Being Your Own Geek Squad - Computer Setup, Security and Optimization

The other, bigger type of service the Geek Squad does is PC set up, security, and also optimization. I'll start with the security options they offer to their customers. The basic security service will run you $229 at home or $129 to do it there. I found when I worked at a retail electronic store, people typically spend $400-$1000 on a computer. Charging them up to 50 percent of the value of the computer for anything is absurd.

This service will basically set up your computer for you, install the updates, and  install protection software, such as Norton. You also have to buy Norton along with the $129 or $229 service fee they charge you. So is this a wise service to get with your computer? No way! There is no clutter to be removed from new computers to begin with.

Personalizing your computer would consist of setting up user accounts and changing your background and stuff, which is something you select at the beginning of using your computer for the first time. Installing the critical updates is very important to do, and it will take around 15-20 minutes, longer if you have a slow Internet connection. It's nothing you can't do; you can even have the computer do it on its own!

Another major service they will try to sell you is optimization. First there is very little optimization that is even possible to do on a computer to begin with. If there were some quick boxes to check to get the computer to run faster, don't you think Microsoft would have enabled them to begin with?

The only real thing that can be done to help speed up a computer would be to defrag the hard drive. It is very simple and just Googling "How to defrag your computer" will give you step by step instruction. There is no reason to pay someone to do this for you. The same holds true for installing any kind of software. Installing software is very easy. For the most part all you do is hit next, input your CD-Key and agree to the terms, and it does the rest.

Next: Setup, Security and Optimization continued >>
 

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