Senior citizen support

old man wrote on 4/7/2010, 8:09 AM

I would like to thank you for your complete lack of support for senior citizens who know nothing about computers. Your training and tutorials are not designed for novice senior citizens to follow when used. I plan to warrant all my senior friends that unless they are computer experts to avoid your products. Your policy on returns of no open boxes makes it impossible for seniors to know whether they can use your system or not effectively. I am 72 and only know how to point and click. Your product probably for somebody who is a computer expert is fine and useful. But if I can't make it work all I can say is for me it is a useful piece of software.

Comments

kenr44 wrote on 4/7/2010, 8:29 AM

I being a senior citizen get ticked with some of their stupidity. I guess everyone is responsible to take them by the hand like a child.

david_f_knight wrote on 4/7/2010, 9:59 AM

Sony's software policies are typical of most software companies. They offer a free 30-day trial of their software before you buy it. I don't know where you bought your copy of the software, but it sounds to me like the store/salesperson is the one that didn't do their job well by adequately discussing the characteristics of the software or advising you of your options, and you didn't do your job of asking pertinent questions before buying it. It works the same for anything else you buy, too. Only you know your needs and limitations and desires. You can't expect anyone else to determine those things for you. And not all senior citizens know nothing about computers. My father is 85 and uses his computer daily for a variety of things.

Finally, there are other Vegas Movie Studio training sources available. A number of people have made free training videos and posted them on YouTube, and there are other sources as well. Good luck; making videos can be an interesting hobby!

richard-amirault wrote on 4/7/2010, 10:01 AM

I would like to thank you for your complete lack of support for senior citizens who know nothing about computers.

First, the folks *here* are just users .. not corporate Sony. If you want to complain to the company find the address and send them mail.

Your policy on returns of no open boxes makes it impossible for seniors to know whether they can use your system or not effectively.

Very few companies (if any) will accept "open box" returns of software. It's an industry standard, not unique to Sony.

Sony does have an alternative ... you *could* have downloaded a trial copy, at no cost, and used that to decide if you would like to purchase it.

I am 72 and only know how to point and click. Your product probably for somebody who is a computer expert is fine and useful. But if I can't make it work all I can say is for me it is a useful piece of software.

I'm not all that younger, but I've owned a personal computer since 1979 so I do have somewhat of an advantage over you (but I would not consider myself an "expert" by any means)

I suggest you save your copy for the future. Yes, it can be hard to learn for a "newbe" but that's because it is a very powerful piece of software. If you have a Windows computer try WINDOWS MOVIE MAKER (a free program) to learn the basics and then, maybe, you can switch to Sony after you've learned the basics.

dan-hedrick wrote on 4/7/2010, 10:12 AM

You didn't state which sofware you are using...Vegas Pro, Vegas Movie studio, and what version. i am 69 and have been using Vegas Movie studio for about 3 years and love it. I do have some computer experience but am by no means a guru. I got very frustrated for awhile...but made up my mind to master this software.... I have far from mastered it...but know enough to make some very good family vacation videos with music and panning and cropping the various photos. The included turtorials are very good, but you really have to pay attention and TRY,,,,TRY,,,TRY. If you don't get the results that are indicated in the turtorials...you are doing something wrong. KEEP TRYING...You will feel great when you learn to use it...and it keeps your mind young and active.

lcdrdan

abelenky wrote on 4/7/2010, 2:57 PM

Dear "old man",

Have you taken a look at the Training Videos?
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/support/trainingvids.asp?prod=moviestudio

Most people find these videos very friendly and easy to follow. They walk you through all the basics, and indicate what to click on, when and why.

If you have a specific question after watching any one of these videos, I think you will find this Forum very friendly and helpful. Simply write down what you are trying to accomplish, what you tried, what you don't understand, and how we can help.

You will find lots of people with extensive knowledge here.

Richard Jones wrote on 4/8/2010, 3:01 AM

I'm older than you and can't say I've had any serious problems in learning how to use Sony Vegas. It requires application and research just as it would if you are trying to learn anything that's new to you . There's so much help in the manual, on Sony's own web site and on YouTube as well as in the various books you can buy on the subject (such as those from Vasst).

Stop being a grumpy old man and get on with it without expecting preferential treatment. Attitudes such as yours give us all a bad name.

Richard

Rainer wrote on 4/8/2010, 4:16 AM

No, cheer up. You appear to underestimate yourself, I mean, you did manage to register and post on a forum - or did you just dictate to your grandkid? It always amazes me that, for example, people who have never played a piano don't expect to be able to play it immediately without some practice, but give up straight away when confronted by a computer. I'm supposing they think because it appears everybody else can do it effortlessly and deep down they know they are a lot smarter than those people, they don't understand why they can't handle it as well. Obviously therefore there's something wrong with the system. But in this case there isn't. You just have to accept that whatever your age there's still a lot you can learn, and take it one step at a time. There's some reasonable tutorials on YouTube, why not try some of those?