Over the 12+ years that I have been traveling to computer users homes and offices, I estimate that at least 70% of them have zero to very little knowledge about file management. File management includes knowing how to use folders and files and the difference between them. Programs DO NOT contain or house files and folders…they create the data and store them in a folder.
I’ve used the filing cabinet analogy, the desk analogy, the cooking analogy, and others, but none seem to really make sense. And without the solid knowledge of what a file and folder is and how they relate to drives, computer users falter with backup.
In my opinion, I think
computer users would be better off working with online applications like Zoho, Google Docs, Shutterfly, Picnik and more because then there is no worry about where the data exists…it will be ‘in the program’. Plus, online applications are available anywhere and backed up by the provider.
What do you think?
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I am much better than most people at file management, and prefer to have my files on my own hard drives rather than somewhere out in cyberspace.
I understand…and you are backing up as well, right?
Absolutely, to both a second internal hard drive, and to two external hard drives. I have spent most of my adult life dealing with both paper and computer file management, and am more than a bit obsessive about it.
I empathize with your difficulty in getting your clients to understand some basic concepts. My 60-something sister-in-law still does not really get the difference between RAM and disk memory, even after more than 10 years of having a computer. And last I heard, my daughter’s 30-something buddy still had all of her digital photos in the My Pictures folder, with no sub-folders. It does not seen to be an age related thing, since I have age peers who took to the computer quite easily, and also know younger folk who can not and/or will not “get it”.
RAM vs Hard disk? Well, consider doing your taxes. RAM is like the space you have on your tabletop…..Hard Disk is the filing cabinet.
I like your analogy. I deal mainly with elderly women and I use the kitchen counter vs the cupboards when I explain it. The different cupboards are the different files. Seemed to work pretty good, until I got a lady who called me because her friend had more cupboards than she did. It took me quite a while to make her understand that she could “build” more cupboards” whenever and however “she” wanted. lol
That’s a great story. Best laugh I’ve had all month. (It is tax time.)