more articles like this

Tell them you found them on Edhat!
www.edhat.com/referrals

New Computers
updated: Mar 13, 2012, 5:30 PM

Do we have any choice other than Best Buys for new computers in Santa Barbara. I bought a new desktop from them 11 days ago and paid $100 to have data transferred from my old PC. I was told it would take 5 days. Afterm 10 days I was just told by Crystal in the Geek Squad that it will actually take up to 3 weeks. I got a refund for the new PC and now need to find a store that will do what they claim after you give them your money. Any suggestions?

Places People Are Talking About:

Apple Store	Channel Data Systems	Human Solutions Computers
Mac Mechanic	Samy's Camera	Staples

What People Are Saying:

COMMENT 264015	2012-03-13 05:34 PM
Office Max, Staples, The Apple Store, craigslist....
PURPLERIDER	2012-03-13 05:38 PM
Staples, either 410 State or 7015 Market Place (near Costco). Of course there is Costco. I just bought a Dell Inspiron laptop there a couple of weeks ago after comparing prices and models at Best Buy and Staples.
COMMENT 264020	2012-03-13 05:43 PM
Yeah, the Apple Store.
COMMENT 264024P	2012-03-13 05:49 PM
015, 020 yea Apple, only if you want high priced low quality gear. Now, now watch where you toss those cans, they hurt.
COMMENT 264025	2012-03-13 05:50 PM
CompUSA still exists on-line. They only closed most of their brick-and-mortar locations. You can also "configure your own" on websites from H-P, Dell, etc. I've also bought ready-mades from Costco.
COMMENT 264028	2012-03-13 05:56 PM
@025 No, CompUSA does not exist online. Their name was bought by a low-end computer company (TigerDirect) and is being used to add the air of legitimacy to a mediocre product line. CompUSA went out of business and had all their assets liquidated, including their branding/trademarks. In town, best options are probably Costco, Staples, OfficeMax, etc if you don't want to purchase directly from the company's website. Truth be told, unless you desperately need it in a day or two, most of the computers you find in stores are lower end or slightly out of date, and aren't tailored to your needs. Take a look at HP, Dell, Lenovo, etc's websites and see if you can't build a better computer there. TechBargains tracks coupon codes for most of those vendors, too, so they can save you some money.
THE BARRON	2012-03-13 06:29 PM
The Apple Store or Mac Mechanic
COMMENT 264035	2012-03-13 06:32 PM
Ummm, maybe the internets?
COMMENT 264038	2012-03-13 06:40 PM
I bought a new Hewlett Packard PC on the Internet. Custom built to my specifications. Good price. Free shipping. Arrived in 3 days to my front door. What more could I ask for?
COMMENT 264039	2012-03-13 06:42 PM
Here's my Apple experience. Took 10 min. before one of the many Apple people(running around the store)noticed me standing in front of the most expensive Mac. The 1st. person said someone will be with u in a few min. Another 10 min. goes by. She was helpful but really didn't know a lot. I had a number of questions. All said and done,it took no less than 6 different people to answer my questions. They gave me a quote written on the back of a business card. lol I bought it somewhere else.
COMMENT 264040	2012-03-13 06:45 PM
Staples with coupon if you must touch it. Amazon or newegg if you want to save money and keep a couple tax bux out of the hands of our thieving leaders. Best Buy is the absolute last place anyone with any consumer or tech knowledge would shop.
CHERIDIANE	2012-03-13 06:52 PM
Definitely MacMechanic. Or the Apple store. Done right away, easily.
COMMENT 264042	2012-03-13 06:56 PM
Mac Mechanic for a computer. PC dealers for fishing weights.
COMMENT 264046P	2012-03-13 07:05 PM
I buy all the family Macs through MacConnection online. Years ago I tried to buy locally but was dissatisfied with the customer service and the wait.
COMMENT 264053	2012-03-13 07:30 PM
Go to Fry's in Oxnard. You get the best bang for your buck just do your research online. Personally I like to buy every component separately and put it together myself. I paid $400 for a computer that would normally cost $2500 If it was name brand. I am also happy to assist in any computer endeavors you may have as I am A+, N+, and I am a Microsoft Certified Systems administrator (MCSA). Don't get ripped off by going to places like Best Buy. Their markup is insane and the Geek Squad employees have no type of formal computer training whatsoever. Feel free to Google, Santa Barbara Communication Technologies. :)
COMMENT 264059	2012-03-13 08:26 PM
I have only bought thru Mac Mechanic for the past 12 years. Went into the Apple store for about ten minutes, will not return.
REXOFSB	2012-03-13 09:25 PM
I second Fry's in Oxnard. I have bought two computers, a 50" plasma TV & washer and dryer there, saving a HUGE amount of $$$ compared to what they would have cost in SB or Goleta. It kills me to spend my locally earned money out of town, but there is virtually no competition here, not to mention limited selection.
RAYGOLD	2012-03-13 09:35 PM
The Apple Store. They also will transfer your old files and give you free classes to assist you with your new computer. Apple has the highest customer satisfaction by far. No other computer company is even close.
LOTUSEATER	2012-03-13 09:47 PM
People still buy computers in stores?
SHAGGY	2012-03-14 01:13 AM
Yes please buy on line !!! Ugh
MTNDRIVER	2012-03-14 08:09 AM
I'm with you, 042, PCs=fishing weights indeed. Had a laugh at that. We almost always buy online (Macs). The sales people at the Apple store are not always so good, but the guys at the genius bar are usually helpful. Mac Mechanic is a treasure in this town.
COMMENT 264108P	2012-03-14 08:17 AM
OP, your problem with BB sounds weird. Everyone who works with computers knows it doesn't take very long to transfer data from hard disc to hard disc (minutes to hours at most) There must have been some kind of mixup or something, or possibly a problem with your older system or both. To answer your question, yes There are other places to buy computer systems, but very few sources for the services you seek. These services, such as migration from an old system to a new system, equate to an oil or filter change on your car and you should be able to do it yourself. If you can't, there are many tech specialists in the newspaper and Craigslist available to come to your home and perform these functions. So, to recap, your problem is one of service, not availability, so locate and hire a tech consultant to analyze your needs and make recommendations then purchase your machine either locally or online and then schedule your tech to come to your home and do the service. It's cheaper and better for you to do it this way, and supports local small business.
COMMENT 264110	2012-03-14 08:24 AM
Try Samy's Camera, it's amazing what they have in there. Not just cameras. But better yet by a Mac from MacMechanic. Yes, many years ago their service was poor but they seem to have had an epiphany around 7 or 8 years ago and decided to go to very good service, which they now have. Skip the Apple store, support local business.
COMMENT 264124	2012-03-14 09:03 AM
Best deal on computers outside online is the UCSB bookstore.
COMMENT 264126	2012-03-14 09:05 AM
So the problem isn't the buying of the computer but the file transfer afterwards from your old machine to the new one. Not the most available service which is why BestBuy had to farm it out to the Geek Squad... I mean we're not talking about transferring contact lists from one cell phone to another but entire families of computer software files. I don't know how old your old system is but the new operating system and software may not be able to handle much older files so there could be compatibility issues. Then imagine the stink if you have all these files transferred to the new computer but you can't open them or write to them. Given today's Entitlement Culture it's best to lose a sale than take on a Customer Service nightmare which could cost the company more in manhours than was invoiced for the sale.
COMMENT 264135P	2012-03-14 09:17 AM
Got my Mac from D.C. Ellis in Carp and he's been terrific with customer service. He once got me a used Mac for under $500 & I drove that thing into the ground for years. Now I've got a brand new one that is great.
COMMENT 264138	2012-03-14 09:19 AM
Mac Mechanic is the BEST! Macs can run anything- Mac OS, Windoze, or Linux, your pref. Fry's??? not recommended. Horrible experience in Oxnard. I lived next to their mothership in Silicon Valley & watched them grow. One constant: they do _not_ hire employees for the depth of their knowledge.
COMMENT 264142	2012-03-14 09:32 AM
Costco and Staples are good choices. Costco has a wonderful concierge service, they will walk you through any problem and the service lasts for the life of the computer, printer etc. I bought my last computer there and had a very helpful person on the phone while setting it up.Staples offers services in the store, they are really quite good too.Please buy local, so your tax dollars stay in the community you live in.
COMMENT 264145	2012-03-14 09:44 AM
What's wrong with Best Buy? They usually have really good deals. Just make sure they don't rape you with that stupid $100 Geek Squad (or whatever they call it) add-on. What a ripoff.
DRBUD	2012-03-14 10:20 AM
I got a great HP in Costco!
BECKY	2012-03-14 10:23 AM
There are a LOT of good computer consultants in town. Pay a bit more and have one of them help you buy the best new computer for you, as well as transfer your data for you. (Latitude 34 or Hart for PCs are both good; MacMechanic, Harold Adams, Ed Togami are all good Mac choices.) Whether Mac or PC, I guarantee that it will be a much better solution for 90% of the populace. (The last 10% value a dollar saved over their time and frustration. For me, an optimal result, with good knowledge, service, and help is worth a few bucks more.)
COMMENT 264178	2012-03-14 10:29 AM
Best Buy is awful. I got my PC from Staples downtown SB, and when I got locked out of my PC (result of multiple hackings), I took it to Staples Goleta where it was 'unlocked'. In other words, I did not have to call Toshiba HQ for the key to unlock. Staples has smart people working for them. I stick with them.
COMMENT 264181	2012-03-14 10:35 AM
Costco usually hits the sweet spot for value in a PC, even with taxes I could only match them on line for an HP 6v6 laptop. Plus you get an extra year of warranty, bought it with my Amex card, so three years total warranty. I piece built the PC I'm using now with parts from Fry's, etc. you do get what you want but you don't save money like you used to. Best Buy mark ups are outrageous - I only go to them if I am in Goleta and don't want to drive to Fry's. I paid $40 (!) for a 25' cat 5 cable - promised myself never again at BB.
COMMENT 264218	2012-03-14 11:40 AM
+1 Mac Mechanic, the Apple quality without the hubbub of the Apple store. Totally Apple authorized - they were here first and paved the way for the store.
COMMENT 264224	2012-03-14 11:48 AM
I would recommend ordering your computer online directly through the manufacturer's website (unless you find a great deal somewhere else). Dell and Apple allow you to customize your computer to the exact specifications online. You can often find great deals on tech sites for Dell products. I would really caution against buying your computer from a retail store, unless the happen to have exactly what you want, which is doubtful.
COMMENT 264231P	2012-03-14 11:59 AM
Forget Fry's! It's usually a loss leader that gets you into the store and then the item is either "out of stock," or they attempt to upgrade you, aka bait & switch, to a much more expensive product.
COMMENT 264238	2012-03-14 12:15 PM
any recommendation for wall mounted tv setup and a/v components. really trying to avoid the geek squad.
CABINETMAKER	2012-03-14 07:26 PM
For a desktop PC try Channel Data Systems. They will build exactly what you want and I think the little extra you may pay is worth it for the service you will receive. I've had them build mine since 1986.
COMMENT 264411	2012-03-14 07:31 PM
238: Do you need someone to help you set it up? We got our TV for a great price at Costco. Whatever you do, don't buy your HDMI cables, etc. from Best Buy, Radioshack or any of the others! They charge (and I'm not kidding) over $90 for cords you can get on Amazon or other tech sites for less than $10. The Internet (and some research) are your friends when it comes to this stuff.
COMMENT 264632	2012-03-15 01:05 PM
HI. Well...I've been building PCs since 1987! I built hundreds, servers, workstations, desktops for UCSB, banks, schools, Moms & Pops, and Professionals. Human Solutions Computers 805-563-1257 formerly Digital Solutions,I have 4 SB Indy Best of SB awards. Here's what makes mine better; standardized parts; high quality reliable brands, Real legal Windows always and of course my personal support and experience. A prebuilt from a big-box store will be less but it will be compromised in some way for profitability and generally not upgradeable (disposable). Anyhow, talk to me, I've built some damn nice ones including ultra quiet and very fast systems. I am a CA reseller with great vendors too, quotes are easy. Many references (Ashleigh Brilliant's PC all from me since 1993). I love what I do and I am very good. Always priced fair so I see you again later. -Hugh