Call it the season to buy electronics. Thousands of families will awaken Christmas morning to unwrap computers, big-screen television sets or video game consoles. Such expensive gifts, eagerly sought by children of all ages, generate the sort of thrill that makes it easier for givers to handle the less-exciting necessities, such as paying the bill.
But given their complexity and size, these electronic gifts pose particular challenges when it comes to setup. To ensure that smiles don't turn to frowns should some forgotten cable gum up the works, The San Francisco Chronicle asked three experts -- in computer customer service, home theater sales and video game systems -- to share tips and tricks for making the setup go smoothly.
First, let's imagine a computer is being unwrapped -- and the pressure is on to provide a good out-of-box experience.
