The past 2 months have been mad! With Microsoft dropping support for Windows 7 there has been a last-minute flurry by half of Christchurch to upgrade their computers. :) I'm exaggerating of course, but it has been very busy - approximately double our workload and the "other half" has been computers (laptops and desktops) that been the upgrade. This really pushed out our repair times. We usually fix computers within 24 hours, but we were getting up to 48 or even 72 hours for some. Thankfully most of this rush is over now, and we're back to normal.

Updates suck!

The other day, my phone wanted to do an update. In fact, it had been pestering me continually. Turns out it wanted to do a 1 gig update, which on my 16 gig phone with only half a gig of free space wasn't going to happen. It seemed an excessively large update, but I cleared the photos off my phone and allowed the update to go through.
Now, to me, an update should be something that improves my experience and perhaps also fixes some security issues that I am not aware of. It may well have done the latter but it did not do the former.

Computer Tech Found

I have the wonderful privilege to announce we have found a fantastic computer repair technician and all round good guy - Stefan. Stefan is a very kind man with a depth of computer repair knowledge. He'll be able to come out to your home and fix your laptop or desktop right there.

Whatever the problem we have many tools to fix the computer right there and then. Occasionally, we get a problem that will take quite some time to repair, but mostly waiting time, so rather than charging you for sitting there twiddling our thumbs while the computer does something (e.g. backup, reinstall windows or huge updates etc) we'll often suggest to you that we save you that money by bringing the computer back to the workshop. Stefan has all the skills to complete such work or advise you what the next step should be.
We have a very intense hiring process that tests the candidates at many levels all along the way. Typically, more than 90% are knocked out in the first stage. The second stage, where we do a short interview at a café (and shout them a coffee!) eliminates 80%. From there we have a 3rd stage with a long interview with various tests. So when I say I am super happy to have Stefan on the team, I am confident he will work out well. And I am sure you will enjoy a visit from him if you ever need it.

Happy Computing
Matthew Gilling
General Manager
Computer Help NZ

SuperGold Discount for Computer Repairs

It's OFFICIAL, we now officially offer a discount to SuperGold Card members. Officially! Actually we've been doing a discount for seniors for so long that I can't even remember how many years it is. Next time you get your computer or laptop repaired (remember we fix all types of desktops, laptops, iMacs and MacBooks etc) just present your SuperGold card, and we'll take just over 10% off the labour portion of your invoice. Specifically we discount you $3.50 for every 15-minute block, which are $32 each, so it's about 11% in reality. Every little bit helps.

Computer Help is looking to employ a new technician! We have been VERY busy the last few months with a HUGE demand for computer repairs from customers. Steve has been fully booked a few days at a time which isn't great for our 24-hour repair target for your computer. Paul and James in the office have been flat tack too!
The great news... 

This ingenious person, known only as bd594, has made some old computer parts sing again. He has taken old hard drives, scanners and other computer parts that were either useless or not worth repairing and made them make music.

Have you ever heard some noise out of your computer and thought - "that is almost musical?". Well, this guy did! I wonder if he will do a concert in Christchurch?

This video is fairly old but his latest video of a similar vein is only a few weeks old.

A little touch, I thought was funny was how the line up of the band is listed...
HP Scanjet 3C - Vocals
Yamaha CX-5 - Piano
BWD-504 Oscilloscope to display CX-5 audio output
Hard drives - Drums
The hard drives are controller with a PIC16F84A microcontroller

You had better have a look yourself as words don't do it justice. It's amusing and genius. Well done bd594!
By the way, if your computer is looking like it's heading to his workshop to be converted into a musical instrument come see us first, and we can repair it. I wonder if he found a musical use for old laptops yet?

Hope you enjoy.

Matthew

Friendly Advice in Plain English. Same Day Computer Repairs
0800 FIX NOW

Don't Bath and Charge

Surprisingly, but sadly, 8 Russians have died this year from electrocution due to using a cell phone in the bath while it was charging.

The latest was Evgenia Shulyatyeva, a 26-year-old accountant whose phone slipped from her grasp, entered the water and the full voltage of the mains power killed her instantly.

So You Wanna Go Viral?

Think again. Levi Hawken, most commonly known as the "nek minnit" guy would suggest that kind of fame isn't great. He and his mate made a video for a joke and it was pretty funny. A lot of people got on their computers and watched it. But, as Levi says, they not only laughed at the joke but at Levi too thinking he was a poor, stupid crack-head or something. Actually he has a medical condition which is why he has that look and the character he put on was just that...a silly impersonation.

Here's the advice I'd give. Once you put something on the internet, it's no longer under your control and it is very very difficult to get it removed. Usually it's impossible. So be careful about what information you put on the web - either Facebook, YouTube or any other social media or sharing site.

That's my opinion anyway. Enjoy the net and keep safe.

Matthew
www.chnz.co.nz

P.S. You can read the article here... https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=12262728