Archive for the ‘Macintosh Consulting’ Category
Did You Know That We Love Fixing Macs For Our Clients? This Is How You Get Rave Reviews!
Here at MacMedics, we really, REALLY LOVE what we do, and we really enjoy helping clients with Macintosh problems. In many cases, these folks have already called someplace else, only to get the run around.
In some cases, the issue can be very simple and what looks like a complex problem, and be quickly solved on the spot.
See the Angie’s List review from just such a MacMedics client from 2/2/12:
I added a Seagate external hard drive to my iMac and by accident loaded some Windows based software onto my Apple computer. The end result was that I was unable to start my computer. I called several Computer Tech companies to help me and it was going to cost several hundred dollars to fix the problem and would take several days. Bad news, I needed the computer running immediately and paying several hundred dollars was not a good thing.
I decided to look for a local company that specialized in Apple computers and found MAC MEDICS. I called them and explained the issue and the tech person thought he knew how to fix the problem. He walked me through several steps over the telephone but could not get the computer to work. Unfortunately that meant I would have to bring the computer in. I got to the store later that day and the technician who helped me on the phone came out to take a look at the computer. Fortunately it was an easy fix and he got the computer running correctly. He explained that this was a common problem that he has seen from customers. How much did he charge me, $0.00!
Wow what a company! I will definitely use MAC MEDICS in the future. In fact I purchased from them an inexpensive service plan for this computer.
Here’s another Angie’s list review from 11/22/10:
In addition to doing an excellent job replacing my iMac’s hard drive, the owner, Dana Stibolt, spent a lot of time with me on the phone explaining my options. He worked me in that very day, and completed the work in less than two hours. I was very impressed. Although it was quite a drive from where I live, I would go there again should my iMac need service again.
There Is Really No Substitute For Accurate & Authorized Apple Service
There is really no substitute for accurate and authorized Apple repair service. Our talented and Apple Certified Macintosh techs solved another problem for two different Apple customers who both took the time to leave a 5-Star Review for both our Millersville and Lanham offices this week.
When you’re having issues with your Mac, please come visit our fully staffed and stocked offices in either Millersville or Lanham, Maryland. We’ll fix your Mac under Apple’s Limited Warranty or Apple’s extended warranty, AppleCare. Or, we can efficiently service your out of warranty, vintage, or obsolete Macintosh. When your Mac repair is complete, we’ll ensure you know everything you need to know in order to preserve and protect your valuable data and operate your computer successfully for as long as possible.
We love to help! So instead of making an appointment, trying to find parking, dealing with crowds, or having to worry about your data being erased, or having to deal with your computer being shipped away for repair, come see the Apple Certified Technicians at MacMedics.
Thanks to our customer, Mark, who had his Mac serviced in our Lanham office this week. Here’s his review from Yelp:
My Macintosh desktop computer had a complicated problem; part of the electronics had failed, while most individual components were fine. Since MacMedics is a certified Apple Service Provider and Reseller MacMedics correctly diagnosed the problem, which endless Apple phone support had been unable to do. The replacement part and labor were free, since my computer was still covered by the AppleCare Protection Plan. My computer now works better than when it was new. I also got some excellent technical advice on maintaining the computer, including information on back-up plans. I highly recommend MacMedics.
Mark
1/6/12
Also, thanks to our customer, Richard, who had his Mac serviced in our Millersville office this week. Here’s his review from Yelp.
Small repair. Done in a 15 minute walk up. Best service I have had in a long time. Highly recommend!
Richard
1/7/12
A Complete Backup Is BOTH Local AND Off-Site. Don’t get ROBBED Of Your Data!
We’ve heard this story before:
We heard about another Apple Authorized Reseller who has a client, an attorney on the West Coast, whose MacBook Pro and Time Capsule were stolen in a recent break-in. Everything he had was on those two devices.
If a drug addict breaks into your home or office looking for stuff to steal to fuel their next drug fix, they WILL steal anything that has an Apple logo on it and anything else they think might be related. They will grab ANYTHING else they think they can get as little as $5 for. GPS devices go for $5 at pawn shops by the way when they are sold.
You might be 100% totally backed up locally, which is AWESOME because so many people don’t even do that, but if your data needs to be backed up, you need three things to have a complete back up:
The important thing is to PLAN AHEAD. Your back up is not complete if it’s not:
1. Automatic (Use Time Machine and this point is covered)
2. Redundant (Double your back up with a clone of your data or use an off-site back up and this point is covered)
3. Off-Site (Take your double back up off-site or get Mozy or CrashPlan Pro and this point is covered)
If you’d like to sign up for Mozy or CrashPlan Pro, we have links to those services, including the hard to find free 2GB Mozy account. We also strongly recommend LoJack for Laptops.
http://www.macmedics.com/mozy (Use code “2012″ for 10% off paid service until 2/1/12)
http://www.macmedics.com/crashplan
http://www.macmedics.com/lojack
We also have a number of other backup related articles on the MacMedics Blog about Time Machine, backups in general, and some posts about disaster planning.
Don’t Play Trick Or Treat With Your Mac’s Back Up!
It’s Not A Real Backup Until You Also Have An Off-Site Copy Of Your Data
Be sure to read “The Nine Things We Wish We Did Before Our House Burned Down” in the post listed above. We have the list line by line and a link to the original post, which is a “MUST READ” for anyone that has a house OR a computer
New MacMedics Client Calls Our Service “Amazing”
A Google Local review from MacMedics client, Angelina:
“An Apple representative recommended this place when my hard drive crashed a few months ago. Although they were unable to fix the issue, since it was mechanical, they were more than helpful. They were empathetic to my situation since the hard drive contained pictures/videos of the first two years of my daughter’s life. They were so helpful and knew exactly what they were talking about. They informed me of my data recovery options and recommended the best way to go about the situation. Their recommendations were far from self-serving and were shaped to fit my needs, even if that meant they would lose money. I will never go anywhere else. Everyone there is amazing. They even took it a step farther, since it is a bit of a drive for me; they looked at my computer with in 15 minutes (even though they were closing) and called me so that I could pick it up before I left the area. AMAZING.”
You can see more Google reviews here: http://is.gd/z9hLfO
If we’ve helped you in the past, please consider leaving us a review, as we’ve just had the honor of someone posting a totally fake review (which we responded to). You can also post a review on Yelp at: http://is.gd/Zge2yO
If you’re in a serious data recovery situation and you need a second opinion, please call us at 1-866-MAC-MEDICS. If we can’t help you, as was the case with the client who wrote the Google review of MacMedics that is listed at the top of the message, we’ll refer you to one of our data recovery “clean room” partners. If you already know that you need to go to “clean room” data recovery, like if the hard drive was damaged by liquid, or it was dropped and now is not spinning, we can send you right to our partners with the details you need as well as discount codes (free evaluation and up to 10% off a recovery) for most major data recovery firms.
Apple Releases Snow Leopard 10.6.8 Update
Update 7/25/11: Until Apple released the 10.6.8 Supplemental Update we were recommending that our clients NOT install this update. Now that Apple has addressed the Printing and Font issues, we are now endorsing this update. See our new Blog post for details.
Here’s some info from around the web about the 10.6.8 problems:
10.6.8 update issue roundup
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-20074767-263/how-to-fix-printers-not-working-in-os-x-10.6.8/
The 10.6.8 update is recommended for all users running Mac OS X Snow Leopard and includes general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac, including fixes that:
-Enhance the Mac App Store to get your Mac ready to upgrade to Mac OS X Lion
-Resolve an issue that may cause Preview to unexpectedly quit.
-Improve support for IPv6.
-Improve VPN reliability.
-Identify and remove known variants of Mac Defender.
For detailed information and precautions on running the 10.6.8 update from Apple, please visit this website: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4561.
Please see this page for more information on precautions and warning from MacMedics. ALWAYS back up your data, and test your back up before your run ANY Apple Software Update!
For information on the security content of this update, please visit: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222.
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Your Macintosh Service Advantage: MacMedics Is Exclusively Apple!
Your Macintosh Service Advantage: MacMedics Is Exclusively Apple!
As the Apple Macintosh family of computers and other Apple devices like the iPod, iPad, and iPhone become increasingly more popular, more and more computer repair places are offering “Mac Repairs” as a “Side Business”.
It’s tempting for PC centric computer shops to try and grab a new revenue stream by cashing in on the increased number of Macs in the marketplace. Do you really want a PC guy/gal at a PC shop or at a big box store, who is not trained, certified, or authorized in Apple service guessing their way though your Apple repair? We didn’t think so.
We’ve seen some amazing cases of Apple service gone horribly wrong at both big box stores and at independent shops. In fact, we’ve had situations where a computer repair place has tried to fix a Mac, botched or misdiagnosed the repair, only to bring it into MacMedics for us to bail them out of a tough Mac repair situation.
When you’re looking for an Apple Authorized Service Provider for your broken Macintosh or Mac data recovery case, you really should seek out an experienced and professional Macintosh service organization with ALL of the Apple Credentials and Authorizations, such as MacMedics.
MacMedics is a very well established (since 1989) Apple Authorized Service Provider, Apple Authorized Value Added Reseller, as well as Certified Members of The Apple Consultants Network. We have an impressive 22-year history of exclusive dedication to the Macintosh computer platform. We were offering a third party alternative to stuffy Apple Dealer service way before the Apple Store, and way before anyone else in the State of Maryland. In fact, MacMedics was offering on-site Macintosh service in the late Eighties during a time where such a service was considered “in-shop” and “on the bench” everywhere else.
Our Apple service part inventory is quite likely the largest collection of Apple service parts in the Mid-Atlantic region. Since MacMedics bought out macUpgrades of Bethesda, Maryland we acquired all of their Apple Authorized service parts. That’s like having a DOUBLE 20-year accumulation of Apple factory service parts and other supplies! Not only do we have hundreds and hundreds of genuine Apple service parts in stock, we also have tons of vintage and obsolete Apple service parts so we can repair any Macintosh computer ever made. We also have our own Macintosh computer museum so if there is a special service situation where we need to access data from 20 years ago, or make something work in order accomplish a special task, we can do that too!
So when it comes to the most basic Mac repairs, or services like hard drive replacements/upgrade and memory upgrades (ours come with a lifetime warranty by the way), or the most advanced services like Macintosh data recovery or liquid spill rescue, you can count on MacMedics to be there to provide an accurate diagnosis and the correct and appropriate repair for your Macintosh computer.
Macintosh Service is our claim to fame, but we’re also quite well known for Apple Authorized sales as well. MacMedics is an Apple Authorized Value Added Reseller, and as such we have the Authorizations from Apple to not only sell the full Macintosh Computer line, but also to resell the iPad, iPod, and Apple TV.
If you have a unit that is beyond repair, or just one that you put to the side a few years ago, we’ll accept it as a trade in on a new hardware purchase or as credit towards a repair or data recovery. Even if the hardware you have is very old, or extremely damaged, we’ll still accept it for e-waste recycling. So, drop off your broken PC, Mac, iPod, iPhone, iPod, cell phone, or other small electronics like hard drives, small printers, or other reasonably sized electronics, cable, power supplies and adapters for free recycling.
With our two fully staffed Apple Authorized Sales and Service locations serving the Baltimore, Annapolis, Washington DC area as well as the entire Washington DC and Baltimore region, we’re a great place to drop a sick Mac off for repair. Our office in Millersville is 1/10 of a mile off I-97 and our office in Lanham is 1 mile outside of I-495/I-95 and 1/2 mile off of RT 50. No appointments are ever necessary!
If you live in Annapolis and commute to Baltimore or Washington DC or vice versa, then you drive right past one of our offices on every trip you make on I-97 or RT-50. Stop in to see us with your sick or broken Mac, or swing by to pick up a cable, power adapter, iPod, iPad, or anything else Apple related!
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ALERT: MacDefender/MacGuard Mac OS X Security Update 2011-003 Is Now Available
Update 5/31/11 18:43: Early Twitter reports indicate that OS X security update designed to target MacDefender missed finding MacGuard. Be aware that there could still be malware on your Mac if you were infected prior to the new update. Also, it is now being reported by zdnet.com, that MacDefender/MacGuard is now spreading via Facebook.
Security Update 2011-003 is now available and addresses the
following:
File Quarantine
Available for: Mac OS X v10.6.7, Mac OS X Server v10.6.7
Impact: Definition added
Description: The OSX.MacDefender.A definition has been added to the
malware check within File Quarantine. Information on File Quarantine
is available in this Knowledge Base article:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3662
File Quarantine
Available for: Mac OS X v10.6.7, Mac OS X Server v10.6.7
Impact: Automatically update the known malware definitions
Description: The system will check daily for updates to the File
Quarantine malware definition list. An opt-out capability is provided
via the “Automatically update safe downloads list” checkbox in
Security Preferences. Additional information is available in this
Knowledge Base article: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4651
Malware removal
Available for: Mac OS X v10.6.7, Mac OS X Server v10.6.7
Impact: Remove the MacDefender malware if detected
Description: The installation process for this update will search
for and remove known variants of the MacDefender malware. If a known
variant was detected and removed, the user will be notified via an
alert after the update is installed. Additional information is
available in this Knowledge Base article:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4651
Update 9/27/11: Thanks Microsoft! Botnet that hosted MacDefender scareware/malware shut down thanks to Microsoft. http://t.co/LNpIXZWx
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Snow Leopard OS X 10.6.7 And OpenType PostScript Font Issues
Update 4/26/11: Apple has released the Snow Leopard Font Update patch that will resolve this troubling issue.
The Snow Leopard Font Update addresses issues displaying and printing certain OpenType fonts and is recommended for all Mac OS X v10.6.7 users.
The update includes fixes that address the following issues:
– Address an issue in which some OpenType fonts don’t display correctly in certain applications
– Resolve issues printing from Preview
– Address an issue with PDF files not opening in third-party PDF viewing applications
– Resolve invalid font errors when printing to PostScript printers
For more information about this update, please visit this website: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4605.
Apple recently released the OS X 10.6.7 update, designed to improve Back to My Mac reliability, resolve SMB connection issues, and address other minor problems. Unfortunately, this update introduced a major problem for designers working with OpenType PostScript fonts, resulting in garbled output and problems creating PDF files.
With no clear and reliable resolution to this issue just yet, MacMedics is still recommending that anyone needing to work with these fonts avoid applying this update. For clients on our Scheduled Service System, your technician will not be applying this update at this time (you may want to remind your users not to manually launch Software Update).
Although unfortunate, this is an excellent example of why we make our recommendations regarding new updates.
Other recently released updates:
iTunes 10.2.2
Safari 5.0.5
Security Update 2011-002 for Snow Leopard*, Leopard, and Leopard Server.
*As this update requires OS X 10.6.7, MacMedics recommends that Snow Leopard users hold off on this update until a resolution for the 10.6.7 font issue is available.
This Blog post seems to be attracting quite a bit of attention, so if this is the type of Macintosh information you like, please consider signing up for the MacMedics email newsletter (That is where this post came from). Also, we are quite active on Twitter and Facebook, so if you want info like this as soon as it becomes available, both of those outlets are a good place to watch.
MacMedics Has Purchased Apple Specialist, macUpgrades Of Bethesda, Maryland
A letter from Craig Hirai / Amy Wooden of macUpgrades:
Dear Former macUpgrades Customer,
We are pleased to let you know that MacMedics, in Lanham, Maryland, has purchased all the assets of macUpgrades. Dana Stibolt, President, and Kory Barrett, Vice President, have been a real pleasure to work with, as we have completed this rather complicated transaction. Their professionalism and competence have been most refreshing. We would encourage you, your friends and neighbors, and your business to work with MacMedics as you would have worked with macUpgrades.
Thank you, again, for all your support over the years. We hope you will give MacMedics the same loyal support.
Kindest regards,
Craig Hirai and Amy Wooden
–
You can jump to the newest information available as it is now posted on the MacMedics website by clicking here.
macUpgrades of Bethesda, Maryland, a long-time Apple Authorized Specialist lost their lease, and sadly they have closed their doors after supporting the Bethesda and Washington DC area’s Macintosh community for more than 20-years. In an effort to continue and preserve their long standing legacy of Apple service and repair and to provide outstanding support to their long-time clientele, we enthusiastically welcome former macUpgrades clients to MacMedics!
macUpgrades has endorsed MacMedics as their recommended Macintosh sales and service provider. We are proud to have earned their endorsement and pledge to do our very best to provide previous macUpgrades customers with the high level of support that MacMedics and macUpgrades are both famous for.
Like MacMedics, macUpgrades had been serving the area’s Macintosh community for more than 20-years. We hope to be able to continue their tradition of outstanding support to Apple customers no matter where they are located. MacMedics is both an Apple Authorized Service Provider, and an Apple Authorized Value Added Reseller, so MacMedics is a logical and natural fit for long-time Macintosh clients who have been serviced over the years by macUpgrades.
As was the case with macUpgrades, MacMedics is Apple Authorized to resell the entire Apple line of products. That means that MacMedics can supply Apple Macintosh computers, Apple iPads, Apple iPods, and the Apple TV. The only item not available from Apple Specialists or Apple Authorized Resellers is the Apple iPhone. That item must be purchased from Apple, AT&T, Verizon and a small handful of other retailers like Radio Shack and WalMart.
Click on the picture below to see pictures of the MacMedics Washington DC office:
We welcome former macUpgrades clients to contact the Washington DC office of MacMedics for Macintosh service, sales, and support.
We can be reached by telephone Monday – Friday 8:30 to 5:00 at:
1-888-4-DC-MACS (1-888-432-6227)
or anytime via e-mail at: DCservice@macmedics.com
Please stay tuned to http://www.macmedics.com/macupgrades for more information as it becomes available.
Thinking of stopping by one of The Apple Stores in Bethesda or Georgetown for a Mac Repair? We offer a number of compelling reasons to visit MacMedics instead. Our clients tell us that the number one reason that people come visit MacMedics for Mac service vs. The Apple Store is that no appointments are ever required to receive expert Mac repair. Also we offer 24-hour warranty repair (for most warranty repairs), Low cost rental computers (if needed), 1-year parts and labor warranty on all out-of-warranty repairs (The Apple Store only offers a 90-day warranty), Hard Drive upgrades (The Apple Store will only replace your drive with the same size), Advanced Macintosh Data Recovery, and we repair all Apple computers right here in our shop. We do not ship units out for “Depot Repair” as is the practice for many cases at The Apple Store. Plus, we offer a VIP repair program for Walk-In service that blows the doors off of Apple’s One-To-One, Joint Venture, or even AppleCare. Our VIP repair program can cover your future repairs for as little as $99 (Mac Pros and MacBook Pros are $149).
Also, we love to talk on the phone. You do not need to be a client to call and talk shop. Call us to discuss your Mac problem or purchase a new Mac today: 1-888-4-DC-MACS
MacMedics Is A Sponsor Of The American Advertising Federation Of Baltimore ADDY 2011 Awards Show
Update 4/15/11: A list of winners from last night’s Addy Awards appear in the Baltimore Business Journal. Congratulations to MacMedics clients Pivec Advertising and Planit!
Update 4/13/11: Event is sold out with 320 of Baltimore’s Creative Community attending.
MacMedics Is A Sponsor Of The American Advertising Federation Of Baltimore ADDY 2011 Awards Show. This year’s theme is Mad Men, so we’ve cooked up a Mac Men themed ad in the spirt of the red and black Mad Men logo.
MacMedics is a sponsor of The American Advertising Federation of Baltimore ADDY Awards Show for more information see this link.
The 37th annual Addy Awards Show will be held on Thursday, April 14, 2011 at the Sheraton Baltimore North Hotel located at 903 Dulaney Valley Rd., Towson, MD 21204.
