ALAN CONA -

Generally from 8-5 on weekdays I am at my day job. I do internal desktop, systems, and help desk support for a mid-size company in Rochester, NY. On evenings and weekends I make myself available for Computer Repair and Technology Consulting – installation, configuration, repairs, and training are what I specialize in. Most of the time I fix PCs and laptops, but have set up home theater systems, HDTVs, secure wireless networks, new DVD or Blu-Ray players, etc… I have even been called on to set the time on a microwave and program the presets on a car stereo. I can also perform upgrades and repairs on newer Apple computers and laptops (Intel-Based only). If you are in or near Rochester, NY and want capable and less expensive technology consulting give me a shot.

The quintessential chain PC Repair and Technology Consulting firm is Geek Squad. They advertise the most and are available all over the US and beyond. This makes them the largest and most well-known of competitors, ideal for comparison to illustrate the benefits of working with me. Below is a list of the major advantages and disadvantages of choosing either one for your Technology Consulting needs.

Where Geek Squad has me beat: (1) They are available 24/7 whereas I am only available evenings and weekends. (2) They accept credit cards, I accept Cash only from individuals (unless I know you), and will only accept a check from NY businesses with a physical location or storefront. (3) If you bought your computer at Best Buy and it is still under warranty they will fix it for free, whereas I do not work for free.

Where I have Geek Squad beat: (1) Price – I charge about half of their hourly rate. Have a look below at what I charge and then give them a call at 1-800-GEEKSQUAD, I think you will be pleasantly surprised. (2) Experience – Working for Geek Squad is generally a first or second step in the path of an IT career. Because they are early in their IT careers, or even part-time workers, the associate that services you is unlikely to be nearly as experienced or knowledgeable as it takes to provide great service and correctly diagnose/repair your system. They will be working off of a flow chart and checklist instead of intuition and instinct built on years of experience. I have a degree in Computer Information Systems and have the A+ and Network+ certifications. All were achieved prior to 2002 which should illustrate my point – I have been doing this for a while. (3) No Conflict of Interest – Geek Squad is part of Best Buy. Best Buy sells computers. Salespeople at Best Buy receive a commission when they sell a computer. Their paycheck is bigger if they sell you a new computer than it is if they simply fix your old one, therefore they will try their hardest to justify a purchase to you. Not only do I not sell anything but when I have to replace parts on your PC in order to fix it, I don’t profit off of them by marking them up, I only charge for the labor to install the parts. I buy all my parts online from www.newegg.com where you can always verify the actual cost for yourself. (4) Honesty – I don’t advertise, I rely on word of mouth only. Chances are you were referred to me by someone else I helped who saw how I explained everything and avoided anything unnecessary that cost them money. The extra cash is the least significant of the reasons why I consult. I’m mainly in it to stay current with technology, to keep busy, and to repel the expectations of those who want me to fix their stuff for free just because we work in the same building or have a common acquaintance. Whenever I am presented with a PC that is so old it is worth less than it would cost to have me fix it, I always point this out to the owner – this almost always results in me losing work, but I would rather preserve my reputation for integrity than to deceive and disappoint a potential customer and referral.

Rates as of 01/01/2011

The below listed rates are for reference if you wish to understand how much you can expect to pay for services. I always give a quote before starting work or taking the computer home. Minimum $75 on all housecalls. Feel free to E-mail me at with questions on pricing, availability, and anything else.

LABOR for off-site clean installation of Windows, flat rate: This is my most popular offering, as nearly 80% of the time this is the solution chosen by the customer and I. This will fix any software problem on the first try. None of the unnecessary software that comes preinstalled on your PC by the manufacturer will be installed (for example: trial versions of software such as Microsoft Office or AntiVirus software, ISP software such as AOL or People PC, toolbars you never asked for, and so on). Afterwards not only is your PC fixed, but it is now faster and has more free space due to the omission of the unwanted preinstalled software. The rate shown is a flat rate, meaning you pay the same amount regardless of how much time it takes me (it usually takes me 2.5 to 4 hours). This rate is only applicable for service performed off-site (in my home). Price includes testing (to make sure the issue is really a software issue), installation of Windows, installation of all missing drivers using the latest available from the manufacturer’s website, installation of the latest Service Pack, and activation of Windows. Also included is up to 20 minutes (total of time spent on-site or in-home before AND after fixing - additional time available at the hourly labor rate outlined below) of my time for answering your questions, disconnecting/reconnecting the peripheral cables in the back of the computer, making a list of programs to install/files to save/other tasks, demonstrating that all of the agreed upon tasks have been completed, Additional on-site time, pickup/dropoff, saving/restoring files, installing additional software, and other services extra (see below).

$100

Examples of some add-on services and their pricing:

Pickup and Delivery This will be waived or reduced if I am going to be at your home or business anyway, if it is right by my home or place of work, or if you drop off and pick up your computer to me so I don’t have to pick it up and deliver it.	$15
Backup of Data If we are going to erase the hard drive on your computer and do a clean install of Windows, you might have some files you want to save. Common examples are My Documents, My Pictures, items on the Desktop, Internet Explorer favorites, and the E-mail address book or Outlook Personal Folders file. If you have a very small amount of data to be backed up I usually waive this. If you have an unusually large amount of data, I will charge more (discussed beforehand, otherwise assume the price to the right).	$15 Minimum
Installation of Software If we do a clean installation of Windows, any programs not built into Windows will not be available until they are installed. This is often something you can do yourself, you simply put the CD in the drive and click through the wizard. The rate off to the right is the cost per program you ask me to install. Examples are Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc…) and QuickBooks. Printer driver packages are another example, and would include the downloading of the latest version if negotiated beforehand. If any software is particularly difficult or time-consuming to install, I will charge more (discussed beforehand, otherwise assume the price to the right).	$5 per installed program for most software
Custom Recovery DVD This DVD erases your hard drive and then restores it back to the way it was when the disc was made. Ideal for computers that frequently get bogged down because of excessive software installation, viruses, etc… This DVD is custom made especially for your computer and will function only on the computer it was made for. When I make these discs for my customers they often do not call me back for several years – and if they do it is usually to ask me to make another Custom Recovery DVD for a different computer! How it works: Before making the image I perform a clean installation of Windows, install all the drivers, service packs, and updates, configure your E-mail, and install any software you regularly use. Once everything is perfect, I take an image of your hard drive – this process takes the entire contents of your hard drive and stores it as one giant file. I then burn this file to a DVD along with a special boot sector that is set up to automatically erase the hard drive and then write the image onto it. If the computer ever gets a virus, the computer starts to run slow, or if anything at all stops working as it should, it can be fixed by the customer without any help from a computer professional. You simply place the Custom Recovery DVD into the DVD-ROM drive, turn off the computer, and when you turn it on again, the DVD handles the rest. When it is done, a message on the screen asks the user to take out the DVD and restart the computer. When they restart the computer, everything is back to working EXACTLY as it was the day the image was made. You’ll never need a computer tech again unless you get a new computer, or if part of the computer actually breaks, such as the hard disk.	$40

Charges for different grades of labor:

Minimum $75 on all housecalls.

LABOR on-site or in-home, per hour: (except training) Examples: Setting up and securing a wireless network, installing a printer, adding a second hard drive, moving files from an old PC to a new one…	$75 for the first hour, $50 each additional hour
LABOR on-site or in-home, per hour: (reduced hourly rate shown applies only to one-on-one training)* Examples: Instruction on how to use software, how to use your DVD burner, how to transfer records or tapes to CD, how to start a regular backup regimen…	$50
LABOR on-site or in-home, per hour: (training where 2-4 people are the recipients of instruction)* Examples: Instruction on how to use software, how to use your DVD burner, how to transfer records or tapes to CD, how to start a regular backup regimen…	$75
LABOR on-site or in-home, per hour: (training where 5 or more people are the recipients of instruction)* Examples: Instruction on how to use software, how to use your DVD burner, how to transfer records or tapes to CD, how to start a regular backup regimen…	$125

*Add an additional $75/hour if you wish to record training for personal or internal use. If recording the training, you must agree not to distribute the recording or use it commercially, neither wholly or in part. You must also agree not to use my likeness in any way outside of the personal or internal playback of the recording.

If it is not obvious by the appearance of this page, I am NOT a web designer; the purpose of this page is to publicly record my labor rates.

ALAN CONA -