who are 18-22 are to the older ones now.

My personal opinion is that in 15 years time we will be pretty much obsolete.

Discuss.

I agree with the OP here - I see the rise of ultra books and tablets as the nail on the coffin for a lot of folks. My personal advice would be to get out of the residential side of things and provide IT support to businesses - they are always going to have issues that need fixed quickly.

Ultrabooks look like to much work to try and repair!

 

[Dameize]

for me business is a no go atm

 

[pc-quebec]

for me business is a no go atm

So you go in the wrong direction, repairing computers is easy; a lot of peoples know someone who can do it for free to them. Peoples go on forums to know what to do. Networks, servers , is a different story, of course it's easy to workgroup pcs together, but when it comes to servers, especially mail and database one, their back-up, they need tech..

 

[Dameize]

So you go in the wrong direction, repairing computers is easy; a lot of peoples know someone who can do it for free to them. Peoples go on forums to know what to do. Networks, servers , is a different story, of course it's easy to workgroup pcs together, but when it comes to servers, especially mail and database one, their back-up, they need tech..

Business users are currently out of my range due to im still learning at uni and I dont have the experience or 'age' or 'appearance' behind me yet to handle this. I will use home based customers to get my business started and then go in the business direction in the next couple of years.

 

[pc-quebec]

...I will use home based customers to get my business started and then go in the business direction in the next couple of years.

That's a good idea. If you want to experiment with Servers, you can build a Hyper-V server and host few Microsoft Servers and OS in it, and then you create a virtual network inside, so you can experiment Domain and stuff related to business environment. The cheapest way to get all the Microsoft softwares for experiment and learn is a TechNet subscription.

if the link point to a French Canadien technet website, because of my PC setting, just change the location in upper right , but I guess you will get the UK one

http://technet.microsoft.com/subscriptions/hh442910.aspx

 

[Dameize]

That's a good idea. If you want to experiment with Servers, you can build a Hyper-V server and host few Microsoft Servers and OS in it, and then you create a virtual network inside, so you can experiment Domain and stuff related to business environment. The cheapest way to get all the Microsoft softwares for experiment and learn is a TechNet subscription.

if the link point to a French Canadien technet website, because of my PC setting, just change the location in upper right , but I guess you will get the UK one

http://technet.microsoft.com/subscriptions/hh442910.aspx

Thanks mate, will have to look into it. Im doing networking at uni at the moment.

 

[Wheelie]

Great thread. We all need to be aware of the changes at hand and learn to evolve with it.

I see the general trend toward:

• Mobile broadband more fully available in residences
• The PC trending toward smaller (ie smart phones and tablets)
• More powerful computers (Moore's Law is now reducing the time to double power)
• Still have ability to utilize full-size LCD displays and full-sized keyboards and mice with smart phones and tablets (your smart phone or tablet will be your PC)
• All your data stored in the cloud (no data loss issues)
• Most apps are cloud-based (can't lose you installation disks)
• Locally installed data and apps are automatically backed up to the cloud (in case of failure they just pop back on your device automatically)

Benefit to the consumer:

• This eliminates the need to clean viruses (customer just holds down 3 keys and hard reset fixes) and all data & apps restore automatically
• This eliminates the need to reload the OS if it gets corrupt (customer just holds down 3 keys and hard reset fixes) and all data & apps restore automatically
• This eliminates hard disk repairs/replacements (there are no failure-prone rotating hard disks)
• This eliminates motherboard repairs/replacements
• This eliminates power supply repairs/replacements
• This eliminates PC tune ups

I do believe change is coming. I don't like it but I know I will have to adapt.

 

[dond]

This has been an interesting thread to read. I searched retire as that is what I plan to do in a couple of years, from the 9 - 5 day job and was thinking of doing the pizza tech job for the home user. hOWEVER THE DOOM AND GLOOM sound on here sounds like I won't find any work. However, having been in computers since the late 60's I'm sure that is not the case. I may have to do something other than Fortran and Cobol programing but I'm sure there will be a little work out there.

 

[Wheelie]

... THE DOOM AND GLOOM sound on here sounds like I won't find any work. However, having been in computers since the late 60's I'm sure that is not the case. I may have to do something other than Fortran and Cobol programing but I'm sure there will be a little work out there.

The transition has started but may take several years to fully convert - so there should be work for you in the interim. But I do strongly believe that the marketplace for PC repair will substantially drop because of technology changes. The trend to smaller and faster (while being almost totally non-serviceable) will happen and we cannot stop it. The only work there is for iPhones, iPads, Androids are screen repairs ... and the margins in that business sucks.

Apple and Android have successfully "fenced in" the user through those operating systems. The lack of ability of the user to corrupt the device will make it's way into home and business computing and that will reduce the demand for repair people. The big question of the day ----> will Windows 8 also bring that to the table? Not sure. The demo PC that I loaded Windows 8 on still has that f'kd up Windows Registry so for now we're safe (I think). And as long as PC manufacturers continue to deliver PC's with the equally f'kd up rotating hard disk we are good. Both those dinosaurs comprise a huge chunk of my current business.

Watch new trends in computing technology closely because things are changing rapidly. It would not take much to terminate the PC repair business in my opinion. But it will take a combination of things. Watch mobile broadband speeds and data usage fees. Watch to see if HTC, Samsung or Apple makes an easy way to connect your smart phone to a full-size keyboard, mouse and 23" LCD (that is the day the tower PC will largely die). Watch what software makers do with their huge clunky programs written for the Windows and Mac PC. Are they converting them for smart phones and tablets? I.E. is Quicken, QuickBooks or AutoCad for Android out yet? Watch the numbers to see whether consumers fully adopt "cloud computing." My experience is that many users do not want their stuff all over iCloud but some do. Another really important thing to watch is what happens with Windows 8: it is supposed to be "everything to everyone on any platform" but they are so far behind the curve I would not be surprised if this does not deal them a huge blow. The current Windows phone offering is a stupid $29 and does not even run Windows 8 yet. So Microsoft has yet to even show up to the tablet/smart phone party.

Things are changing and we are mid-stride at the start of this change so it is too early to predict how fast things will transition and exactly which direction things will go. It does not look good for the PC repair business though. Quite a few of the brightest minds have weighed in and have said the death of the PC as we currently know it is coming and these companies are putting their money where their mouths are and have been making big shifts in business strategy as a result. Things are changing in big ways.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

I love the typical response to my posts on this topic ... the post-skimmers (I.E people not reading for comprehension) that say: "but I HATE typing on a tiny little teensy smart phone keyboard and could never send someone a letter using it blah blah blah." They either missed the part above about full-sized interfaces or they simply do not grasp the seriousness of it. WHEN THE SMART PHONE AND TABLET ARE CAPABLE OF BEING CONNECTED EASILY TO A FULL-SIZE KEYBOARD, MOUSE, AND 23" LCD THE TOWER PC (and the Windows OS that goes with it) IS LARGELY DEAD.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

.

 

[Wheelie]

The difference is all a tv does is change channels. There is so much user input with a computer they will always find a way to break them.

Let me know when they can do that to an iPhone, iPad or Android. Pretty much all they do is "change channels" and yet they deliver a hugely successful, safe, and satisfying user experience.

 

[Screwloose]

Let me know when they can do that to an iPhone, iPad or Android. Pretty much all they do is "change channels" and yet they deliver a hugely successful, safe, and satisfying user experience.

Really? Do you honestly think I havent "broken" my Android before? Do you really think iPhones and iPads have not had any problems? They just deliver a flawless user experience with no issues?? You should read the different user forums for the cell phone carriers and I think you would change your mind. I have done phone support for Androids and they are far from perfect and I have many friends who complain about thier iPhones in some form or another.

Please, please send me some of what your smoking

 

[Wheelie]

Really? Do you honestly think I havent "broken" my Android before?

No. I'm sure you probably crash your Android in ways we have never seen. But you would be rare for the most part. Most end-users have a >>relatively<< pain-free user experience with the Android or iOS operating systems. Relative to the painful Windows desktop/laptop experience it is night and day. And look at the difference if there is a crash and burn scenario: on your Android simply hold down 3 buttons and select "yes" and poof the OS is fixed. Not so much on Windows. Difference? Technician or no technician required.

Three important things to observe:

1. The Apple Store and Google Marketplace almost perfectly eliminate viruses
2. No failure-prone rotating hard disks
3. Cloud-based apps, cloud-based data & e-mail backups eliminate worries of data loss

Bringing those types of features to the laptop/desktop PC could cut the typical PC repair tech's revenue stream in half. Eliminate the Windows registry and that could eliminate another 25% of business for you.

 

[dond]

T
Watch new trends in computing technology closely because things are changing rapidly. It would not take much to terminate the PC repair business in my opinion. But it will take a combination of things. Watch mobile broadband speeds and data usage fees. Watch to see if HTC, Samsung or Apple makes an easy way to connect your smart phone to a full-size keyboard, mouse and 23" LCD (that is the day the tower PC will largely die).
--------------------------------------------------------------------

.

I imagine within the next year or two someone will come up with a docking station for the Ipad or one of the other devices. This will probably be a wireless setup so that it can be connected to your big screen tv and you can work from across the room. After that everyone will be jumping to get their docking station set up so they don't loose market share. So what else will be connected to the "docked" device? Network storage? Wireless printer?
Home Wifi? Other workstations? Although these devices would also be available via Wifi any way.

 

[Screwloose]

No. I'm sure you probably crash your Android in ways we have never seen. But you would be rare for the most part. Most end-users have a >>relatively<< pain-free user experience with the Android or iOS operating systems.

ok ... I am sure all of those forums with people who ROUTINELY have issues with Android, iOS etc are just put up for the eye candy

I guess if all you do is make phone calls then yes they are flawless and never have issues. I know just in the time I did phone support for one of the largest privately held companies in the world I saw many issues especially in the Enterprise environment.

Plus you take into account all of the folks who try to jail break their phone and do mods and that number just gets better.

Dont get me wrong, as far as issues that require a tech I am sure the support numbers are much better but to say that the smart phone experience is pretty much flawless is not accurate. Not to say that your own personal experiences do not reflect your views I am just saying that there are plenty of folks who experience problems with their phones that warrents folks who do only that for a living.

 

[maclaptech]

[/LIST]

Bringing those types of features to the laptop/desktop PC could cut the typical PC repair tech's revenue stream in half. Eliminate the Windows registry and that could eliminate another 25% of business for you.

If it is made by man, it will have problems, that goes for iPhone, Androids, etc. I know because I fix them and see them every day.

 

[forumator]

As an employee of a small repair shop (6 fulltime employees) where we do all our work instore and most of our clients are home users, we've definitely seen a downward trend in desktop repair, though laptop repair has remained consistent for now. SALES on the other hand have plummeted, it's just harder than ever to justify the higher pricetag of our custom built systems (w/ our local warranty) compared to what you can get at Costco or Staples. Honestly it was sales that stoked our fires and losing those profits in the last few years has been a hard pill to swallow for the owners...

So this has forced us to start seriously investigating MSP options, which we should have anyways long ago but hindsight is 20/20

Anyways, desktop repair for home users is definitely going to be the first to die, followed thereafter by laptop repair (though that won't be for at least another 5 years imo). Now are in the painful stage of having to figure out how to adapt while cash flow is low.

 

[PCmechanic]

I'm hoping the Surface Windows 8 tablets will take off.

Full Windows OS = Windows issues = continued revenue lol

 

[SprinterTech-WI]

well our tv repair calls are up by about 200% got 6 calls in the last 36hrs.... and we don't even advertise it much lol

 

[PCX]

I haven't read through this thread in a while, but I do find it ironic since we will be doing TV repair as soon as we can get a TV Tech in here. The way I see the computer repair industry (when it comes to shops at least) is that we are expected and almost required to do pretty much everything; Phones, tablets, computers, cameras, TVs and other electronics. I even get calls every once in a while about fixing toys, more specifically leap frog tablets for kids and similar.

 

[SprinterTech-WI]

I haven't read through this thread in a while, but I do find it ironic since we will be doing TV repair as soon as we can get a TV Tech in here. The way I see the computer repair industry (when it comes to shops at least) is that we are expected and almost required to do pretty much everything; Phones, tablets, computers, cameras, TVs and other electronics. I even get calls every once in a while about fixing toys, more specifically leap frog tablets for kids and similar.

yep, I tell some people "if it's got a circuit board we do something to it.... and we always have a hammer ready " usually gets a good laugh out of them!