Technology

I've made vague reference on this blog in the past to the fact that I work in a hotel here in the BVI. It's true, I do. I try not to post anything particularly specific or sensitive about my work, as I do not want to jeopardize either my employment or my employer with what I post here. Nonetheless, there are days when I just want to use my blog to vent. Today is one of those days.

If you are a business traveler, and the most important aspect of your trip is that you have internet access at your hotel -- stay in a hotel that specifically targets business clientele. Don't tell your secretary that any hotel with internet access will do. A business hotel will have a help desk to get you connected to the internet because you are unable to do so yourself. They will have people trained in technological assistance. A hotel targeted to tourists likely will not.

If you are a business traveler, and the most important aspect of your trip is that you have internet access at your hotel -- own a computer that is fewer than 10 years old. Don't still be running Windows 95 as your OS. Even very technologically savvy people cannot navigate the maze of encryption options Windows 95 throws up. Windows Vista and Windows 7 just ask for the password, and figure out the encryption type on their own.

If you are a business traveler, and the most important aspect of your trip is that you have internet access at your hotel -- know how to change the language settings on your computer. Although I can connect pretty much anything, even a computer running Windows 95, to our wireless network, I can't do it in Swedish. I also can't change the language settings myself, because your computer is IN SWEDISH and I have no idea how to say "Control Panel" in Swedish.

If you are a business traveler, and the most important aspect of your trip is that you have internet access at your hotel -- the Caribbean is your enemy. When the technical help at the hotel fails you, there is no one else to ask. Sure, there are IT guys, but many of them don't make housecalls. And no one in the Caribbean moves at the vital speed you expect.

So, since there are no Swedish-speaking IT guys that will make it here to help you out before tomorrow, allow me to explain to you the concept of limin' ...