Laptop crashes? Ka-ching!

So here's a familiar situation: your computer is messed up, broken, and/or FUBAR. This basically means it's either doing something you don't want it to do or its not doing something you want it to do. Here's my personal example: This cute little bar has become the bane of my existence. Supposed to be nice and convenient, its causing me nothing but trouble. It's made my volume control and scrolling capabilities dissapear, and as much as I try to fix it, it seems impossible. Thing is.... this isn't the first time something like this has happened. I've had a lot of things go wrong with my computer and I just end up dealing with them. A few weeks ago, my Internet Explorer went suicidal and decided it no longer wanted to exist. To fix this we just installed Firefox and I've been slowly getting used to it ever since. About a year ago, I somehow moved my Taskbar to the left side of my screen. I couldn't figure out how to fix it, but decided to just leave it there. Now, I'm so used to it that when I got my new laptop I decided to left align the Taskbar. And if you move it... I'll go OCD on your butt and switch it back in a nano second. But I know everyone can't be like me, just getting used to the little errors that happen on a computer. We want our computers to run how we like them, right?

So do you ever realize how much money little annoying errors like this can make? Let's face it: when it comes to computers, I'm spoiled beyond reason. I have a grandfather who fixes them for fun, and knows every little thing about them. But for usual people, a service like GeekSquad is required for errors like mine. A basic diagnostic, if you bring your computer in to the store, is 60 bucks. An advanced diagnostic with repair is a 150. Even if you only have to do this.... twice a year, it could add up from 120 to 300 dollars. Troubleshooting a network is around 160 dollars, and installing some security features can run you up to 220. Then there's the most expensive one: Data Recovery. To recover "accidentally deleted or formatted data from a working hard drive" costs 260 dollars. To recover it from a failing harddrive, it shoots up to 520 dollars. Here's the kicker: to recover data from a 'severely damaged' hard drive.... 1600 bucks! There's a lot of money involved in this crazy world of computer repair.

Now the big nerd you made fun of could be your only hope if your computer crashes. Having a good techie knowledge can be extremely beneficial. Even knowing HTML pretty well or being able to make Myspace layouts can increase your cashflow. So as technology becomes so prominent in the digital age, the jobs connected to it are becoming essential and rather well paid. We love our computers and will do whatever necessary to have them fixed, including shelling out an inordinate amount of cash.

So in the future, will these geeky jobs be valued as much as say.... doctors? lawyers? Will a computer analyst be earning the six-figure paycheck we all dream of? Better start retaining all this digital age information, it might just come in handy.