Remote PC Repair - Unleashed - Go for it!

Consumers and SOHO users seeking a remote PC repair service can easily find a bevy of choices by plugging the term "remote PC repair" into any Internet search engine. Be aware, though, that not all remote PC repair Web sites operate the same way. They charge a wide range of prices, and all do not offer the same service solutions and guarantees of satisfaction.

After the initial warranty period has expired on a desktop or laptop computer, consumers, SOHO (small office/home office) users and SMBs (small- and medium-sized businesses) may find themselves stranded when computer woes strike. Without costly warranty extension plans or an IT department, there is little to do but pay up.

An alternative to costly local repair shops and third-party service contracts is getting technical help from a growing number of online and phone-based repair services. Remote PC repair centers -- Internet-based tech support Web sites -- are fast becoming an oasis for computer users and small companies that lack IT departments.

Part 1 of this two-part series on remote PC repair considers no-warranty options. This installment compares a few remote repair possibilities.

OS Matters
"Remote PC support service is beneficial for small businesses with fewer than 10 computers. This is the marketing niche -- consumers and the work-at-hope population," David Gerhart, CIO of My Computer Works, told TechNewsWorld.

Like much of the computing market involving consumers and SOHO workers, remote PC repair services mostly cater to the installed base of users of a particular computing platform. The realities of the marketplace, therefore, provide Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) Windows users the lion's share of service and support.

Few remote support centers exist for Mac and Linux operating systems beyond the traditional user discussion forums and dedicated developer communities. Some centers have limited support for Mac issues, and even fewer sites offer meaningful help for Linux users. Finding remote PC repair help for Linux problems is especially challenging because of the wide range of free and paid distributions.

"Usually, if you are running Linux, you better have a contact handy to help you out if there are issues," Matthew Dworkin, a Geek Squad technician at a Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) store, told TechNewsWorld.

Changing Roles
However, it is possible for consumers and SOHO users -- even adherents to Mac and Linux platforms -- to find help without outsourcing tech support to long-term IT providers. The same type of system adjusting that IT staffs provide through a master console connected to a network can now be applied to individual users of any platform.

"Service technicians across the world have the same powers and abilities that users sitting in front of the desktop themselves have. So now, as long as you can connect to the system itself, you can perform the same troubleshooting on a Windows machine -- if you have appropriate administrative access -- that previously was only available remotely to Linux users," Dworkin said.

Still, there are limits to a remote operator's ability to hop onto a computer and fix Linux or Mac problems in the same way one can with Windows -- mostly because both of those non-Windows platforms are so customizable, he explained.

No Shortage
Consumers and SOHO users seeking a remote PC repair service can easily find a bevy of choices by plugging the term "remote PC repair" into any Internet search engine. One such search revealed more than 10 pages of hits.

Be aware, though, that not all remote PC repair Web sites operate the same way. They charge a wide range of prices, and all do not offer the same service solutions and guarantees of satisfaction. However, these online service centers for ailing computers generally deliver what they promise, assured Gerhart.

Here are three companies that offer remote PC repair service -- each one employs a different approach. These are a representative microcosm of the types of Web sites waiting to fix your ailing PCs.