Calling technical support lines and being vaguely technically minded can be a bit of a head-smashing-against-the-wall-exercise at times. Calling a tech support line and having to spend a hour while the guy on the helldesk steps you through whatever script prompt comes up on his screen "is your computer/router/toaster turned on? Can you see anything on the screen/LEDs/wall?" Etc etc" can be infuriating. Its even more of a pain if you have a pretty good idea what the problem is, but can't fix it yourself and just need somebody at the other end to press a reset button somewhere.
My personal favourite is pressing buttons on an automated telephone menu system for 10 minutes, only to get through to a completely random department and having to painstakingly explain my problem in broken English to somebody on the otherside of the world working on an outsourced helpline in Wonga-wonga land. Not that I've got a problem with Wonga-Wonga land or anybody that lives there. I might even visit it sometime.
Scott Hanselman has come up with a solution - Fizzbin (read the full article here). A secret codeword between support helplines and customers that skips the first hour of nonsense and gets straight to business. This sounds like a great idea (probably more so because I just like silly sounding words)The next time I call a support line I'm hoping the conversation will go something like this:
Tech: What's the problem?
Me: My computer won't start, but I think I know wha..
[interrupted by Tech at this point, impatient sigh from me]
Tech: Ok, can I check your computer is on, and you can see something on the screen?
Me: Sure, my computer is on, it says "Fizzbin" on the screen
Tech: [perking up a bit ]Oh, ok. Whats the problem?
Me: Can't be sure, but I can only see my system drive, and the second hard drive isn't showing, I had poke around, and I think the drive is screwed, its been playing up recently
Tech: No probs, you are probably right, we'll send you a spare, and a free mousemat just for kicks.
Me: Cool, thanks for that. Fizzbin.
Tech: Fizzbin. (hangs up)
Occasionally if my internet or TV at home screws up I have to call the Sky support line, who are usually pretty on the ball and I think would enjoy skipping the basics and heading straight for problem. Compared to calling a Dell support drone they are a breath of fresh air. Bring on the Fizzbin experiments. :)