Computer Techs to the Stars

By Bobbi Miller-Moro

Since 2003 PC MAC LLC, a computer specialist company in North Hollywood, CA has been providing services for both PC & Mac in the US and in Canada. They are expert technicians and consultants in both PC & Mac hardware, operating systems & applications such as iTunes, iWeb, iMovie, & MS Office. I set out to find the best PC and MAC service repair technicians, and boy was I surprised what I discovered.

In meeting with Blake Purdy, the brilliant CEO of PC MAC LLC I wanted to know why they are the ones to turn to when having computer issues, besides being a Microsoft Partner and building custom computers.

Bobbi: Have you seen a surge or decline in virus activity?
Blake: There is a constant increase in the number of viruses out there, and therefore it is of the utmost importance to have proper virus protection on your computer at all times. Paid subscriptions are the best, and may cost you an average of $50/year, but will save you hundreds in repair costs if you get infected by something. They are also becoming more and more difficult to remove conventionally. I find myself having to format the hard drive and reinstall the operating system in order to get out some of the latest viruses out there.

Bobbi: How often do you get called to clean viruses?
Blake: On daily bases. There isn’t one day that goes by were someone isn’t calling and asking for help in gaining control back of their computer because of a viral or Trojan infection. 100% of these calls are from PC users, because Macs do not get viruses. There are simply more PC’s in the world in use than Macs, so virus creators always target PC’s. PC language is more well known that Mac language, and therefore because of this, viruses for the PC are coded much more easily. The only time I had to remove a virus on a Mac is when Windows XP was loaded on it, and there was expired or no antivirus at all on the Windows partition.

Bobbi: What other services do you provide?
Blake: Virus removal, PC service & repair, Mac service & repair, home & office networking, data backup & recovery, custom built systems, PC or Mac consulting.

Bobbi: Since Jessica Biel has been declared Hollywood's most deadly download due to Trojan virus infections. Have you ever had a client who needed your help because they downloaded a fake celebrity product?

Blake: You mean purchased a fake celebrity product? Yes, clients have ordered these items and usually end up with spyware on their systems. The spyware will monitor your browsing habits and report back to their source. You then get bombarded with pop-ups and ads from numerous affiliated companies. We can stop that from happening.

Bobbi: What advice do you give new PC or MAC owners to avoid having to have your computer serviced all the time?
Blake:Have up to date anti-virus, and malware protected software running at all times. Make sure all your operating system updates are current. Do not open programs emailed to you from unknown sources. Have your PC tuned up twice a year by a professional service from a provider like ourselves. Computers, like cars, require yearly maintenance as they can break down just the same. Preventative maintenance is the key factor in keeping repair costs down and potentially loosing data from a crash. Setting up a good data back-up system in place no matter what type of computer you have is a must.

Bobbi: How does your remote 'online help' work?
Blake:We can at times provide on line remote help to clients if they are able to get on the Internet. On line help is where we can connect to the client computer and make repairs or consult on applications over the phone and on line at the same time. The client must have a high speed connection in order for us to provide that service.

Bobbi: Where do people call and what are your hours? How do they pay you?
Blake: Our main number is: 818-207-8300, we do have other local numbers, so check your local listings. We accept all forms of payment, cash, credit, or check. Check your local listings.

Bobbi: Do you prefer MAC or PC?
Blake: I have no specific preference per say, but I will say there are qualities I like in both systems. Macs are good because they don’t get viruses, nor crash nearly as much as a PC. Apple tends to make some beautiful looking computers that are very practical as far as setting them up for the first time, and OSX is very easy to use. For a first time computer owner that has never used a computer before, a Mac is the better choice based on ease of use and the simplicity of the hardware. Included software with OSX is very good as far as ease of use and the desire to use it for that matter. Many artsy type software is included like: iWeb, iPhoto, and iTunes to name a few. The iMac especially is a great computer.

The LCD, CDROM, and web cam are all built into a single, thin, light weight frame with one power cord for the LCD computer, and speakers – an ingenious design. Apple also offers an extended warranty plan on a new system called “Apple Care”. This can cost an additional $350.00 for 3 years. It might seem expensive at the time, but it is well worth its weight in gold. I’ve seen many Macs have hardware issues within three years, and if you don’t have Apple Care, it can cost you a lot more than if you’d paid for it. You get 1 year Apple Care coverage, and you can purchase the extended warranty anytime within that 1 year period. I recommend getting it. If your logic board fails within 4 years – Apple will replace it under warranty for free. Otherwise the repair costs will exceed the cost of a new computer. That is unless you bring it to us, and will fix it for way less or offer you a better solution.

PCs are good for their diversity and costs. You can get more features for your money on a PC. Things like, RAM, processor speed, and quality high level performance parts are much cheaper for a PC than a Mac. PC’s tend to be much more easily upgradable and customizing your PC is easier as well. Parts are readily available, where as Mac parts have to be ordered from Apple only, and in most cases replaced or upgraded by Apple technicians. Repair costs are less, and there are many places to repair your PC, of course we hope people come to us. PCs have a lot more software available to them as there are more developers out there for PCs – simply because they are more widely available. There are more PCs in the world because many companies are allowed to manufacture them. As a result, the PC is the primary platform for businesses. Aside from business use the PC is also considered a serious gamming platform right up there with the likes of the PS3, the Wii, and the X-Box 360. An X-Box is basically a PC in a fancy case. The difference is you can have a PC built with much more powerful gamming components than an X-Box.

Microsoft has even released a version of the X-Box controller that will work on a PC! I love the flight simulators available for the PC & all the expansions kits. All the major game developers in the world develop games for the PC, whereas Macs fall short in this race. Software is generally cheaper and more readily available for PC than Mac. From an entertainment standpoint, I find the PC much more entertaining. That’s based on the libraries of available gaming software in the market, and all the very cool accessories that are also available. There are so many kinds of keyboards, controllers, mice, LCD’s, and all shapes and sizes of chassis available to choose from. Many different manufacturers offer different kinds of PC’s that consumers can choose from to fit their needs. A PC laptop will cost way less than a MacBook, and there are just so many kinds to choose from.

Bobbi: What does your company do to make sure you are up to date on all new developing technology.
Blake:First of all, every technician here at PCMAC is a certified A+ technician through CompTIA. Most have diplomas from College, and have completed MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer), and or have their Apple Certification. We keep ourselves up to date on the new developing technology by either purchasing it first, or receiving training on the new technology before it is released to the public. As a Microsoft Partner we get our hands on the new stuff before Microsoft releases it to the public. Having said that, I must say the new Windows 7 OS that Microsoft is launching on October 22^nd this year looks pretty amazing, and will not have the same driver issues that Vista had and currently still having.

Bobbi: Although you cater to the mainstream public, do you service larger clients?
Blake:Yes. Bank of Tokyo, Arc Light EFX, Board of Education, Third Encore, Power 106FM Raido, and some computer forensic work with the FBI. Also we service all the major studios in the area like Universal,Warner Brothers, Disney, and Dreamworks.

Bobbi: What are the pluses and minus of PC and MAC and visa-versa in a nutshell; for people looking to make a purchase?
Blake: PC pros: Widely available, cost less, more software available, more selection to choose from, serious gaming platform, more operating systems to choose from, repair costs are generally less, the choice of the business world. PC Cons: Get viruses (if not properly protected), operating system tends to crash, locating drivers for peripherals, can be sluggish and cumbersome. Mac Pros: easy to use, include quality software and a great interface, first time computer user friendly/easy set up, has drivers for virtually everything, operating system is very stable, great support through Apple Care, compact in design and stylish, the choice of the artists community. Mac Cons: Expensive, exclusive, high repair costs (out of warranty), less software available, non-serious gaming platform, difficult to upgrade.

Bobbi: What is new for PCMAC LLC ?
Blake: The Hacintosh computer. It’s a computer that is essentially custom built from PC parts and made to function with OS X Leopard. The cost of a Hacintosh computer is less than half the cost of an Apple brand equivalent. This is our solution to those wanting the benefits of a Mac super computer at the price of a PC.

Bobbi: What makes working with you better than working with an official MAC or PC store?
Blake: We are experts on both platforms and so therefore we are a one stop destination for all your PC or Mac service needs. We’re fast, more personal, and more knowledgeable than any of our competitors. We offer in house and mobile services 7 days a week including holidays. You don’t necessarily have to make an appointment for same day service. Also we cater to the entertainment industry. May of our clients are 'A' list celebrities. Also we cater to the entertainment industry. May of our clients are 'A' list celebrities and everything is kept confidential and very professional. We even offer a SAG/AFTRA discount to first time clients in the industry. Most of our actors come from referrals, and we've simply just accumulated a lot of some of the biggest actors in the industry this way.

Bobbi: How are you qualified to be an expert on MAC and PC repair?
Blake: Certifications and diplomas in the related fields along with countless hours of experience and on the job training. The technicians I hire come from high technical backgrounds and have done work for IBM, AT&T and Apple Computer. No one is fresh out of college, so you know you are getting experienced and qualified help when you call us.

Bobbi: Can you tell me what every MAC or PC owners should really know that we are not told? Blake: Computers, as previously mentioned, are like a vehicle. They require routine maintenance and tune-ups. Hard drives break down in both platforms, so a backup program is a must have – in order to save data from being lost and/or to eliminate data recovery services.

Bobbi: Which computer to you truly find to be the better purchase and/or product?
Blake: Overall, I would say a Mac, because you can run Windows on a Mac in a dual boot setup. Our Hacintosh computer is by far the best value out there.

After meeting Blake, seeing his hand built space-age-looking Hacintosh with my own eyes, and getting a major dose of computer education; I am convinced that PC MAC LLC is where I am heading with the maintenance and servicing of all four of my computers.


Contact PC MAC LLC:
818-207-8300
Official Site: http://pcmacllc.com/
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