This issue of common knowledge is not isolated to support in foreign countries, it exists right here in the good old U.S. of A., more specifically, Southern California.
Here is the story of My sister, and it is 100% real.
My Brother in Law went to a Jewler in his hometown of L.A. and had a custom ring designed for my sister. They Got married, and settled in Minneapolis, MN. Not too long after getting married, the stone to my sister's ring fell out, so she called the Jewler in L.A. to explain the situation. The lady at the other end of the phone politely stated that if she would just bring the ring into the store they would take care of it. My sister informed the rep that she lived in Minneapolis, MN, and asked if they had any locations near there she could go to? The Rep replied "We just opened up a new store in Dallas. Would that Work?"
Now anyone not from southern california, Please raise your hand if you think Dallas is near Minneapolis?
With all the fingers I have seen in this article pointing blame, one finger that is missing is the government.
I am an in-house developer of accounting software for a large manufacturing company. I handle both the development and supoort. However, because of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, I am unable to use the software that i have programmed and am expected to support.
It's not that I don't think like my users, it's that I can only understand as far as they tell me. If I was legally aable to actually spend a day in their shoes to understand their needs, i would. However, the government does not allow it. 9 times out of 10 it is neither the developer's or the user's fault that the software is not perfect, it is the outside forces.
Many of you ask why you pay for a subscription to just record tv. TIVO is more than a DVR (your computer recording a show). Why do people pay for TV guide, when they can just watch the TV guide channel or look in the newspaper. It's a convenience you pay for. What you are paying for is intelligent guides system, where you can search for anything related to the show. You have a favorite actor, tell TIVO to record any show he/she is on, as well as any guest apperances on talk shows, etc. That would take hours of research to program that using any other resorce. You can do online scheduling. Forget to setup your tv to program the big game before going to your in-laws for thanksgiving? Just jump online and tell your Tivo to record it.
You are paying for those and many other services offered for their software intellegence.... and what's more, you can buy a lifetime subscription, so it's not constant money down a hole.
I personally don't own a TIVO, I don't get cable, I don't watch much TV. Yes I'm a TV generationer (24 yrs old), but I'm not one to pay for something that helps me waste time when i won't use 99% of it. I get CBS over my bunny ears plugged into my Media Center PC. I have friends who love their TIVO, and it is a great tool for those who can't miss an episode ever....
I am a techie and would love nothing more than the concept of an IPod Wedding. I automate my computer for all my house parties; I am a lover of music of all kinds.
Now the Truth is, I personally would never setup a playlist and hit play for a wedding. Music at weddings all depends on the size of the wedding and the type of guests. If you have a small quiet group that just wants to socialize, you can pipe in rat pack / jazz music and be just fine. If you have a roudy, beer drinking crowd that would give up anything to be a groupie for INXS, than a live band is usually the way to go. If you have a hyper crowd that lives at dance clubs, than any old DJ is the way to go. Finally if you have a large, mixed crowd (as most weddings do), than what you need is a professional entertainer. The difference between a DJ and an Entertainer is huge. A DJ is any tech savvy kid that can put CD's into a machine and push buttons. An Entertainer is a professional who's job it is to make sure everyone at the party gets what they expect from the night.
An Entertainer will get out on the dance floor and teach a crowd the Hokey Pokey or the Electric Slide. They are able to read the crowd and adjust the music to what the crowd responds to. An entertainer has the ability to get the brides grandmother to dance the funky chicken. Having fun is contagious and Entertainers have the ability to pull that fun out of people. Most importantly, an Entertainer can pull a huge burden off the couple when it comes to time management. Entertainers keep the night going long enough so the couple isn't overwhelmed by all guest at once. It gives them time to rotate through the crowd as people come and go from the dance floor.
An IPOD can play through the music that a couple likes to hear, but it can't predict what everyone at the party wants to hear. It can't direct everyone's attention away from a embarrassing moment when crisis occurs. It can't step in and change the mood of a crowd to prevent a fight from breaking out. In other words, it would be like having a bar with a machine that you put your money into and get alcohol out. it can't put a smile on your face with a witty comment, it can't wipe a tear from an eye, and it can't protect you and those around you by cutting you off. You tip bartenders for being human, and you pay (and hopefully tip) DJs/entertainers for doing the same.
Yes there is logic to playlisting your own music, you save money and are in more control. The thing that marks the difference is either having an wedding reception, and having a wedding reception to remember.
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Re: Common Knowledge
This issue of common knowledge is not isolated to support in foreign countries, it exists right here in the good old U.S. of A., more specifically, Southern California.
Here is the story of My sister, and it is 100% real.
My Brother in Law went to a Jewler in his hometown of L.A. and had a custom ring designed for my sister. They Got married, and settled in Minneapolis, MN. Not too long after getting married, the stone to my sister's ring fell out, so she called the Jewler in L.A. to explain the situation. The lady at the other end of the phone politely stated that if she would just bring the ring into the store they would take care of it. My sister informed the rep that she lived in Minneapolis, MN, and asked if they had any locations near there she could go to? The Rep replied "We just opened up a new store in Dallas. Would that Work?"
Now anyone not from southern california, Please raise your hand if you think Dallas is near Minneapolis?
Government is part of the problem
With all the fingers I have seen in this article pointing blame, one finger that is missing is the government.
I am an in-house developer of accounting software for a large manufacturing company. I handle both the development and supoort. However, because of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, I am unable to use the software that i have programmed and am expected to support.
It's not that I don't think like my users, it's that I can only understand as far as they tell me. If I was legally aable to actually spend a day in their shoes to understand their needs, i would. However, the government does not allow it. 9 times out of 10 it is neither the developer's or the user's fault that the software is not perfect, it is the outside forces.
Why Subscribe?
Many of you ask why you pay for a subscription to just record tv. TIVO is more than a DVR (your computer recording a show). Why do people pay for TV guide, when they can just watch the TV guide channel or look in the newspaper. It's a convenience you pay for. What you are paying for is intelligent guides system, where you can search for anything related to the show. You have a favorite actor, tell TIVO to record any show he/she is on, as well as any guest apperances on talk shows, etc. That would take hours of research to program that using any other resorce. You can do online scheduling. Forget to setup your tv to program the big game before going to your in-laws for thanksgiving? Just jump online and tell your Tivo to record it.
You are paying for those and many other services offered for their software intellegence.... and what's more, you can buy a lifetime subscription, so it's not constant money down a hole.
I personally don't own a TIVO, I don't get cable, I don't watch much TV. Yes I'm a TV generationer (24 yrs old), but I'm not one to pay for something that helps me waste time when i won't use 99% of it. I get CBS over my bunny ears plugged into my Media Center PC. I have friends who love their TIVO, and it is a great tool for those who can't miss an episode ever....
The Truth About Music at Weddings
I am a techie and would love nothing more than the concept of an IPod Wedding. I automate my computer for all my house parties; I am a lover of music of all kinds.
Now the Truth is, I personally would never setup a playlist and hit play for a wedding. Music at weddings all depends on the size of the wedding and the type of guests. If you have a small quiet group that just wants to socialize, you can pipe in rat pack / jazz music and be just fine. If you have a roudy, beer drinking crowd that would give up anything to be a groupie for INXS, than a live band is usually the way to go. If you have a hyper crowd that lives at dance clubs, than any old DJ is the way to go. Finally if you have a large, mixed crowd (as most weddings do), than what you need is a professional entertainer. The difference between a DJ and an Entertainer is huge. A DJ is any tech savvy kid that can put CD's into a machine and push buttons. An Entertainer is a professional who's job it is to make sure everyone at the party gets what they expect from the night.
An Entertainer will get out on the dance floor and teach a crowd the Hokey Pokey or the Electric Slide. They are able to read the crowd and adjust the music to what the crowd responds to. An entertainer has the ability to get the brides grandmother to dance the funky chicken. Having fun is contagious and Entertainers have the ability to pull that fun out of people. Most importantly, an Entertainer can pull a huge burden off the couple when it comes to time management. Entertainers keep the night going long enough so the couple isn't overwhelmed by all guest at once. It gives them time to rotate through the crowd as people come and go from the dance floor.
An IPOD can play through the music that a couple likes to hear, but it can't predict what everyone at the party wants to hear. It can't direct everyone's attention away from a embarrassing moment when crisis occurs. It can't step in and change the mood of a crowd to prevent a fight from breaking out. In other words, it would be like having a bar with a machine that you put your money into and get alcohol out. it can't put a smile on your face with a witty comment, it can't wipe a tear from an eye, and it can't protect you and those around you by cutting you off. You tip bartenders for being human, and you pay (and hopefully tip) DJs/entertainers for doing the same.
Yes there is logic to playlisting your own music, you save money and are in more control. The thing that marks the difference is either having an wedding reception, and having a wedding reception to remember.