pc companions ONLINE
Just the FAQs, please.
Tom
Gibson
We were working the day-watch out of Tech Support when the call came in. My partner is
Bill Computercrash. I'm Joe Thursday.
Bill took the call. It was from the V.P. in sales. She was ready to go out on the road
for a week and couldn't get her H/PC to sync. She said she didn't know how she would be
able to connect while out on the road. Bill handed the call to me.
The V.P. seemed distraught and was bouncing around like a ball going down a bumpy hill.
I stopped her and said, "Just the FAQs Ma'am." She seemed to calm down a little,
and after catching her breath said, "That's what I am doing, giving you the
facts." She just didn't understand. "Yes ma'am," I said. "But what I
mean is that you need to look at the FAQs Frequently Asked Questions, that's where the
answers are."
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs are documents with common questions and the answers to them. The most prominent
type are the ones used by most companies trying to support their products. Tech Support
personnel compile a list of the most often asked questions and provide the answers to
those questions. This saves them a lot of time and money because they can refer people to
the FAQ instead of answering the same question over and over. Companies also create
pre-emptive FAQs, more like a mini-tutorial. Instead of listing a bunch of short questions
and answers, each FAQ goes into more depth and is a stand-alone document.
But companies aren't the only ones who create FAQs Many computer enthusiasts create and
publish FAQs. What's in it for them? Helping fellow computer users. Listed below are some
of the better places to go for FAQs.
Contributing Editor Chris de Herrera's site is loaded with FAQs ranging from ActiveSync
and ActiveSync configurations to ISP settings and Wireless. Chris updates his site and
FAQs constantly, so this is a great place to check when you have a question about Windows
CE. Microsoft has given CEWindows.NET featured site status and says, "CEWindows.NET
contains one of the best collection of resources on Windows CE-based products to be found
on the Web." This is usually the first place I look when I need to find out how to do
something. Note that the section titled "Other Windows CE Internet Resources"
has a very complete list of links to other sites with How-To's, Tips, and FAQs.
Frank McPherson runs the CE Knowledge Center and is an Assistant Forum Manager of the
Windows CE Forum on MSN Computing Central. Frank has separated his FAQs into 4 sections:
How do I ...? provides answers to questions like, "How do I synchronize Windows CE
with Microsoft Outlook?" Answers include links to other sites which answer the
question. What is ...? provides answers to questions like, "What is Windows
CE?" or "What is the H/PC Pro." Where is ...? provides answers to
questions like, "Where is the HP Month-At-A-Glance patch?" The section consists
primarily of links to other sites. What's hot? provides links to the hottest Windows CE
news. Frank has done a lot of work on these FAQs and it is a great site for information.
Home of the Official Windows CE Newsgroup FAQ, maintained by Jason Dunn and Frank
McPherson with the assistance of Miles Raymond. This FAQ is separated into the following
categories: Software; Hardware/Cell phone; Synchronizing issues; Connecting issues;
Internet/Email issues; Printing/Faxing and Further Information. In total, there are over
105 questions and answers or links to answers on this site.
Microsoft's Windows CE Home Page. Microsoft is the creator behind Windows CE and you
can always go to their site for information, but it's usually harder to find it here than
at other sites. Below is the current (7/13/99) location for Windows CE support, but it is
liable to change. www.microsoft.com/windowsce/Products/Support/ms.asp.
Mike's Palm-size PC FAQs. Mike's site is currently being moved to his new host and he
says it will be up on July 25, 1999.
TO-TECH Windows CE Photo-FAQ, a short but useful FAQ. Also, they have a little
step-by-step on how they installed Windows CE Services 2.2 on a Windows NT 4.0 desktop.
The Unofficial Velo FAQ site is run by Jason Dunn and has an FAQ for Velo users. It
also covers general news, software, hardware and has a wish list.
The article you have just read is true, none of the URL were changed to protect the
innocent. I don't wear a badge, I just surf the web. So until next time, I'll see you
OnLine! |