My name is Jerome. I've been working with, and teaching people about, computers for over 25 years, way before it was K00L. I've configured, corrected and cajoled hundreds of computers in that time for people at home, small and large business. These days I write software, but I often hear about people that need the equivalent of a plumber or duct-cleaner for their PC, and thought this would be the right amount of consulting to get me out of the office and help people get comfortable with the PC experience, the way I've felt it should be since I started in the field. To me there is no magic except in what I see people learn to do themselves with the right help. In two to four hours I can give your PC an honest expert tune-up with a service checklist developed from the same investment-protection approach I've used on hundreds of machines in academic, business and home environments. Along the way I can give you plain-spoken explanations about what you've got and what you can do (better) with it. I can explain just about anything to just about anyone, and in ten minutes I can probably figure out how to explain anything to you. Most people spend around $3,000 on a machine and use about $500 worth; a year later the machine is worth about two-thirds for resale, or the same $3,000 buys a machine that's one-third better. I don't think it has to be that way. Unless you run games or very 'heavy' software (like CAD or graphics) or need to chase the latest software versions, a typical $3,000 machine should provide at least 5 years of service for what a typical computer user wants to do. I charge $50 per hour, less than what you'd pay to carry it into a service shop, and can make appointments for most times in the week, days or evenings. Mail Me to find out more. What You Get A lean, mean, computing machine, stripped of a lot of stuff that's just going to get in your way. OR A lean, mean, computing machine, with cool stuff on it that you never knew you had. Multi-point checklist and tune-up schedule Assessments: What you Need, What you Have, How to Protect It Education: Organizing your stuff Being smart on the Internet What is in that beige box with the wires How to take care of many things yourself Computerese (GeekSpeak) translation Buying Advice (cutting through the jargon and hype) Setup from a stack of boxes How to do more with what you have and keep it longer Objective Advice without sales pressure (I have nothing to sell) Want to Know More About Me? See The BRIDGE Tree for an idea of what I know and do, and how long I've been knowing and doing it. I also do small and medium home repairs and renovations. See Jerome of all Trades for the services I can provide in that regard.		Can't afford a new PC? Maybe it's 'OK' but getting a bit sluggish. Perhaps your PC just needs a tune-up. Many packaged systems come with a lot of software that most people don't or won't use, and standard settings that aren't what they should be for what you do. Perhaps you've had it for a while and it's got a lot of "stuff" on it. Maybe you don't even know what a lot of that is anymore, if you ever did. Free up resources for things you actually use. Especially important if your kids use, or have ever used, the machine. Your Programs menu covers half the screen and you don't know what a lot of it does so it just sits there in the way. Clean it up and make it useful for what you do. You just spent nearly 3,000 dollars and now what? Or you just got an Internet connection and there's so much out there. You wonder what you've actually got, and what you can actually do with it. You know that you could do a lot more, but what and how? Have a look through your machine (warranty permitting) and see where your money went. Take a researcher's tour through the Internet and see what you can use. Your computer has started "misbehaving" more lately, perhaps with noises. Replace a simple part to keep your machine 'sane' and happy. You don't feel confident about changing things you know you probably could. See that it's not Rocket Science and how you can begin to understand things like the 'gurus.' Big Thick Books scare you. How to avoid them, or enjoy them. Your kids got you a computer but there's so much to learn... Get a personalized introduction to these new devices and learn how to make them do things you can really use. You are busy, and when the machine works it's great, but you don't have time to keep up with how to do maintenance and what to watch for to keep yourself working and safe. Get a customized plan for using and maintaining your large investment and valuable resource.