Services


Troubleshooting and Setup:

  • Transfer your Windows settings over to your Mac – email, email addresses, bookmarks, documents (.doc), spreadsheets (.xls) I can show you free Mac software you can use so you don’t have to spend $200+ on Microsoft Office.
  • System backup strategy so you never loss important data ever again. Sadly, it takes only one bad hard drive and you’ve lost all your photos, music, email address, financial info etc. you get the picture. There are some very cost effective ways to backup your data and I can show you how.
  • OS X upgrades and re-installs. Although upgrading and installing the Mac operating system is fairly straightforward I can help you make sure all of your previous settings remain intact.
  • Software Installation and/or Removal – Once again, installing and removing software is pretty straightforward but if you’re having problems or can’t find the software you need I can help. Often there are free software solutions available via the OpenSource community.
  • Wireless Network Setup – Do you have a couple of Macs and want to share files between them? Or use one internet connection for all your Macs? I’ll also show you how to lockdown your wireless network so your neighbours don’t have access to your wireless connection – if they have access, they can see what is on your computer!
  • Is your Mac acting strangely? Sometimes (and not very often) your Mac may act up, you may get what most call a “spinning beach ball” this happens when your Mac is trying to access a program or file and it is not quickly able to do so. Often you can just wait out the “beach ball” until it stops spinning or you may have to “force quit” the application or restart your Mac. Most often the spinning “beach ball” is a good indicator that you need to install more memory (RAM) into your Mac. Other times your Mac may have a “Panic Attack” which is the equivalent of the dreaded “Blue Screen of Death” on the PC. I’ve only had two Panic Attacks since Mac OS X was released on September 13, 2000 and I was able to resolve the problem both times.
  • Run Windows on your Mac? Sounds crazy, but yes, it is possible to run Windows on an Intel Mac along side Mac OS X.


Tutorials:

  • The Mac Itself - Are you new to the Mac? Are you only familiar with Windows? If so, you’re considered a switcher. Welcome aboard! The Mac is different but once you get the basics, it’s a piece of cake and most importantly FUN. I’ll show you how it all works and explain the similarities and differences between Windows and Mac OS X.
  • iDVD and iMovie – Turn those video clips you have into sleek Hollywood productions.
  • iPhoto – iPhoto is a place to store all of you photo’s but did you know you can also make PhotoBooks, Calendars…. ?
  • iTunes and Podcasts – iTunes is a great application for storing and organizing your music but there are many other built in functions you may not know about.
  • iWeb – Apple’s own web site building software (example link). If you have a Telus or Shaw internet account you can make your own web page for free by using iWeb. (Shaw gives you 20 MB of “webspace” per user account [email address] and Telus gives you 10 MB.
  • Blogging – Setup your own personal Blog for free! Share your thoughts, photo’s, whatever… with your friends and family.

dollarMy Rates: $40 /hr with a one hour minimum charge per visit. After 1hr, charges are billed in 15 minute increments.
Please feel free to compare my hourly rate to the PC-centric GeekSquad.


Payments: Cash, Visa, Mastercard, AMEX (to pay by credit card you will need an internet connection at your home, payments made via PayPal www.paypal.com). Another option is Email Money Transfers if you use online banking (Royal Bank, BMO, TD Canada Trust, CIBC or Scotia Bank) www.interac.ca

*Sorry, but no cheques will be accepted as payment – I tried this for a while but too many bounces.

**Payment is due immediately after the tutorial or support session is complete.