The Web Doctor

You just got home from Best Buy or Sam's with that shiny, new computer, and now what? Well, you plug it in the wall, right? That wasn't hard; you know how to plug things in. And now what? Well, chances are good you'll be able to find the power switch and turn the computer on. And so you move forward in your use of the powerful new tool you just acquired. Depending on how much you already know about computers and/or how well the clerk at the store explained things to you, you will find it more or less easy to get the maximum value from your new investment.

Everyone needs help of one kind or another as they progress in their usage of computers. I use computers for a living, and I still seek out help from others. I communicate with those "others" via the Internet, and they live from Australia to England and points between. But the point is that it's no admission of inadequacy to seek out help with computers.

Perhaps you've had a computer for some time, and you feel comfortable with surfing the Web and exchanging emails with friends and family. But your computer seems to be running slower all the time. Web pages that used to load quickly now seem to take forever. Your favorite game or word processor seems to creep like a snail. The computer might have a virus! Or it may be loaded with spyware! How do you deal with that?

Wouldn't it be great to be able to call someone and have them come over and take care of your computer needs? How convenient it would be to phone the computer doctor and have him make a house call. You'd have to be pretty old (like me!) to remember when "people" doctors made house calls. The last time that happened in my family was about 40 years ago. The costs of medical school, malpractice insurance, and all the other expenses of medical practice put an end to house calls by physicians.

What would it be worth to you to be able to have a computer doctor make a house call to get your computer working its best and to explain to you how to use it? I'm writing this article in hopes of finding the answer to that question. You see, my primary business is building websites on the Internet, and it gives me the freedom to spend some time doing other things if I can make some money doing so. I would love to be able to help others get the most from their computers; I know what great things are possible! But do the realities of today's economy make this practical?

Unlike some physicians, I'm not trying to get rich. But any time I spend helping someone with their computer is time I could be spending building more websites. So there has to be some money in it. You (or someone) spent hundreds of dollars for that computer. Would it be worth $50 to learn how to use it effectively and have it running its best?

If your computer is broken, take it to a computer repairman. If your computer is sick or you just want to learn how to use it, call The Web Doctor!