(WXYZ) - From iPods to cell phones, gadgets are all around us these days. As they get smarter, many of us have trouble using them. Figuring out how to program or fix them when something happens isn't always easy.
Tracy Repchuk wanted to set up her phone to get a different ring for different callers. Instead of flipping through the tiny-print instructions, waiting in line for help at the store, or wasting time on hold for tech support, Repchuk turned to cyberspace to solve her problem.
Tracy Repchuk: "I went to Google.com, and I check out the first few searches that appear and I ended up at a site called fixya.com."
This helped her troubleshoot her problem in a matter of minutes. The free site is one of many designed to help consumers do it themselves. Wired magazine's Joe Brown says they are quite popular.
Joe Brown: "People are getting a lot more tech in their lives, they're getting a lot of new gadgets, and they don't necessarily know how to use it."
Some of the sites, like answerbag.com, have moderators to eliminate duplicate questions, which run the gamut.
Joe Brown: "For example, how do I get my iPhone to sync with my Google calendar? And then employees can research the question or other users who have had the same problem can give the answer to you themselves."
PC users might want to check out techimo.com’s numerous hardware and tech forums. When it comes to troubleshooting Macs, forums on both CNET and Apple may be the best bet.
Joe Brown: "Apple, for example, hosts a discussion board on its site and those forums are going to have some of the best users on them."
Those who use iPhone can turn to the iPhoneblog.com. And for those with Blackberrys, there's crackberry.com. Since many sites allow questions to be answered by other users, experts caution that it's important to find out who is giving the advice.
Joe Brown: “I would go with the trusted sources first, try to find the employee answers if you can. If you're going to members of the community, make sure you check the member of the community's bonafides."
Also verify the solution with at least two people before you try it. Repchuk has had great luck with her device dilemmas.
Tracy Repchuk: "They have been incredibly helpful, for phone, for stereos, for iPods,
for everything."
Joe Brown also says that once you register as a member, the site has access to your email address and can track questions you have been asking about a product, which could lead to some unsolicited marketing email.
http://www.answerbag.com http://www.getsatisfaction.com PC help:http://www.fixya.com http://www.techimo.com Mac help:http://www.apple.com/support http://www.MacFixit.com Smartphones:http://www.forums.crackberry.com http://www.theiphoneblog.com/iphone-help-and-how-to-guides Blackberry:http://www.crackberry.com
