I'm sure you've heard them all: Electro-geek,
Plug Man, Techno Nerd, etc. But I have to admit, these terms of endearment
basically apply to me. But what better guy to work on your computer, and
what better guy to assist you in getting your money's worth out of equipment
that almost no household can do without these days!
In reality, Techno Services relates to all services computer. While many
people working with computers specialize in what they do, I like variety.
Specialization, to me, is boring. And most home users do not really require
the services of a high-powered geek. I would like to think that our
customers need someone to call on for practical issues, as they come up.
That is why we offer services in the following main areas.
Setup
Generally, people want to bring home a new computer, plug it in, and start
doing stuff. That's OK, but today's off-the-shelf PCs are most often preloaded with all
kinds of junk. You may not want all this, or may not even be aware that it's
there. Hard drive space isn't really an issue anymore, but a lot of this
stuff can hinder the performance of that fancy new machine, or set you up
for potential problems. Let me help you get off to a good start with your
new investment!
And speaking of investments, I can even assist you in purchasing that new
machine, giving you advice on good deals that I've seen, special
limited-time offers, etc. It's part of my day job to keep up with that sort
of thing, because I purchase computers all the time: desktops, laptops,
monitors, printers, etc.
Clean-up
After using a computer for a period of time, two different types of clean-up
become necessary.
1. Literal Clean-up. Many people keep their computers on the floor for all
kinds of reasons, all valid. But two facts need to be remembered. First,
computers generate static electricity, which attracts and holds on to dust.
And second, dust, as with everything, is subject to gravity and thus falls
to the floor! As you've probably gathered by now, dust and computers don't
cohabitate too well. And dust will always win! I can do a physical dusting
of your machine's "innards" without any damage to components.
2. Maintenance. Just as
your car’s engine requires periodic maintenance to keep running at peak
performance, so does your computer. This maintenance process is often
mistakenly referred to as “optimization”. Maintenance keeps things
working smoothly. Optimization is "tweaking" for better performance. The
reality is that even though the processes are different, they usually
are performed in conjunction with one another.
Hardware Repair
The very idea of opening a computer case is too frightening for many people.
Your computer is an assembly of many components. If one of those components
fails, or if you simply want a new component, say a faster CD drive, you
don't throw the whole thing out (much as you may like to at times!). You
replace that component, right?
Let me do that for you. I can shop for the proper components for your system
and I never mark up hardware. I give you the receipts for the new piece and
any old components that I remove. And, of course, I do a little house
cleaning while I'm in there.
Software and Upgrades
I can install software and upgrades if you are "installation challenged."
This is a good place to note that I do not install, copy or use any
commercial software that is not properly licensed. I will only install
freeware or shareware at your explicit request to do so.
Virus or Spam Removal and Optimizations
Sometimes your computer just gets sick and won't run right. A lot of these
cases can be caused by spyware or other malware you simply "caught." Other
situations arise from misbehaving programs or simply unexpected
complications from using certain programs together. Some of these cases are
cured easily, some not so easily, and others are not curable at all.
Generally, I start with the least invasive treatment and work my way to more
stringent methods.
Then there are cases where the simplest and best cure for an ailing computer
is a "Format and Reload." Usually, this is not a difficult process to
perform, but, done properly,
it can be very time consuming. Most of the time involved in this process
lies in bringing everything on the computer up to current standards and
versions, instead of the ones in effect when the computer was originally
purchased. Since this procedure completely erases everything and returns
your PC to the exact way it was when you purchased it, great care must be
taken to minimize the loss of any of your data.
Tutoring
This is probably my favorite service. My philosophy about being around
computers has always been, "A computer is a tool. A user should approach the
computer as a means to be more productive, learn more about our world, save
time, be creative or simply to have fun!"
To most people, one of the hardest lessons to learn is that there are always
at least 3 different ways of doing anything when working with a PC; and each
of those ways are right! And the second hardest lesson is that you can't
break it by simply using it. I don't pretend to be an expert or even a power
user with all the programs out there. But what most people really need are
lessons on the basics. And that's where I excel. I can give you tips on how
to store your data, keep your computer organized so that you can find
things, and supply you with time-saving, easy shortcuts. It really makes me
feel good when somebody attains a sense of comfort and satisfaction at using
a computer and starts to really enjoy their purchase.
Pricing
There are two ways I can work on your computer - at
your place - or at mine. When working on a PC a lot of time is necessarily
spent waiting on the computer to load a program, run a scan, reboot, or for
a lot of other reasons. If I am working on your machine at your place, I
still must charge you for the time I am waiting. However if I am working at
my place I can do other things while waiting, and can therefore charge a
lower hourly rate, and not have to charge for every minute. Let's discuss
your situation, and figure out your needs. I will give you a "not to exceed"
estimate before I begin. Every estimate I give for work to be done at my
shop includes pickup, delivery and reasonable setup (I'll make sure you are
up and running before I leave).
A
Format and Reload can take anywhere from
2
to 10 hours to complete, with 4 hours being an average time. Therefore, I
will ONLY perform this service at my shop. All available Windows Updates will be
downloaded and installed, as well as driver updates, anti-virus updates and
updates to any re-installed programs. As stated earlier, you must have your
Restore Media for me to perform this service. In many cases you will feel as
though you have gotten a new machine when this service is performed. Flat fee: $175.
If your machine turns out to be one of those that takes over 4 hours for me
to complete, I essentially "lose" money on it. However, it is a great
advertisement for me to have customers reporting that they no longer
need a new machine - and they only spent $175!
Tutoring is $60 per hour. But I can work with two people at the same
time, effectively cutting the rate in half. Details are determined on a per case
basis.
Liability Disclaimer
Although great care
is always taken with your data and programs, SOS accepts no liability for
the loss or alteration of any computer files. I can help maintain your
files, but the ultimate responsibility for them remains with you. I will
thoroughly discuss your file retention needs with you before beginning any
work.
Recommended Readings
It comes as part of the territory that I must do a lot of reading about
computers and the computing experience. Most folks would not want to read
much of this stuff - even if they did have the time. In this space from time
to time I will place links to information or articles that I feel have
significant relevance, and that won't bore you with too much techno jargon. You may want to check here
often. Here are some current selections:
http://redtape.msnbc.com
This article is part 3 of a three part series about what hacker gangs are
doing on the Internet now. It was posted April 3, 2007.
http://tech.msn.com/security/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4429864_gang_warf.html
This article is from the April 2007 edition of PC Magazine and details some
of the unseen threats that are part and parcel of Internet usage.
