Mac & PC Repair, Builds, Maintenance, Training - Your One-Stop IT Solution in PDX!

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

A. Why are people are so tight-lipped when it comes to the 'secrets' of computers failing?

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

A. 1. Do you have all of your software/manuals in an easy-to-reach place?

2. What did you do last when it just decided to 'stop working'?

3. Be honest, did you REALLY open up the e-mail attachment before your computer died?

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

A. I treat every computer that crosses my path like a doctor would treat a patient: A thorough examination and kid-gloves.

After all, in appearance, it might be little more than ABS plastic, wires and chips soldered to a circuit-board -- In reality, it may very well be someone's livelihood.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. The chatter. I enjoy talking and meeting people from all walks of life.

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

A. Any and everything. I love inquisitive people that can't help but ask 'why' something went horribly wrong with their system.

Of course, some people just want the thing to 'work.' That's where I come in.

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

A. As long as I've been making this a hobby/business, I have far too many stories to relate.

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

A. That I can't just wave a magic wand and make their troubles disappear.

Computers take a good deal of care and verbal threats before they start working again.

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

A. I've been ripping open early PC and Apple systems since I was in the single-digit age. It just seemed natural.

I've had formal training, but I never felt it was truly necessary, as my success rate has long been beyond my failure rate.

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

A. My most recent was working for a non-profit located in NE PDX called 'Project: HOPE'

They're an electronics reseller where their proceeds currently go to helping at-risk youth to avoid drugs, gangs, staying in school, and the like when they have nowhere else to go.

Sadly, a lot of their stock comes in damaged and mostly useless for their needs. They recently came in possession of a display DELL XPS gaming computer from Best Buy. An absolutely gorgeous, state-of-the-art machine. Unfortunately, it also came with software that disabled the computer completely without being removed by a 'Geek Squad' member, Best Buy's in-house tech squad.

After spending some time on the phone with Best Buy, the manager of the charity was nearly resigned to either sell the machine at a significant loss or pay Geek Squad's fee. I felt that this method was, effectively, the same as holding the machine for 'ransom!'

After a little 'rooting around' within the machine, I successfully removed any and all traces of the Best Buy software, enabling him to sell the machine at market value and devote more time, funds and attention to his cause.