The Paper • Page 9 • March 9, 2017
Paul & Nome Van Middlesworth, The Computer Factory
www.computerfactorysanmarcos.com "San Diego's Best Computer Store 2016" Union Tribune readers poll
What we do at the Computer Factory
It’s not surprising that nearly everyone who calls us or walks into our shop is looking for a solution to some sort of computer system related problem. Hardware, software, Internet connection, malware, Email, monitor, printer, slow, freezes, won’t boot, makes funny noises, the list goes on and on. Just when we think we’ve seen it all, something new and weird walks through the door.
The first thing we do is boot up the “problem child” so its “parent” can show us the problem. Several times each week, there is no problem
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Performance Institute, to provide training and consulting solutions to help financiallytroubled government entities cut costs while improving performance, and that has been his life-long crusade. The North County Republican Coalition (NCRC) promotes local Republican candidates and conservative issues in North County. NCRC meets the third Monday each month at 6pm, at the Veterans Association of North County Resource Center (VANC), 1617 Mission Avenue, Oceanside, 92054. No charge to attend. RSVP to Jerry Kern at kernjm@hotmail.com or call 760.805.5572. Indicate if you wish to purchase dinner for $14, cash or check only. Like us on Facebook as North County Republican Coalition.
Guess Sam, the Giant Galapagos Tortoise’ Weight – and win a prize from S.D. Botanic Garden. It’s Sam’s birthday; he turns 53 this Spring and the Garden is celebrating by giving up to three lucky folks an opportunity to win a prize package including an annual Family Membership, a signed copy of Sam’s story “Too Big To Lose”, and a private meeting (for up to 10 people) with Sam. From now thru Tuesday, March 22nd, residents of San Diego, Orange and Riverside Counties are invited to email their guess on how much Sam weighs to guesssamsweight6@sdbgarden.org. To get an upclose-and-personal view of Sam before submitting your entry, you can see Sam at the Garden’s Spring Planting Jubilee from 10am2pm on Saturday and Sunday, March 18 & 19, where you can then submit your guess. Rules of the contest are simple, and can be found online at www.sdbgarden.org/sam.htm. You can follow Sam on his Facebook page Too Big To Lose. Contest winners will be notified by email or phone the week of April 3rd. San Diego Botanic Garden is at 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas, 92024.
Library’s 2nd Tuesday Book Club is March 14th – The 2nd Tuesday Book Club will discuss Inside the O’Briens by Lisa
when we boot the computer, the problem has disappeared. Problems that disappear usually have something to do with the set-up environment at the home or office (keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer, power cord, surge protector etc). There’s no charge and the perplexed but happy customer gets to take it back and try again. Sometimes we will see a minor problem that requires a simple fix. If it doesn’t break our “ten minute rule” it’s a “freebie.” When we diagnose a problem that isn’t a quick fix we provide a free estimate on the repair. We often get calls from frustrated Cox, Time Warner (Spectrum) or AT&T Internet users when they can’t connect to Internet. They called their ISP (Internet service provider) and were told that there is something wrong with their computer because there is nothing wrong with the service. We have them bring in the PC. It only takes a couple of minutes to determine whether or not their PC is the problem. If we determine that the Internet access problem really is the PC, we can provide the user with a “fix it” estimate. If the PC is not the connection problem, the user now knows the problem is with the ISP.
critical to the business. If the application meets the needs of the user and won’t run on newer operating systems, it can be more cost effective to keep the old computer running than to buy new applications software. We are able to keep their old hardware running and/or provide them with a back-up system. There is a fundamental difference between the Big Box stores (Fry’s, Best Buy, Office Depot, Staples) and the small local computer stores like “The Computer Factory.” The job of the Big Box store is the high volume sales of electronics components and systems. Our job is to find the best solutions for our customer’s problems and needs. They are sales oriented, we are service
oriented. We both can sell you new PC systems, but we can fix your existing system and they can’t. Doesn’t mean they are bad people. Fixing PCs and solving problems simply isn’t their job. Their service department exists to support the sale of inventory. With us, the opposite is true. Our inventory exists to support our service. We can give our customers information about their PC’s capabilities, what it’s worth and how much it will cost to fix it. If our customer decides not to fix their existing PC we can offer them a trade-in on a full range of refurbished or new desktop or notebook PCs. That’s what we do.
Some of our customers have ancient PCs with old operating systems (Windows XP, 98, 3.0 or even DOS) running applications that are Genova, when they meet on Tuesday, March 14th at 6pm, in the Turrentine Room of the Library, 239 S. Kalmia St., Escondido, 92025. The Escondido Public Library invites adult readers to join the 2nd Tuesday Book Club meeting. Copies of the book are available for check out and may be reserved in the Library catalog at library.escondido.org. When family patriarch Joe O’Brien is diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease, a fatal disorder with no cure, his family is stunned. His adult children must decide whether to be tested for Huntington’s and face their sentence, or live with the anxiety of not knowing. Throughout this struggle, Inside the O’Briens beautifully examines the resilience of the human spirit. The 2nd Tuesday Book Club is facilitated by Library staff and is an opportunity to discover new perspectives and share impressions with other dedicated readers. New and returning participants are always welcomed. The 2nd Tuesday Book Club will continue on April 11, for a group discussion of Circling the Sun by Paula McLain. Library programs are generously sponsored by Friends of the Library and are free to the public. For more information about the 2nd Tuesday Book Club, visit library.escondido.org or contact Adult Services Librarian, Monica Barrette at 760839-4836. Library programs are free and open to the public, and sponsored by Friends of the Library. For more information on this and other Library programs for children, visit the website at library.escondido.org or contact Children’s Librarian Kristine Macalalad at 760-839-5458 or kmacalalad@escondido.org.
Kiwanis Club Sponsors Treasure Chest of Books Program - The Kiwanis Club of Sunrise Vista sponsors a Treasure Chest of Books in eight schools in Vista. The chest is made by Jerry Black and the books are supplied by the Kiwanis Club, which has been donating these chests and books for the past 20 years. Pete McHugh is Chairperson of this project with a budget of $1,500.00. The original supply of books was donated to La Fuente by "Captain Book" of the Encinitas
Kiwanis Club. When a child does something good, they are rewarded by choosing a book of their own to take home. Pictured are Sarah Davis, Carol Brady, Carl Ames, Kiwanis members; and Amy Heald, Principal of La Fuente Dual Language Academy in Vista. Also pictured are some of the students attending the Academy, and one of the Treasure Chest of Books.
Brandon Gallery News – The Fallbrook Art Association Spring Show “Dream a Little Dream”, judged by Joe A. Oakes, runs through March 29th. Best of Show was “Nectar Thief ” by Anita Plaks. Other award winners: Bev Thordarson Memorial Theme Award: My New Address – Noreen Ring; 1st place, Baseball Fan – Rosemarie Meis; 2nd place, Michelle – Susan Sullivan; 3rd place, Batiquitos Window – Phee Sherline. Judges Choice Merit Awards: Criown of Bohemia, Christine Wichers; Speed Dreams, Kyle Denning; Sonoita in Monsoon, Linda Thorne; Correcaminos – Roadrunner, John Sullivan; Peaceful Interlude, Anne Youngblood; A Dream Come True, Patrick Murphy; Love and Stuff, Anita Plaks; Noble Cougar, Bonnie Rinier. Honorable Mention: When’s Lunch, Kyle Denning; Balboa Park Sunny Day, Carol Reardon; Dreaming of a Great Service, Diane Jansen; Karuna
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