General Computer Systems — Attraction in Oakland

I am a lawyer. I need dependability. I write a column on technology for lawyers for a national magazine. I wouldn't call myself a computer engineer b y any stretch, but on the other hand I would say I know more than the average business computer user about computers. I have good online support for software issues. I need a very solid and totally trustworthy source for "hardware." I rely on Alex at General Computers for my hardware needs. He is extremely honest. He is very bright. He is very fair. He sometimes tells me that I don't need something when I am prepared to spend more. I like that. He even does "housecalls" when I have issues that would best be resolved if he visits my office in the home here in the Lakeshore District. Today, I am accepting delivery on a high end computer that Alex has built to order for me. I have complete confidence that what I will receive will be far better for me than anything I could order from Dell, Amazon, or any other online discount source. I know from experience that Alex stands behind what he sells and services and part of the equation for me is knowing that if anything falters, Alex will make it right at a very fair price. Alex has been my "go-to" hardware guy for more than 5 years and has taken me through several crises -- where I face tight deadlines with clients -- without fail. That means a lot to me. It is no accident that General Computers has been in business for more than 20 years, while other companies have...

I have not used their services for a little more than 2 years now but I was referring people to GCS. I telephoned them today to see how much, if anything, they would charge my dad to just put the latest update onto his system for Adobe Flashplayer and Java. The programs are already installed but peer-to-peer Global Networking problems have kept me from remote accessing his computer. The Asian male who answered the phone kept trying to tell me that it was $75 an hour and may be more if they find problems on his computer. I told him again that there are NO problems and I just wanted them to hit "Update" on those 2 programs (my dad's almost 80 so not the most computer literate person) which takes less than 10 minutes. I did not want them to even LOOK for problems and this guy kept talking about how they might find problems in his system. I hung up and read reviews and then decided to write my own.

Yes, I am angry but that does not change the fact that I asked him to load the latest update of 2 commonplace programs onto a laptop and he kept telling me how he might find problems which might take more than an hour to fix. I used to trust these guys but never again. I have used Adobe forever and Java since it came out and have had no issue EVER in installing the latest updates. This was just an attempt to swindle me out of money and I didn't...

I have relied on General Computer and E.G. since CPM / floppy disc days (remember that?) 25 years or so... by accident, they were near my home, but their service impressed me so much then, I kept on... I find when I recommend them to someone, they tell me their own experts sent them to general and they already go there as needed. I habe had them build computers for me, and/or customize my Lenovo laptop, convert to solid state and upgrade software. Always on the job, always guarantee their work, always willing to explain things to me -- why one thing works and another doesn't. Check things out to make sure they;re working right (had to bring in an HP printer that was getting weird recently, kept telling me to put in paper or a new cartidge when already done... one of their guys fiddled with it for a few minutes and said "It's working now." See you next time. Their knowledge is encyclopedic. They're always helpful, and know you want/need that computer back as soon as possible sometimes: "Go next door get a cup of coffee and come back in half an hour" and maybe it'll be done or else they can tell me how long, tonight, tomorrow... In other words, they know that you;re there for them to help you, and that's what they...