Archive for the ‘Macintosh Service’ Category
More Praise For MacMedics Baltimore
This is a review that was posted by our client, Ty Ford on Google on 7/28/11. You can read the review on Google here.
Mac Medics RULES! Back in the day, you could call Apple and ask a question (or more) and get a nice person to answer that question. It used to be that way at XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX in Baltimore, but the last time I called (a few years back) and asked for a little help figuring out a kink in my wireless network, they were ready to send out a person and charge me a $250.00 minimum. So when I started the G5 up this morning and all the folder icons were gone, (files were there, just no folder icons) I searched the web, found no solution. Ran Disk Utility and Disk Warrior. They found things, fixed them, but didn’t solve the problem. I finally called Mac Medics, whom I had dealt with before. Matthew suggested doing an archive and install. I had never done one, even after all these years. In five sentences he gave me what I needed to know to safely get on with my repairs. It took a little time to get some of my apps reinstalled, but I was back on the road. And he didn’t charge me a dime. THANK YOU MAC MEDICS.
Were you happy with the service at MacMedics Lanham or Millersville? If so would help us spread the word about our good Apple service? Thanks in advance!
MacMedics DC Google.com http://is.gd/v2Hmf7
MacMedics DC Yelp.com http://is.gd/rhGZyL
MacMedics Baltimore Yelp.com: http://bit.ly/3dcMIM
MacMedics Baltimore Google.com: http://bit.ly/amOmj
Combine Your Apple Warranty Hard Drive Replacement With MacMedics Data Recovery Services
If your hard drive fails under your Apple Warranty or AppleCare, and you need Data Recovery services, MacMedics can help!
For $199 we’ll do our best to recover your Mac’s data (no matter the size of your hard drive), and we’ll return it to the replacement Apple hard drive once the Data Recovery is complete. In most cases, your data will be right back where you left it before your hard drive failed.
There are some exceptions, but in 95% of our Data Recovery cases, $199 covers the full recovery. If you’re Mac is out of warranty we do charge for getting your Mac back in shape in conjunction with the repair of the unit. In most cases that fee is $150 plus the cost of whatever size hard drive you choose. Questions? Just call us, and we’ll walk your thru the needed steps.
Baltimore 1-866-MAC-MEDICS
Washington DC 1-888-4-DC-MACS
In a hurry? Not a problem! Take advantage of our Hard Drive upgrade service while you are having your Data Recovery or just your Hard Drive replaced under warranty without any Data Recovery. This way you don’t have your computer being held hostage while we work on your Data Recovery, plus you get a larger, faster (in most cases), and a more robust hard drive with a full 1-year warranty from MacMedics. Plus, all of our hard drives carry a three-year manufacturer warranty!
Just have us remove your old hard drive, we’ll upgrade your drive, install an OS, and send you off with your computer to use while we work on the Data Recovery. This is great if you need your Mac right away or if you’re heading out of town.
Once the recovery is complete (successful of not) we’ll send your old drive back to Apple, and get your replacement drive for you. That drive is yours to keep and you can sell it, save it as a spare, or give it away. In the end you just pay for the bare hard drive and the Data Recovery (if needed) and Apple covers the labor.
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.
Disaster-Proof Your Digital Possessions By Creating An Off-Site Backup
It’s not just fire you need to worry about. Anything can happen, and it will (See this link and the picture of the two week old MacBook Pro below. How do you think that data is doing right now?). You could drop your iPhone, iPod, or laptop or any of those devices could get doused with water, lost, or even stolen. Hurricane season is coming. You’ve got water, wind, surges, power outages, and perhaps even looting if it really gets bad.
Here’s a typical email from a client. This one came today:
“Dear MacMedics:
My daughter has a MacBook which we bought in June 2008. It has served her very well. Her roommate spilled a Coke on a chair but never told her. The computer was there. It was not until my daughter tried to turn it on that she found out. She is devastated because she never backed it up as I repeatedly told her to do. She wonders if there is any hope to just recover her pictures. She doesn’t care about the music or the documents. She lives in CA and I can have her ship it to you or whatever.
Thanks for answering. I suspect this is hopeless.”
So no matter how careful you are, bad stuff happens to good people. In this client’s case, she should have been backing up as soon as she started generating data she cared about AND because her MacBook is more than two years old, she should have been thinking about a hard drive replacement anyways. Another situation is waiting too long to back up.
Ok, you never had a back up, you read a Blog post or an article (like this one) that disturbs you, and you start backing up. You try to back up your data, and in the first full copy it fails and you suspect you did something wrong, so you head to the Apple Store. There’s a problem: Your hard drive is already too worn out to make a full back up and when you try to back it up sitting in the Apple Store at the Genius Bar you end up even further away from your data, because as the Genius is helping you back up, your hard drive is still inside your laptop where it’s failing. The more it fails, the hotter it gets, and the hotter it gets the more it fails, and it CAN literally DIE right then and there.
When you buy a new computer, you really need to also budget about 20% of your computer’s purchase price for the other stuff you need to protect your digital life. A backup hard drive, a stack of blank CD’s. a copy of LoJack for Laptops, and maybe even a subscription to Mozy or CrashPlan Pro. The trick here, is to start backing up when you start generating data, and you keep backing up for as long as you generate new data. By the way it’s not a real back up if it’s not automatic, redundant, and also has an off-site element!
Do it now people! I see good people lose precious data on an almost daily basis. One client lost years of pictures of her deceased son. That one really sucked. Back up, rinse, and repeat and take one of those backups off-site!
MSNBC Video: Disaster-proof your digital possessions. Backup and then take it offsite so says Consumer Reports (and MacMedics)! http://is.gd/u1wEcR
Also see: 9 Things We Wished We Did Before Our House Burned Down. http://www.younghouselove.com/2011/01/on-a-serious-note/
Here’s the list in case you don’t make it to the article, but please take a minute to read it:
1. Subscribe to an online data backup service (my external back up drive sat right next to my laptop in my office).
2. Keep passports in a safe deposit box. (MacMedics Pro Tip: Make copies as well and store digital copy in your new online backup service too!)
3. Take pictures of each room initially and update them as improvements are made (storing them somewhere offsite – like Flickr).
4. Take pictures and keep hyperlinks of all expensive purchases, including jewelry.
5. Hire an architect (my dad in our case) or use floorplanner.com to document each floor layout along with precise wall/ceiling measurements, each outlet, light switch, crown molding, other trim, type of flooring, any unique items to structure of property. (MacMedics Pro Tip: When you rebuild the insurance company will try to pay the lowest amount by building things as basic as possible. By having a detailed floor plan with engineering plans along with pictures of each wall, you can force them to build it the way it was!)
6. Put phones in a consistent place each night (MacMedics Pro Tip: iPhone is right there 24/7!)
7. Get fire ladders for any second floor bedrooms.
8. Scan each photo and receipt, again keeping them offsite, or on an online data backup service.
9. Do not be frugal with homeowner’s insurance. Spend the extra $50 per year for the most coverage. (MacMedics Pro Tip: Highly recommended! Buy a replacement policy rider for anything you have that is valuable. If your $3000 camera or computer system burns up, it’s going to be hard to get full amount. Insurance might pay for $500 to $1000. Also see SafeWare.com for computer insurance. If you don’t own your home, get renter’s insurance. It’s super cheap! Also, I happen to know that clothes are not fully covered in most polices. If you had to replace every single piece of clothing your family owns, that could cost $10,000 right there. Insurance will not cover that)
–
Dana Stibolt
MacMedics
Baltimore – Washington DC – Philadelphia
Apple Authorized Value Added Reseller
Apple Authorized Service Provider
Macintosh Consulting, Service, and Sales
1-866-MAC-MEDICS – 410-987-8588
http://www.macmedics.com
Sign up for LoJack for Laptops for Mac here: http://www.macmedics.com/lojack
MacMedics Case File: Child Destroys New Unibody MacBook Pro
This MacBook Pro Unibody came into our Washington DC office. The story is that the unit was destroyed by an angry child. This unit was purchased new on March 25, 2011. Our techs checked this unit out and it’s totaled, so it will need to be replaced. Let’s hope the client can claim this on his credit card Buyer Protection or insurance!
Former macUpgrades Client Visits MacMedics And Gives Us A 5 Star Review For “Unparalleled Service”
We hate to see our clients suffer without a working computer, so when former macUpgrades client, Daniel visited our shop on Saturday we figured out the problem and fixed his computer same-day. In fact, his MacBook qualified for a free repair from Apple, so we had that part in stock and took care of that at the same time.
Do you have a Macintosh service problem? We’d love to help! MacMedics has been fixing Macs and helping Mac users in Washington, Baltimore and elsewhere since 1989. Our location in Lanham is the ONLY Apple Authorized Service Provider in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and our location in Millersville is the Annapolis and Baltimore’s original independent Macintosh repair center and data recovery specialist.
Recently, MacMedics started the process of buying long-time Apple Specialist, macUpgrades of Bethesda, Maryland. You can read more about that announcement at http://www.macmedics.com/macupgrades.
The review from our new client and Mac friend, Daniel appears below. Thanks for the review!
I recently had a RAM debacle while upgrading my Operating system. As hard as I tried to mess things up, when I got into MacMedics I had unparalleled service from Dana and his crew. They were able to get my MacBook back up and running better than ever in one day and save me the hassle of losing my computer for an entire work week. Yes I did have to pay for it and yes it was worth every penny.
Daniel
Bethesda, MD
Thinking of stopping by one of The Apple Stores 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. 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 (Even Vintage and Obsolete units). We do not ship out laptops for Apple “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). Get all of the details on MacMedics vs. The Apple Store at this link: www.NOappointments.com
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
