NYC Computer Repair – PC Repair in Manhattan, New York

If you use a PC or Mac for business purposes, and it breaks and you’re like many business people you’re dead in the water. In a home setting, a broken personal computer is no fun either. Some people like fixing PCs, but if you’re among those who would prefer to keep the silicon out from under your fingernails, you need a pro. Many small business and home users rely on local computer repair shops. But who can you trust? The nonprofit consumer organization Center for the Study of Services has just published the results of a survey it did of local stores in seven cities that do computer repair, along with providing tips about computer repair in general.

Computer repair ratings for individual stores are available through its magazine, Consumer’s Checkbook, for the seven metropolitan areas that the organization currently serves: Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Puget Sound, San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose, Twin Cities and Washington, D.C. But more general information applies elsewhere around the country as well.

I talked with the president of the Center for the Study of Services, Robert Krughoff, who’s a hands-on, jack-of-all-trades kind of boss. Not only does he head up the organization, which he founded 30 years ago, he also writes most of the articles in the magazine, which is published twice a year, including the one on computer repair. Other articles in this month’s issue deal with computer buying, video equipment repair, local pest control firms and other subjects.

“I enjoy being involved in the various articles, perhaps more involved than my staff wishes I were,” said Krughoff, who has a law degree and an undergraduate degree in economics and previously worked for the federal government. His organization has 35 employees, and each article is the result of the work of a team of around 10 researchers.

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With the extent with which we use computers today ‘ for both professional and personal use ‘ it’s safe to say we’ve all encountered the need for computer repair in some form. Whether it’s spyware or a network crash, computer repair is what can save us from slowed computer performance, corrupted files, data loss, and time wasted. Not surprisingly, the birth of computer repair coincided with the rise of computer use.

A complicated piece of technology, a computer is nonetheless used by most of us daily. We sit down at our computers and effortlessly check our emails, stock quotes, and the latest news. We research showtimes and restaurants. We work our 9 to 5 jobs, using laptops, virtual communication, and handheld devices. Indeed, much in our lives revolves around the computer. It’s no wonder why computer repair is so valuable a solution and for the technician, a coveted skill. Given the many uses for computers, there are as many potential problems, errors, and failures. Thus for computer repair, there are at least as many possible fixes.

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It’s a dreaded event for many computer owners – the day their computer conks out, refuses to work normally or simply resigns.  Not only is this a huge inconvenience and a cause for concern due to the potential loss of data (imagine all that hard work gone in an instant), having a computer fixed can cost money.  If you’re worried about how much you’ll pay in case you need computer repair services, here is a short guide to help give you an idea about the kind of cost you can expect:

In most cases, expect to be charged hourly rates.
Some computer repair services charge a fee based on the type of work done.  In general, though, you will probably be charged by the hour.  It will also be the technician who will determine the number of hours it will take to fix your computer.

So if he charges $30 an hour for a 2-hour repair, you’ll have to shell out $60 – that is, as long as the job gets done in 2 hours.  Just in case it takes him far longer than that, you’ll have no choice but to pay more.  If there are software or hardware to be installed, you might also have to pay additional charges for these.

To avoid getting overcharged by a slow-moving technician, always ask if what they’re charging is the full cost for your computer’s repair.  It’s also wise to ask for guarantees.  This will provide you a measure of protection after the repair has been completed.  It will also help if the computer repair service offers a no-fix-no-fee guarantee.  That way, if they fail at fixing your computer’s problem, you don’t have to pay for anything.
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