computer repair

[Guest021716-4]

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone knows of a relatively cheap but respectable computer repair shop. I can't even really upload any pictures or edit my showcase very well from my phone. I got a quote for 140.

Thanks,

Scarlett

[onewhodances]

Best buy is prob the best most legit.

[ozmosys]

I've read stories about the Geek Squad at Best Buy poaching pictures off of people's hard drives. I wouldn't go to them. But I don't have any better suggestions.

[Carl]

I've used these guys before and was happy with their work.

http://www.pc-guru-austin.com/

[GneissGuy]

What's wrong with it?

Watch out for hobbyists who offer to fix it for you. There are some nasty characters who use that to hack ladies computers.

[The Rover]

If your pics aren't too nudie , photobucket works well with phone . I post pics with it easily .

[Guest021716-4]

Thanks guys. I got it taken care of.

[CasualPleasure]

For future, best buy and fry's can be a horrible ripoff.
Not sure what Computer Nerdz is like these days, but several years ago, they had good techs and gave great service.

[Qziz]

Discount Electronics does good repair as well.

As an aforementioned geek capable of doing basic repair, never offer/accept an offer for repair from a hobbyist, unless you would literally trust them with your bank account (because you gave them enough access to do just that).

[19Trees]

Buy a macbook air on ebay or craigslist. Its all solid state, no HDD no moving parts, light fast durable pleasure to use and pretty much never need repair unless you get it very wet or drop it hard it will work 100% for you... That will set you back about 500 for a decent used one. PC's suck. Googles 199 tablet, runs android (and gmail and google docs and open internet of course) and its fast cheap alternative to an ipad.

Keep your important data backed up on external HDD and FUCK old computers. Its RARELY ALMOST NEVER sensible to repair them: prices on new or used (ebay CL) are so cheap and newer machines so much faster are more reliable and have firmware and software that just works better.

Back up your data and give that broken computer to good will for they to fix and donate or sell in parts.

Since Dell is here in Austin there is huge number of excess machines around and can often find a "steal" of a price if you are willing to lug around a Dell you can get a new or recent used one cheap around here if you hunt you will find a decent Dell laptop for 200-300 (make sure it runs Windows 7 if you go used Dell laptop route).

You could probably find yourself a hobbyist who would trade with you. If you dont find one as "gift" and decide to buy one, betcha will be most happy with a macbook air 500-700 used, 999 new... Google nexus tablet at 199 new is way cheaper alternative to the mac but its a tablet not full laptop and is made by Samsung looks and works great.

[LordBeaverbrook]

If you aren't computer savvy a Mac is definitely the way to go. Worth the extra cost if your time is worth anything. Windoze sucks and gets all virussy and can crap out after a few months or a year or two. Laptops also are prone to breakage because they are toted all around and they often overheat when they get old for various reasons (fans, vent blockage, etc... )

Often the hardware is still OK, but cleaning it up the operating system (Windows on a PC) can be time consuming and expensive. If you have to go PC or have a PC and all you need is web browsing and e-mail, you can load your PC with Linux and even make it look like a Mac! For free! It doesn't get viruses like a Mac and can do as much if not more, but can be difficult to learn to install and configure.

Discount Electronics has lots of clean used Dell laptops for $200 up. There are lots of options and knowledgable people here so just ask.

[LordBeaverbrook]

Originally Posted by Qziz

never offer/accept an offer for repair from a hobbyist, unless you would literally trust them with your bank account (because you gave them enough access to do just that).

Probably good advice about allowing anyone any access to your computer, but that would assume they have a bank account, do online banking and keep that info on their hobby PC. That is what passwords are for. Ladies, use good passwords (not 12345 or password) you can remember and not all the same one for every site. Also, don't write them down and leave around or put in your purse which can be opened or stolen. Don't leave passwords in text or word files especially with the username and URL. Be safe and savvy, not scared.

There have even been cases of shops putting stuff on customers PCs so unless you are techie enough to find it very little is 100% safe. There are probably some creep geeks on here, but I guess the percentage is no more than in the general population and probably less. That kind of hacking is usually done by teens and twenty something's.

I'd also hope that the ladies around here are security savvy enough to learn to extend that to their digital life if warned. They are good judges of people and that should not be discounted.