We have STUFF!

It's still busy like crazy in here, and we're still short handed... but we do have some good news! We have STUFF on our shelves! Have you been missing browsing through the random stuff you didn't know you needed? Well, come on by... we have stuff again. At least we did as of 3:30am :-)

Starting a new Users Group?

Hi all, I need to get better at updating this thing more regularly, huh? Our bench is still full, but we only have laptops on a waiting list at the moment. We have introduced new service plans to help improve customer service. Our standard service rates have not changed, and even our priority and rush services are still a fraction of our competitor's basic rates. We still do not charge for diagnostics nor require appointments.

We got in our first AMD Quad Phenom II 955 this week. We're still having fun on a weekly basis converting Intel fans over to the performance and cost savings of these new Phenom II processors. You can build an entire machine with the Phenom II for just the CPU cost of the closest i7. Nice, huh? You really should put a nicer graphics card in it though, but you get the point :)

If I'm not working the bench or grabbing a quick nap (I've been working 24-30 hour shifts.. give a girl a break!) I've been taking a photo run or playing with my new camera (I love craigslist). I wonder if there's enough photo geeks like me who might be interested in having regular meetings. Perhaps we could host some newbie classes, or more advanced group photo runs. If you'd be interested in some type of group at the shop please let me know. The photo on this post is one I took of the Clark Bridge in Alton on Mother's Day.

If you haven't met our newest full time staff addition, you should come by on Wed-Sat and meet Peter. He's a veteran computer repair geek, having worked at small shops in Canada and in Europe for nearly 20 years. He's our laptop solder miracle worker and his biggest fault is not wanting to give up on the hard ones and trying to make everyone happy at the same time. We're lucky to have him, so stop by and say "Hi" if you haven't already.

Who says we're bored?

Greetings from 3:30 in the morning! As you've been sleeping, I've been working feverishly to catch up on all your computers! We have caught up on the backlog of desktops, and check-ins starting this week for desktops should return to a normal schedule. Laptops should have the same result by the end of the week.

Many customers think we have a back workroom, or simply don't realize the staff they are talking to are also responsible for getting all the repairs done. Here's a view of our bench from our side. I just counted over 50 computers in that frame! That's only the counter's side! Each of the monitors you see in our store, each technician, can access all of them and is working feverishly to get everyone taken care of (including you). If you see an extra employee focusing on a monitor instead of being able to immediately talk to you, please be patient, as they are taking care of this mess hidden behind the counter! Thank you for your patience and your business!

Wow! We are CRAZY busy!

Hi All!

We've put up signs in our store, but I thought I'd better put up an announcement here too, for anyone checking us out for work. We are CRAZY busy! We currently have over 150 computers in the store that are currently being (or waiting to be) repaired. Non-priority services are running a 1-2 week delay, depending on condition of the system (older or sicker systems take longer). We're trying our best to get ahead of the system orders and general stock. Thank you for being patient while our shelves are being restocked too! And thank you SO MUCH for your business, loyalty, and referrals. We wouldn't be this successful if it wasn't for that support. Our move in '07 came at an awful economic time, but we're surviving, thanks to you!

Building Customer and Friend Networks

Hey all. I just created a Facebook Group called Computer Room. I'd like people to be able to post/answer questions, and share common interests about technology. Please join!

Our First Experiences with AMD's Phenom II

It's tough to keep all the guys here from drooling over each of the Phenom II 940's we've gotten in this week. Each of them have hinted about ways to get one and not let their wives find out. There's already been a price drop too, nearly $50!

I'm not positive, but given the Phenom 9950 has gotten nearly impossible to find in the distribution channels, I suspect the Phenom IIs are replacing them and we won't see much of the 99xx series anymore. Their 3GHz core and 8MB cache are truly a beautiful thing to all the CPU fanatics out there. Our first experiences with the processors are very positive. Our 3D Mark tests out performed the overclocked i7 that was posted! I hope to get some more in depth reports and tests posted with some of the new hardware as it comes out, especially once the AM3 products are available. For now, check out what Tom's had to say here.

HP Recall -- Free HP Support Staff

It is astounding the increasing numbers of HP Laptops we are seeing in our store each day. On Saturday we had six laptops that qualified for the HP laptop recall. We are checking the laptop problems, verifying it is included in the recall, and giving the customer print-outs of their recall information. We don't charge for system diagnostics, so it feels like we're becoming HP's free customer service department lately. :-)

So what is the recall you wonder? It primarily effects HP's dv9000, dv6000, dv2000 and the Compaq v3000 and v6000 series. It starts with intermittent wireless problems. It ends in laptop death. When it finally dies, you do not get any post, no lights, no power, no sign of life whatsoever.

Have you noticed how hot your laptop gets? The bug in these HP laptops is in the BIOS. It isn't turning on the fans fast enough to cool your laptop components. The first heat-death happens to the wifi controller, and the second is the laptop's motherboard. If you aren't having problems, get a BIOS update from HP before it dies.

If you qualify for the recall, HP will send you a pre-paid shipping box within a day or two of your claim. If you want help backing up your data before you send off your notebook, give us a call!

Oh, and if you aren't "lucky" enough to qualify for this recall and your laptop is still really too hot to handle, our favorite notebook cooler is made by Zalman. They make two sizes, for 15.4" (and smaller) and 17". See them here. You'll swear they have tiny AC units built in. We try to keep them in-stock, but they're popular. They run from $52-$72 depending on size.