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September 20, 2005 2:14 AM

Are there any good independent computer support organisations in the U.S. who can help/support/fix problems with home computers and networks, for example spyware removal or hardware replacement?

I'm interested in Geek Squad, Nerds on Site or equivalents - any experiences, recommendations? I'm wondering if organisations such as this are likely to grow substantially and are worth joining or emulating.

posted by grahamwell to Technology (7 answers total)

I'm not clear on what you're trying to do. Do you need someone to fix your computer? Or are you thinking of working at one of these places?
posted by ryanrs at 4:14 AM on September 20, 2005

Response by poster: A bit of both. I've a running saga with a machine in the Bay Area which I'm supporting remotely and it would be helpful to get someone on site, so I'm looking at Geek Squad - but they seem very associated with Best Buy and I'm not sure if they are any good, or are willing to look at a four year old G3.

But quite aside from that, I am wondering if anyone has 'cracked' the third party home support problem. I spend a lot of time here in the UK removing spyware from friends machines, troubleshooting wireless networks etc. and it's becoming a bit of a bore. I don't know who to recommend them to however, it's either me or nothing. It strikes me that there is a potential market here, things are only going to get more complicated, and I'm wondering if anyone has a good template to follow for setting up this kind of business. I hope that makes sense.
posted by grahamwell at 4:52 AM on September 20, 2005

I've fallen into the fixing spyware/adware trap; all I did was raise prices until the workload was acceptable ;) From personal experience, Geek Squad isn't bad, but they aren't good either. They mostly just know how to use tools (like Ad-Aware, Auto-Computer-Fixer 5000 etc) without actually understanding much. Those who DO know what they are doing, usually get sent to businesses, and rarely see a consumer. Their motto may as well be "If you can't fix it, format it." (Other areas may be different)
posted by adzm at 5:05 AM on September 20, 2005

For the Bay area, check with Compumentor - they have a consultants listing.
posted by RelentlesslyOptimistic at 6:29 AM on September 20, 2005

Sorry, that's Compumentor
posted by RelentlesslyOptimistic at 6:30 AM on September 20, 2005

If the machine you're talking about is located in the North Bay Area (i.e.: Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Sebastopol, the North Bay coastal area) and you would like to discuss specifics, my email is in my profile.
posted by Lynsey at 10:44 AM on September 20, 2005

If it's any help, my experience with Geek Squad in the St. Louis area:

are they any good (not really, to actually not at all)

are willing to look at a four year old G3 (probably not, or maybe but probably couldn't help)

Disclaimer: I was working for a competing company, however I also personally knew a guy (he worked for me at my previous, non-computer job) who told me he was getting a job with GS. Not sure I would have trusted him to run a screwdriver...
posted by attercoppe at 10:00 PM on September 20, 2005