[new tech guy]

Originally Posted by AcaCandy

10 USB ports Whatever for............

I have around 6 on my data server that i just finished building. 2 built in usb 1.1 ports and then a pci card containing 4 2.0 slots . Left the card in as it could be useful if i ever need to link up an external drive or somthing similar.

[JStergis]

Originally Posted by AcaCandy

10 USB ports Whatever for............

Actually, there's 11, but one's internal

It came with 6 (4 back, two front), but I needed a couple more at one point as I was serving three printers, had two external HDDs on it, had the Keyboard and mouse, a scanner, and liked to keep the front two ports free for the camera/flash drive/etc. I have a PCI 5 port card in it (1 inside) that I don't use anymore, but it's still there and works fine. Currently, I'm using three USB ports all the time, that's down a lot from the 8 that I used all the time before.

[Davec]

Originally Posted by AcaCandy

10 USB ports Whatever for............

This from the Porcelain Queen?

[~Candy~]

Originally Posted by JStergis

Actually, there's 11, but one's internal

It came with 6 (4 back, two front), but I needed a couple more at one point as I was serving three printers, had two external HDDs on it, had the Keyboard and mouse, a scanner, and liked to keep the front two ports free for the camera/flash drive/etc. I have a PCI 5 port card in it (1 inside) that I don't use anymore, but it's still there and works fine. Currently, I'm using three USB ports all the time, that's down a lot from the 8 that I used all the time before.

Wow. Lots of stuff going on there

[JohnWill]

Originally Posted by AcaCandy

10 USB ports Whatever for............

Candy, I have 12 USB ports on this system. Keyboard, mouse, two USB disks, webcam, TomTom GPS connecting adapter, Casio camera cradle, and a UPS. You'd be surprised how fast they disappear!

[~Candy~]

I guess I need to buy more

[JStergis]

When I ended up with this Netvista, I figured 6 would be fine. I soon figured out how wrong I was about that!

[AtlanticJim]

One of the main reasons I got back into the computer repair hobby and now biz was the numerous accounts of high prices and excessive wait times my friends were enduring to get their computers back. And always with a recommendation for unneccesary software installation. My pricing plan now undercuts the Geeks and the Dogs by 30% and my customers are happy to pay the price and get their machines back in 5 days instead of 15. Have you ever seen their menu?

[JStergis]

For my out-of-house stuff, it's 20 an hour for labor, parts for what I can get them for plus the shipping.

In-house stuff, for labor I basically say "whatever." For parts, again, it's whatever I can get them for plus shipping (usually newegg prices).

In addition to computer stuff, if people need a relatively large amount of stuff printed, I go three cents per page, which many people take me up on. I don't make much of anything off of it after toner, drum, and paper, but I figure I might as well use the printer for something. Kinda nice to give people a break from ten cent per page copies.

Otherwise, I've got my real job.

[JohnWill]

I don't think I could live on $20/hr, but the next time I need my computer fixed, I'll call you! Of course, consulting is my "real" job.

[new tech guy]

Then again, those of us who are more experienced i do not think need the extra support as we already know how to deal with common trouble ourselves

[valis]

i consult on the side, but charge $100/hour, $400 cap. I've yet to incur either the cap or anything over $200.

I tell the users they have a choice; go here and have the malware removed, or I can go to their house for $100/hour and remove it for them. So far, out of about 100 people, I've only had one person choose to have me come over. However, I have had dozens of people say "can you come over and set up my wireless/new pc/fix my hard drive" etc etc ad nauseaum.

It works out nice. TSG gets a lot of referrals, and every now and then I make a buck or three.

[new tech guy]

I just decide based on cost and what needs to be done. I have one person who i have serviced and just over time taught how to perform basic maintenance on their pc. Figure that is best as now they can decide whether to work on the machine themselves or have me come over and take a look. Usually the price is cheap, 60 dollars or so for a system reinstall which comes complete with security software and all windows updates are performed as well. If needbe too, i will remove any junkware on the system.

[gurutech]

My prices depend on my broke I am at the time! LOL

If I just got paid from my full time job, chances are I'll cut you a break. If payday is a few days away, and the bank account is empty, I'll charge enough to get me through until payday, but never as much as geek squad...