computer repair recommendations?

[BraveLittleToaster]

I'm looking for someone who does in-home computer repair and service. Any recommendations? Thanks, folks.

[msmichellemiller]

Hmmm....my SO manages tech guys. A lot of them do repairs as side work; I will ask him for names and PM you when I get the info.

[MomTimesFive]

Funny you should ask! My husband is a computer/printer repairman and is planning on starting his own business when we move to the area. Unfortunately, that won't be for another few months.

[Wilson]

I only know of the Geek Squad, but I've not used them so that's not a recommendation! I'm curious what MMM's dh comes up with... that sounds promising.

[schnauzermom]

We are having major problems with two computers, I'm tempted to just toss them both out the window and start new:o.

[Wilson]

I really think my next one's going to be a Mac. I'm ready.

Have you seen the new MacBook Airs? I have to wipe drool from my chin everytime I see a commercial...

[schnauzermom]

DH wants a mac. They are so much more expensive. I'm thinking of a mac mini and using the monitor and stuff I've already got.

Are there any mac users here? Is it worth the extra bucks?

[msmichellemiller]

I really think my next one's going to be a Mac. I'm ready.

Have you seen the new MacBook Airs? I have to wipe drool from my chin everytime I see a commercial...
oooooooooohhh, meeeee toooooo!!!!! I have begged since last summer for an IMac for the household. My current laptop has the 'b' and 'enter' button missing thanks to my 4 year old. They still work but it's pure eye-sore to me now. I REALLY would like that Macbook Air now, too!

[Murphy Stoffelis]

DH wants a mac. They are so much more expensive. I'm thinking of a mac mini and using the monitor and stuff I've already got.

Are there any mac users here? Is it worth the extra bucks?

Yes. I have two Macs one being a Mac mini and they have never locked up with the BSD or any of the Windoze "undocument" features that we are all used to... :biglaugh:

[Wilson]

DH wants a mac. They are so much more expensive.

I've not got one (yet), but everyone Mac user I talk to just loves them. I think they've got to be worth the price with such a strong following.

[schnauzermom]

You sound just like dh!

[Wilson]

:p He sounds like a great guy ;)

[Cook57]

I've not got one (yet), but everyone Mac user I talk to just loves them. I think they've got to be worth the price with such a strong following.

Mac absolutely rules...worth every penny and more. Started with desktop several years back, have used both, would never buy anything except Mac. Now the Mac Air is different, and only best for "road work" has some real disadvantages in other use. But other Macs DO IT ALL :) (and easily)

But the guy to ask is Dwight Silverman @ Chronicle. Even though primarily PC he knows Macs well. Very helpful!!

dwight.silverman@chron.com http://blogs.chron.com/techblog

[baby duck]

On a mac laptop here. We use it for pretty much everything, though DH does have a windows machine we call "the beast" in his office. He works with computers for a living and still prefers the mac. We have always owned one of some type.

[BraveLittleToaster]

Thanks for the repair suggestions AND my sons thank you for recommending macs. They've been telling me we "need" one for the past six months. They say macs have this cool Garage Band software. I think I'll tell them, "Only if I get to play the tamborine.":D

[Wilson]

Garage Band? Hmmmmm I'm going to look into that! Best of luck with your repair and/or future purchase!

[FamilyGal]

Jason Bloodworth - The Computer Guy. I don't have his number in front of me, but I have known him for thirteen years now and you won't find a nicer, more honest guy.

He does all of the computer repair for our church as well.

[FamilyGal]

We are having major problems with two computers, I'm tempted to just toss them both out the window and start new:o.

Reformat your hard drive(s).

[msmichellemiller]

I'm curious what MMM's dh comes up with... that sounds promising.

He said for me to tell the O.P'er to email him what the issue is and he could either fix it himself or farm it out to one of his guys. :) I've sent his email addy in PM

[JOliver]

Reformat your hard drive(s).

A lot of times, major problems can be fixed without having to do that. lol

[FamilyGal]

A lot of times, major problems can be fixed without having to do that. lol

True. But, if all else fails.....

[msmichellemiller]

I've reformatted the hard drive on this thing a couple of times in the last few years. For me, it's just the easiest way to free up space after accumulating so much 'stuff'. I just transfer my pics to discs and I like having a fresh start afterwards! It's like Spring Cleaning to me!

[Cook57]

I've reformatted the hard drive on this thing a couple of times in the last few years. For me, it's just the easiest way to free up space after accumulating so much 'stuff'. I just transfer my pics to discs and I like having a fresh start afterwards! It's like Spring Cleaning to me!

Five years on my Mac not even One reformatting; "whatever that is". :p

[schnauzermom]

Reformatting, is that the same as system restore? We did that a few months ago. I'm on a gateway that's only 14 months old. I did get a virus that got through my protection software and ever since the system restore it's been acting funny. Internet Explorer will just stop responding and then lock up. A computer geek friend is coming over this weekend to work on dh's laptop that is majorly messed up, so I'll have him help me with this one too.

[JOliver]

Reformatting, is that the same as system restore? We did that a few months ago. I'm on a gateway that's only 14 months old.

I wouldn't consider it the same, but gateway will usually have a "system restore" disc that just reformats it. Very misleading since there is a process in windows called system restore that will revert it back to a previous checkpoint.

[Cook57]

Reformatting, is that the same as system restore? We did that a few months ago. I'm on a gateway that's only 14 months old. I did get a virus that got through my protection software and ever since the system restore it's been acting funny. Internet Explorer will just stop responding and then lock up. A computer geek friend is coming over this weekend to work on dh's laptop that is majorly messed up, so I'll have him help me with this one too.

Wow!! Definitely need Macs to the rescue at your place. ;)

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore

[msmichellemiller]

Reformatting is completely erasing EVERYTHING off of the computer and making it as though it is brand new. You won't want to do that unless you have all the discs you need for your desired software, otherwise you'd have to buy it again. You also better have the disc and key to your operating system. I don't know *how* reformatting is done; we always get a 'geek friend' to do it for us.

[FamilyGal]

I would love to have a Mac, but everything I have is PC based. Photoshop, Office Pagemaker, FrontPage, etc.... I don't want to have to start over. I haven't used a Mac since college.

[Cook57]

I would love to have a Mac, but everything I have is PC based. Photoshop, Office Pagemaker, FrontPage, etc.... I don't want to have to start over. I haven't used a Mac since college.

Just stop by Apple Store @ Mall for fun! You will be Hooked by the new Macs much different from what you used. The new OSX is a thing of beauty.

"Some" work applications may not be applicable; but Microsoft Office, etc.all is on Mac. Easy to learn; even for me. :)

This guy really knows computers and will be happy to give you side-by-side comparison:

http://blogs.chron.com/techblog dwight.silverman@chron.com

[Wilson]

"Some" work applications may not be applicable; but Microsoft Office, etc.all is on Mac.

But can you take your PC copy of Office and install it on a Mac? Or do you have to buy a Mac-copy of MS Office?

I wonder if Open Office works on Mac...

[baby duck]

You have to have the Mac version of software to run anything in OSX. Open office does work on the Mac.

That being said, you can run Windows on the Mac, and run any windows software you have from there if you wish. I'm using a MacBook Pro right now, and DH has it set to boot into Windows when he wishes it too.

[Cook57]

You have to have the Mac version of software to run anything in OSX. Open office does work on the Mac.
That being said, you can run Windows on the Mac, and run any windows software you have from there if you wish. I'm using a MacBook Pro right now, and DH has it set to boot into Windows when he wishes it too.

Exactly; excellent info that Mac does it all! :)

[TXrose]

We have all gone with Dell's here. Never had to reformat a hard drive. Just the normal clean up and defrag. Wonderful machines. I would never have a Mac, can't stand them. Love the Dell's though.

[Cook57]

I would never have a Mac, can't stand them.

Curious...why do you say that??

[TXrose]

I have not found the Mac's as versatile as the PCs.

[Murphy Stoffelis]

I have not found the Mac's as versatile as the PCs.

Not to whiz on your Wheaties; how is that? I do use my old pc as a doorstop is that what you mean? :rofl:

[TXrose]

Actually doorstops is exactly what our school uses the Mac's for. We can not load the programs we use on Macs. We can not do a lot of the things we need to do on Macs. So they are not as versitile.

[Murphy Stoffelis]

Actually doorstops is exactly what our school uses the Mac's for. We can not load the programs we use on Macs. We can not do a lot of the things we need to do on Macs. So they are not as versitile.

So they are not as versitile (to you).

Meanwhile out in the real world there is nothing that I do at work (on a pc) that I cannot take home (or even log on remotely) and finish at home on my Mac. As a matter of fact I backup all my data from my companies laptops to my Mac network. I have been to Dell Hell more times than I want to talk about and left the pc behind. There was a time (before I bought a Mac) that I thought it was going to an orphan with no software, but since the Linux explosion I somehow doubt that will ever happen. I certainly understand that niche software has its place but again that's why I try to avoid it like the plague. ;)

[Wilson]

Sounds like an IT problem.

[TXrose]

Meanwhile out in the real world there is nothing that I do at work (on a pc) that I cannot take home (or even log on remotely) and finish at home on my Mac. As a matter of fact I backup all my data from my companies laptops to my Mac network. I have been to Dell Hell more times than I want to talk about and left the pc behind. There was a time (before I bought a Mac) that I thought it was going to an orphan with no software, but since the Linux explosion I somehow doubt that will ever happen. I certainly understand that niche software has its place but again that's why I try to avoid it like the plague. ;)


I am talking about the "Real" world, there are some programs that don't run on a mac. There are a lot of education facilities who left mac because of the problems. Education is the "real" world whether you want to admit it or not.

It's not an IT problem, it's a MAC problem. MAc has stuck itself in a niche where you can't just walk in and use any program, not all programs that are made to run on PC can be found to run on a MAC.

[Murphy Stoffelis]

Education is the "real" world whether you want to admit it or not.

Sure :rolleyes:

I.T. will always be I.T. I get my work done in spite of them. (although I never mentioned them). I was referring to Dell.

Now back to my original statement: I have yet to find a program that will not run on my Mac (this includes Micro$oft Windoze apps too).

I know what you mean real world, when my Katrina charge did her homework on my Mac and saved it to a USB drive and brought it to school and was told it was not acceptable because it wasn't on a floppy disk. Whatever. Incredible!

[TXrose]

Sure :rolleyes:

I.T. will always be I.T. I get my work done in spite of them. (although I never mentioned them). I was referring to Dell.

Now back to my original statement: I have yet to find a program that will not run on my Mac (this includes Micro$oft Windoze apps too).

I know what you mean real world, when my Katrina charge did her homework on my Mac and saved it to a USB drive and brought it to school and was told it was not acceptable because it wasn't on a floppy disk. Whatever. Incredible!

We have USB's on all our computers, but I am hesitant for students to bring in anything from home because of the virus problems. I know some school districts don't even allow them to do that at all Conroe doesn't. We don't even have floppy's on the newer computers. The old ones in the lab have floppys and usb, the kids have destroyed a lot of the CD roms.

We have had Dell's for about 5 years now and they are wonderful, the oldest is 5 years, then we have 2 that are a year old and one brand new. I had a Gateway and will never go near them again. Our school has Compaq (Old) and new HP's, they are pretty good, but I think the Dell is better at least for the cost. I got more for my money on my Dell than our school did on the HP's they buy.

But my Educational/Teacher programs that I have will not run on a Mac and there are no mac versions.

[Murphy Stoffelis]

But my Educational/Teacher programs that I have will not run on a Mac and there are no mac versions.

There doesn't have to be a Mac version... The Mac will run Windoze (when installed) if you need that environment.

[TXrose]

There doesn't have to be a Mac version... The Mac will run Windoze (when installed) if you need that environment.


Not these, one of the other teachers has a mac at home and they won't run, and yes she has windows installed so she can't work at home. Maybe it works great for some, but I know we have found it just doesn't fit the needs of what we need to do.

[Murphy Stoffelis]

Not these, one of the other teachers has a mac at home and they won't run, and yes she has windows installed so she can't work at home. Maybe it works great for some, but I know we have found it just doesn't fit the needs of what we need to do.

I have mine set up to restart in Windows XP and it doesn't even know it's a Mac. I have some assembly code programs (Intel virtual machine) and Visual Basic programs that I have to use from time to time, so I know it's not Mac enabled. I'm sure it has to do with the running of an emulation program or configuration. I'll still stand by what I said...