Commonly asked questions and answers:

Q: Why use Metro Computerworks for on-site computer service, repair and consulting?
A: Simple - High quality one-on-one personalized service from experienced experts that you can reach as easily as if they were next-door.

Computer consulting can be a tedious racket for a small business and homeowners. There are an intimidating number of choices out there when you need fast help in an emergency, or if you're looking for a relationship with someone that you know will be competent and reliable.


Our emphasis on high-end service is special in many ways:

• We don't believe in voice-mail. Every call is answered by the owner and/or lead specialist.
• Shop visits are really consultations. You will get our full attention at the time of service. Or if you just want to drop it off quick and have us contact you later in the day that's fine.
• Free telephone phone consultation and advice (limited to 10 minutes).
• Response time for local emergency on-site service usually within one hour, and non-urgent calls almost always same-day.
• Our specialists are very friendly and personable, with many years' experience.
• Quick diagnostic in the shop is free. (limited to 10 minutes).
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Q: What brands and kinds of computers do you service?
A: Post-warranty work for Apple Macintosh, and all Windows based PCs, including Dell Computer (Dimension, Inspiron and others, Gateway Computer, Compaq Computer (Presario), Hewlett Packard (Pavilion), eMachines, - HP Computer, Sony Viao, IBM - also, any home-built, or custom built computers.
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Q: Do you do warranty repair for these brands?
A: No. If your computer is still under warranty, you need to contact the manufacturer directly. Apple Macintosh warranty issues can be handled by local Apple resellers, which are required to provide warranty service, and Dell warranty issues can be handled by contacting Dell.

However, we can facilitate the process between you and your manufacturer by helping to formally diagnose a hardware problems.
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Q: What are your rates?

Fees here do not include any hardware replacement or upgrade that may be needed. Don't hesitate to call ahead to discuss your situation first.
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Q: What forms of payment do you accept
A: Cash, local check with required identification, all major credit cards - Visa card, Mastercard, American Express.
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Q: Do you have support contracts, service agreements?
A: Certainly. On-site, on-call service can be purchased in blocks of time for a lower hourly rate. For example:

5 hours per month: $90 per hour
10 hours per month $85 per hour
15 hours per month $80 per hour.

These scenarios are perfect for companies that do not have enough need to hire a full-time IT person, yet still need very reliable relationship-based support.
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Q: Where is your shop located?
A: Metro Computerworks is located close-in North Portland in the historic Gotham Building, next to a restaurant called the Gotham Tavern, along the North/South Yellow Tri-Met Max line. The address is Gotham Building, Suite 181, 2256 N. Albina Ave. Portland, Oregon 97227.

This is right on the corner of Interstate and Albina. Albina Ave. normally runs parallel to Interstate, but as Interstate curves South toward dowtown it intersects Albina.

To newcomers, the location can be tricky. Here's a mapquest link if you need to print directions. We are where Albina Ave. meets Interstate Avenue, between the Broadway and Fremont bridges, along the new Max line heading north. That's two blocks South of Widmer Brewing Company and the Widmer Gasthaus, and other fun establishments like Mint and McMenamins White Eagle. The locale is very close to downtown Portland and the Pearl District (just over the Broadway Bridge). The Gotham building is a 100 year old building that underwent a major renovation.

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Q: What kinds of services do you offer?
A: On-site OR carry-in computer consulting, service and repair,
Including, but not limited to:

• Operating system upgrade or reinstall - download / install device drivers and current updates. Wipe partition, reformat, reinstall, backup and restore critical data.

• Microsoft Server 2003 Standard and Small Business Server setup, configuration and support. Microsoft Exchange setup and support. Server consulting and maintenance.

• Network setup, configuration and consulting. Setup of routers, swithces, firewalls, hubs and cabling. Apple Macintosh OR Windows environments.

• Wireless or WiFi setup, configuration including WEP encryption or other security.

• Virus removal, Anti virus installation and cleaning. Spyware removal and Malware removal. Repair browser hijacking. Check out our flat fee computer tune up.

• Computer tutoring and training - one-on-one, at your home or business. We can meet with you for one to three hour clinics for just about anything you'd like to learn about - basic computer operation, maintaining your computer, working with digital cameras, scanners and video, or working with email and internet.

• Troubleshoot startup issues, hardware and software problems

• Test and replace failed components - Most comon: power supply, hard drive, motherboard (logic board).

• Hardware Upgrades - additional memory (RAM), larger or additional hard drives, video cards, CPUs., add PCI cards for ethernet or wireless networking.

•Backup methods - Make sure the right stuff is getting backed up to the right place, and that you know how to replace it if needed. (Running a "fire drill").

• Data recovery

• Apple iPod consulting. Recover iTunes to new computer or from backup or get your iTunes library and songs folder straightened out. Macintosh or Windows.

• Personalized coaching / training for just about any computer network topic.

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Q: Do you only service downtown Portland or do you go out to other areas?
A: Metro Computerworks specialists will go anywhere in the greater Portland area (West Portland and East Portland, including Beaverton, Tualatin, Hillsboro, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie, Clackamas, Gresham and Wilsonville, and Vancouver Washington, as well as outlying areas in Multnomah County, Clackamas County, and Washington County.

Q: Should I buy an Apple Macintosh or a Windows PC?
A: This is the question that has confounded new-comers to computers for years. The answer of course, is different for each individual. You MUST answer this on your own if you care to develop a relationship with your computer, that is if you plan to take it on as a hobby and want to get to know a lot about the Operating System.
If you don't care at all and just want to get a box on the shelf, for e-mail, web browsing and word processing, then I'd have to recommend Windows PC, since a basic box is more economical. Just make sure you also buy and install a good virus program. Viruses are rampant in Windows, and almost unheard of on Macs.

The good news is that mail and document compatibility between PCs and Macs really is no longer a problem, so that should not be an issue. Microsof Office file formats work between platforms. More consumers choose a Windows PC for games. There are more games and better games, and better hardware for games for PCs runing Windows. This is irrefutable. It's why I got into Windows after being a Mac guy for so long. Sure, there are some great Mac games, but the Windows camp is where it's at with high end gaming. End of story.
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Q: What about the other things you hear? Macs are easier to use, cost less to service, etc.?
A: In my opinion, Apple Macintoshes and Windows PCs are equally easy to use. That comparison has evened out over the years.

Windows web browser Microsoft Internet Explorer will handle more of the planet's web pages without error than Mac's MS web browsers. I know this from browsing the internet with both for a long time. More web sites are built and tested to work only on MS Internet Explorer. Why? That's what most people use, and a lot of site builders never bother to make sure their web sites work on Macintosh web browsers. As time marches on though, this is less and less of an issue.

Here are some additional factoids and opinions that may help with your choice:

• Macs and PCs are both easy enough to use
• Windows PCs cost less than Mac tower models, but to be fair, a comparably equiped PC costs about the same. There are no end Macs it seems.
• PCs with Windows get more viruses, spyware and malware. Macs almost NEVER do. If you get a PC, You MUST get good protection from one or more utilities. We like AVG, AntiVir, Ewido, and Trend Micro's PC-Cillin, or if your computer came with it use Norton Antivirus or McAfee Virus Scan. I have had countless calls to resurrect a Windows system infected with viruses. I have not seen a virus infected mac in several years. Why is this? I suppose since Microsoft has the largest operating system market share at over 90 percent, their Windows operating system is target for most of the bad guys developing and distributing infections.
• Macs can certainly transfer the virus to PC users, but the virus rarely affects the Mac itself.
• Apple iMac models with built-in displays usually similar in price as comparable PCs.
• If gaming is your thing, get a PC with lots of memory and a great game card.
• If you love Apple Macintosh, that's great. They're finer today than they've ever been.
• Apple is NOT going out of business. Areyou kidding? So don't let that stop you.
• If your goal is to be a Photoshop/Quark/Illustrator/InDesign person, get a Mac that's what most of those in the field use, and the programs are extremely well groomed for and many deigners say that overall workflow is better on the Macintosh.
• If Enterprise (business) networking is your goal (say you need a machine that will connect easily to you corporate network in a different city), get a Windows PC, The IT support guys at the home office will love you for it. It's not that Macs can handle the job, just that most IT support guys have never seen a Macintosh and won't be able or willing to help you.
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Q: Won't I save money if I build my own computer?
A: Yes, you might, but usually you won't. If you don't factor in your time and effort (labor) and, if you buy a hard drive that includes an Operating System, and if you assume that the build will go perfectly and rarely need support. In my opinion, unless your objective is the pride of doing it yourself or learning, there is no value in building your own computer. If you need a good machine that works and will last several years, just buy a good one with a good warranty. And this is a great era to buy a computer. You get so much for you money today in terms of processing power, storage and features, todays nicely equipped Windows PC costing $800 (no monitor). would have cost over $2,000 three years back, and is phenomenally more powerful.

For most wire-heads and gamers, they pretty much know which processor, chipset, mainboard, vid card, etc. they want and they have a ball searching, pricing and building a custom computer. Building your own computer can save some money, but there are gotchas. First, it can be a huge excersise in frustration if you wreck a part during install. Next, unless you've done your homework carefully, there's a chance your chosen components won't work together. Next, you get no overall warranty or support. Even so, it's fun, educational, and rewarding to have success with a build-your-own, and you will know your system intimately.

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Q: I need a new computer. What's a good deal on a PC? [mid 2007]
A: I get this question a lot, and I do a lot of looking around. Some like having a local shop like us do a custom build so they know that the components are each selected for the best quality. For others, there's the convenience of going with what are referrred to as "OEM" or mass market computer makers: Dell or Gateway, HP / Compaq, eMachines, Sony, etc.

The item that the large computer makers scrimp on the most, from what I see is memory. This has always baffled me, given how inexpensive RAM is these days. I will see one to three year-old systems that shipped out with 256 meg of memory (RAM). While the computer will operate with that amount, it just is not enough for Windows XP run with several other programs open, and the performance sacrifice can be horrible. So, how much RAM should you get? One Gigabyte at least. With this amount I bet you NEVER need to upgade memory again. There's not such thing as too much RAM.

Pentium, Celeron or AMD processor? Intel's Core 2 Duo is the one to get today. Combined with a Gig o RAM, your computer will let you do muliple tasks at the same time. the delays while multitasking are gone. It's worth the extra money. Athlon makes the X2 (their own dual core processor) for a little less money. The Core 2 Duo is faster though. I wouldn't recommend anything slower. This is your time we're talking about. There's more going on today with a new computer than ever before, and with all that overhead, you don't want to be hung up during virus scans or while trying to do more than one thing at a time.

Without the Dual Core processor, spyware, viruses and the utilities that try to prevent and clean them can bring an older computer to its knees. I have seen clean Pentium 3 machines that seem very fast eclipse new Pentium 4 even dual-core computers for that matter in which the the processor is being completely consumed by spyware, malware or viruses, OR even by the utilities attempting too control them.

As for the hard drive, most of the economical systems ship with a 40 gigabyte drive. This is fine. I would say that the average computer that visits my shop has used less than half of the 40 gigabytes available.

Make sure your new PC includes PCI Express in case you anticipate trying any of the visually intense high-end games, such as Battlefield 2, Call of Duty, CoD2, or Half Life 2, etc. PCI Express is the new standard slot for high-end video / game cards. In the past year or two it has replaced the AGP port on most motherboards. In fact, an AGP port is even excluded now by most manufacturers.

So, AGP is on the way out, if not gone, so what I used to say about the AGP slot only applies to perhaps a used computer purchase:

AGP slot. AGP stands for Advanced Graphics Port. If you're thinking about higher-end games, you should buy an $80 -$120 game card for the AGP slot. The performance of the game card that uses this slot will far outperform the on-board graphics built into the computer motherboard. Make sure the model you purchase has an AGP slot. Some economical models leave this slot out. This recommendation is only for serious gamers though. the built-in video will be completely adequate for daily use; web browsing, email word processing and spreadsheets (even a lot of games).

To summarize:
• Dual Core Intel or Athlon processer
• 2 Gigabyte RAM (memory)
• 160 Gigabyte hard drive (storage)
• PCI Express video (or slot ready to upgrade later) (PCI Express built into the motherboard is not upgradeable unless different card can be added later).
• DVD - CDRW drive
• 350 or 400 watt power supply
• Keyboard, mouse, modem, USB ports almost always included
• Floppy disk drive? Normally needs to be requested - extra $20. No longer necessary.

A typical system like this can be purchased or built these days for under i'd say $700. Throw in a nice 17 or 19 inch flat panel monitor and you have a great system for less than a thousand dollars.

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