Flashback to the mid 70's, when the PC began appearing in homes.
$2, 000 could get you a basic setup: a PC with 2 5.25" floppy drives and a dot matrix printer. This price became the entry level target as the PC evolved over the next 20 years, price remained constant with improved technology. In the 90's however, through efficiencies and competition, entry level PC prices began to reduce significantly. Today, the entry level PC has become an affordable appliance for every home as the entry level price has been cut by more than half.
The cost of PC ownership (TCO) has not followed this price path. Businesses have come to rely on the PC as a tool essential to productivity and profitability. Companies need and are willing to pay for quick professional service when their productivity is threatened by a PC maintenance issue. The home PC user often doesn't require immediate assistance, yet pays the same price charged to companies.
A home user willing to venture beyond the Brick and Mortar store-front can find competent assistance at prices geared to their needs. Why should a home user have to pay $50, just because they misplaced their log-on password? A knowledgeable person can reset the password in under 5 minutes. In fact, most services performed to an ailing computer take very little time to initiate. Some services may require more than an hour of PC computing time and store front businesses will rightfully charge 'bench time' for these services.
Technicians operating as contractors from a home have less need to charge for 'bench time' as PC Repair is not their primary source of income. The price you pay for these contractors is typically half that charged by equally qualified businesses. These contractors are also able to provide money saving advice which businesses are not willing to provide since they are not resellers of product. A business may wish you to purchase Photoshop CS4 at $650, when Photoshop Elements 8 at $130 may better fit your needs. An independent contractor may suggest an older version of Elements at $30.
These independent contractors are easy to find through internet resources. Craigslist.org has a 'Services' section listing 'Computer' as a sub category. maps.google.com/ is a great place to get directions to and from anywhere and has a 'Search Nearby' feature where you may search for 'PC Repair' to find local businesses as well as independent contractors near your home.
These contractors operate as a drop-off service, with 24 hour turnaround for pickup. Some will also offer on-site service for a nominal fee.
