Stories on Technology
Spotify is a European startup online music service that allows users to stream music legally. Spotify offers 2 types of plans. One plan is subscription based and the other plan is free but contains advertisements. The system is currently accessible using Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and mobile devices such as the iPhone and those running Android, Symbian, Windows Mobile or Palm’s HP webOS.
The following is a “Guest Contributor” post.
“I hate technology.” If I had a dime . . . oh wait, we are in a recession. If I had a dollar for every time I heard that declaration, I would be a millionaire. In my profession, I work 
with a lot of people who despise technology. Some, but not all, are Baby Boomers. They come to me for assistance and I do my best to help them. In so doing, Ive noticed some trends when working with “tech-haters.”
One thing I have noticed is that some people dislike technology because they had a bad experience or simply don’t understand it. I believe that there are two things wrong with that attitude. The first is, technology is likely reducing operating costs at some corporations on some levels, so you can best believe you will see more and not less of it in the future. Secondly, you should not hate something until you have taken the time to learn about it. Generally, once a person learns how to use a technical product or service that they once professed to hate, you can’t stop them from using it.
The Internet is loaded with resources to teach you just about anything you want to know about technology or anything else. Providing you have an Internet connection and some time, the sky is the limit. A simple search query at Google.com may reveal very specific instructions to help you with the problem you are having.
Other good resources that you may or may not be aware of are:
About nine years ago, I reunited with my two best girl pals whom I had not seen since high school. We enjoyed our reunion and spent time updating each other on current activities, retirement plans, our Generation X children, and grandchildren. As my friends and I were preparing to depart, I suggested that we exchange email addresses, and was surprised to learn that neither of them had an email address. “I don’t even own a computer,” one of them said. Then the other added, “Neither do I. I don’t have time to bother with that nonsense.” Nonsense? I thought. Um, is she smoking that stuff or just computerphobic?
I am a computer junkie and wanna-be techno geek. I admit it. I like everything about computers, even the daunting challenge of learning new software programs, which sometimes discourages, but does not deter me. And although I understand why some boomers feel intimidated by the machines, I also believe that the refusal to venture outside our comfort zone engenders missed opportunities.
My PC is like an extension of myself, so much so that when it isn’t working properly or — God forbid — it has a virus, I feel ill. A couple of years ago, I discovered that my computer was infected with a Trojan virus, and I became so distraught that by the time my son cleaned the bug off of my PC, I was one megabyte from melt down. I know that I am not alone. There are millions of you out there who feel as I do. Some people consider their vehicle as their first love, for other’s it is their pet. My computer is my baby, and the lyrics of one of my favorite Sam and Dave oldies says it all, “When something is wrong with my baby, something is wrong with me.”