What do computer engineers REALLY do?

Jotun: What do computer engineers REALLY do?
I am currently debating on changing my major. It seems like Engineers are in pretty high demand despite the horrible economy and so I was considering a degree in Computer Engineering. Some websites give an overview and a lot of them say that I would be “designing processors, software, and hardware” but I want to know what Computer Engineers really end up doing. If I don’t graduate from an “Ivy League” University will I be stuck in the basement wiring networks and fixing people’s email or could I really have the possibility of doing something really cool with computers?

Answers and Views:

Answer by Colinc
Unless you reach the absolute top of your tree, you will NEVER design processors or hardware. Maybe software. For the large part you will be doing support work, repairing machines butchered by their owners, trashed by spyware, or with failed components. Even before the end of civilisation, it meant early morning call outs, followed by late night finishes, and often to earn less per actual hour in real terms than your local garbage man. And then to be blamed for every one of your customer’s lost data, slow machine performance, or missed opportunity due to an internet failure. Exciting!