As many my know, I'm an administrator and computer technician for a chemical company. There are around 100 workstations or computers independantly running appications throught the plant. So I get quite a few calls. Granted, 100 isn't all that horrible. I mean, some corporations have upwards in the thousands... but anyway.

A few days ago, I had a guy from the administration building come up to my office and ask me to install this piece of hardware on his computer. First off, there aren't suppose to be any devices or software installed or ran on these computers that aren't approved by either the plant manager or the IT department... and everyone should know this. So I was a little flustered that I had to go out of my way doing something that I probably shouldn't even do. Well... it was a devices called Scan2contacts. And it is litterally a miniture scanner. But it only scans business cards. Once scanned, it'll automatically pull the name, number, and other information off the card and automatically import it into Microsoft Outlook as a contact.

That's right, it's a devices for people who are too f*cking lazy to type in the contacts into outlook themselves.

Well, the reason he's getting a hold of me is because someone how managed to f*ck up the install. So I though, fine, I'll just uninstall it and install it the RIGHT way and be done with it. No. That would be way to f*cking easy. For some reason, the uninstall doesn't pull out anything other than just the program and not the directories and drivers or registry information in regedit. Oh, and here's a good part. There is no application or EXE. The scan program gets added as a function within Outlook... which I can't seem to get to show up. I talked to my boss about it, and he was like... well, just try to get it running for him anyway. Fine. I installed it fresh on MY computer and it went in just fine. Great.

Well, I went back down to this guys office to try one more thing... of which obviously didn't work. I said to him that the only way we can honestly get this thing to run is if we reformat the computer. And I said that in a mannor in which sounded like it would be a very bad idea and just f*cking overkill.

He wanted me to do it! I mean, it wouldn't be so bad if there wasn't so much you had to do to these damn computers after the OS is installed. The plant runs all this extra sh*t that I don't even understand. I just install it. There's avantis, and then setting up the login and such. AS400 which is a program that runs like a DOS prompt, that has to have VERY specific setting to talk with a server out of state. Then there's the drivers for his printer, of which he doesn't have the disc for... which is another pain in the ass. Configuring Outlook, general settings like enabling remote access, enabling Network DDE and DDE DSDM, along with a sh*t load of other default applications that are just time consuming to install all after getting that computer up on the domain.

All of this because he's too damn lazy to key in his own contacts into a dumbass microsoft email program! He shows so much disreguard for my job and other things I may need to have to do which pisses me off more than anything. But you know what? It's my job... so I'm going to do it anyway. I guess I just get to take it like a b*tch.

It could be worse, IMO.

You could be like me wiping up human feces in the bathroom
of a movie theatre for managers that use you like sh*t paper.

I feel what you're saying though and totally sympothize.

Techs always have it hard, because regular computer users are morans. (lol)

I always used to wonder, "man, when everyone gets good at computers, I might be out of a job!".

LOL at that one!

I see nothing wrong with him intending to use a card scanner. Any reasonable perpective says why not save time instead of UNNECESSARILY proving you are not lazy by always typing these things in? It is a function of technology.

However, if he has no right to install it, why not tell him he is not allowed nor are you required to make sure it is functional?

First off: http://www.scanshell-store.com/software_s2c.htm

$179.00 for not typing in a contact? How long does it take to type in a contact? A minute? There is no need for this at all... even if you want to label it a 'function of technology'. Also, to go through so much effort just to get it working? Are you sure you don't see anything wrong with it? It's a waste of money, time, and effort.

And I'd love to tell him he isn't allowed... but the plant manager recently is on the we're a team kick and this guy would probably go crying to him to GET it approved. Then we'd probably get chastized for not being a 'team player' as he so justly named it.

It's like me wanting the company to get me a segway because I don't feel like walking anymore. And then after finding out it doesn't climb stairs, demand them build an elevator in the building.

This just displays the problems with modern society. We've become too lazy and sedentary to the point where we try to find the quickest routes to everything. While I enjoy technology and the advancements it's making, what if it fails and you can't use it anymore? Will you quit living?

This poece of equipment is a waste of money. There is a contacts list for a reason.

Kumo took the exact words out of my mouth.

But even though it could be (much) worse, it doesn't compensate the fact that doing all this must be a real pain in the rear end.

Good patience for you. ^^

Lantis, I thought you worked at radioshack.

He does. He's hiding the fact.

^ well i think he's told us about a thousand bajillion times that he doesn't work at radioshak his friend (bibby?) does and they go hang out there (to look cool no doubt )

also, coudln't you like.. do a system restore or whatever instead of reformatting?

Any person can lie a bajillion times. It's called a habitual liar.

I do NOT work at radioshack. And actually, I may not be hanging out there too long. My old room mate, Jonas, works at Office Depot. The manager is about to leave on matunity... and is probably not coming back. Bibby's moving to the texarkana store.

So like everyone's splitting up. So no more radioshack puns from you, sir. Lolrus...

While you're clarifying, I'm stealing your girl. How do you like that?

Oh, and the people in your company are stupid.

Good luck... and Yes. Very much so.

Is it REALLY like that? You mean your company would do this for this guy too if he wanted it, and even if it is against the rules and all?

People pay way too much for all kinds of things in my opinion, like a Playstation 3 at launch for example. If you were paying the money yourself, it seems that you might have more of a beef. If the guy wants it AND (especially the AND) the company is willing to let him have it even though it is against the rules, it seems as though you are bringing up points that are impertinant to you job of fixing the instillation.

I do understand that you are ranting. Maybe this is where I should not interfere. The reason that I do is because too often I see people bring up points at work that are not directly relevant, it traps them in frustration, and it prevents them from realizing that either they don't have to take all the crap put on them at work, or they have to step up to their contract and do the part of their job that they themselves are actually responsible for.

Is it REALLY like that, yes... just on a smaller scale. But in a sense, it is the same.

And this isn't like buying a PS3 unless there was something else that played PS3 games for cheaper, but you buy a PS3 because it makes something SLIGHTLY less time consuming. Also getting someone else to pay for it. Therefor you are with disreguard to what it may cost (time/effort) someone else.

Anyway, it doesn't really matter. He'll get his little 200 dollar scanner and I'll do the work so that he can have it, reguardless of how much time and effort it takes on my part.

In my analogy, nobody needs to have a PS3, let alone at launch.

They can continue to play PS2 so that their parents don't have to spend so much money to make them feel better.

But if the parents are willing to pay the money then the real source of the ACTUAL problem is apparent.

In other words, this guys 'laziness' or 'disregard' is COMPLETELY ineffective until someone enables it.