FLAT RATE Computer Repair Solutions

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. Most common is virus removal and windows optimization

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Make sure you do a little research about the problems you think you have, that way youre not told something that has nothing to do with your issues. I hear more and more these days about customers having to pay for something they werent sure they needed. Its sad to say, but the computer industry has turned into the auto industry. take your system in for a tune up, and end up paying for a whole lot more. At Linear, we know that unless its burnt, cracked, or broken, then we can take care of you and not try to get you to purchase more products.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. If I was a customer, I would probably want to know any secrets out there about speeding up the system.

I receive a lot of inquires about a customers system running frustratingly slow. There are two common issues that result in poor performance.

1. Viruses.

viruses once installed, execute additional windows services like remote access, and a proxy server. Also they attach themselves to parts of windows registry and enable on start up which your retail virus software can miss it during a scan, as it will fool your software into thinking its a legit process. When you have a lot of viruses, all of these running different background services will cause slow, slow performance.

2. registry errors

windows registry is like a huge redwood tree. each branch of the tree is an arm with data that windows needs in order to work. Over time, data becomes corrupt, missing, broken, redundant, or damaged. The more errors the registry has the longer it takes windows to reach, or find the right entry, causing programs to open slow, freeze or crash. A good registry program like REGCURE or UNIBLUE will scan for errors and remove them allowing windows to to move more linear improving performance.

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. I would suggest doing a little research. Although it is almost impossible to make every single person happy, with a little searching you can find out what people say about companies. At least make sure the good reviews out weigh that bad. Alot of times just doing something like asking google a specific question can give you a little more knowledge about the problem you are trying to fix. For example, if your system keeps shutting off on you... Search.... "what would cause a laptop to shut off every 15 minutes"? You will get a few different answers like its running to hot, windows sleep enabled and so forth but at least you have an idea.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. We aim to keep things cost effective for our customers. Flat rates seem to keep our customer from paying insane prices.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. What I like most is... how this industry keeps evolving, so I am constantly challenging myself, learning, and evolving as well. Most industries you learn the job and it stays like that. I'm very happy to have fallen in love with this career.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. The most common question I get is about viruses.

EX.

How come i caught virus, I dont browse bad sites or download bad things?

Viruses usually come in 2 parts. A root kit and and Install kit. You can pick up a one the components just being on the internet. then catch second part by clicking a link after searching on google for anything. One questionable link can result in a the second part of the file being dropped into your system thru your cookies.

Also emails

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. A customer called one day not knowing why their wireless wasnt working anymore. hey had a netgear router upstairs connected tp the cable so they could move around. When i arrived, i seen that the indicator light for the wireless router wasnt on. I pushed the power button and VOILA internet access. I showed my client where the button was and left without charging him anything, Now He calls whenever there is an issue. We never judge the amount of intelligence a person has by what they do or dont know about computers. We are the experts, so i would not have felt comfortable about charging for something that simple.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. Although Linear may not charge hourly rates, and high prices... The knowledge we have to help you is priceless

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. I dont know... i decided that i wanted to take apart a computer one day back in 99, and for some reason what i was looking at just made "sense" and i was instantly attracted to the technology

Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

A. Recently I refurbished about 20 older desktops and donated them to a facility that helps convicted felons recently released from prison look for work, provides bus passes and so forth. The computers will allow for the staff to provide additional training to help them obtain basic computer skills to strengthen chances of obtaining work. Sometimes people could use a second chance and it is really hard to get a foot forward with a felony.

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. We are always updating certifications, the industry is constantly changing

Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?

A. I have been keeping my eye on gesture technology. Soon we will be able to wave our hand to have a light turn on, or tv, stuff like that. I think its a cool concept, but when thinking about how it will work, I know that it will probably have to be programmed by the customer so you dont turn stuff off and on just by scratching your head or something :)

Q. Describe your most recent project, what it involved, how much it cost, and how long it took.

A. The most recent project that was I really enjoyed was before I started the business and was still working for the Government. We built a completely secure wireless network and took the entire base from wired to wireless. It took about 3 months but was well worth it. That minimized the amount of time we would have to spend trying to decipher why an employee wasnt connecting to the network. Also this freed us up in alot of other areas too. Wireless is the way to go.

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. No complications on pricing here... One flat fee for residential clients and one flat fee for business clients

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. My advice would be...

Dont really worry about going to College for a degree, I did and when getting a job all employers cared about was what certifications i had. You can have a Masters degree on computer science, but youre not consodered an expert until youre certified. Get your Certs