May 31, 2008

The May 31 show opens by demonstrating that “Dr. Dave” troubleshooting can be as simple as fully seating a loose monitor cable—the jiggle factor—before moving to a repair that was anything but simple. Dr. Dave describes recovering an infected, nearly full Windows 98 machine whose owner had been quoted for data recovery, refusing to charge an absurd amount merely because the work consumed his day and concluding that he could not imagine a profession he would rather do. When Sandy faces command-line Mac security instructions, he tells her that being bright is not the issue: a responsible recommendation must consider whether a tool is worth a person's time, frustration and goals. Another caller prompts a reflection on the Internet giving ordinary people access to far more sources than the one-authority newscast of Dr. Dave's childhood, while still demanding vigilance. The show also leaves useful archive history in Dr. Dave's mention of a seventy-page working document of tips and picks intended for the website. Expedition 08 produces a perfect live demonstration when a Panama wireless call fails, the hosts admit that real technology does not always work and Paul returns by cell phone with stories of torrential rain, mudslides and the ferry to Bocas del Toro. At the close, Dr. Dave and Evil Steve assess Windows XP's approaching end, predict the timing of Windows 7 and compare the faltering Apple TV with Apple's Lisa.

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