MAC support anyone?

[smmirza]

I was thinking about a niche market that I could target and was surprised to see a lack of MAC techs. Granted I am not an expert in the Apple arena but I could polish up my skills on it. Has anyone else gone done the path of MAC support and how did that turn out for you?

 

[callthatgirl]

I added on a mac tech to do local and remote support, promoted it and still don't get that many calls. But our new store got a good amount of local press because we are the only mac support in town, that's about 80% of our business at that store now.

 

[erb]

I love Mac support. I can charge double and it takes half the time to do anything. I learned Unix years ago and it comes in very handy with the new Macs seeing as Apple just basically stole open source software and pretended like they invented something special

 

[maclaptech]

I am getting into iPad support and things are looking up so far.

 

[krutoi]

Just did my first Macbook Pro repair last week - swapped out a bad hard drive, recovered data from it, and got a fresh copy of OSX installed and data transferred back. Super easy to work with, though I did spend a few bucks on disk imaging/recovery software which I will certainly use again. I picked up a Mac Mini off of Craigslist a couple months back to have around for potential data transfers, etc.. where OSX is needed. Once you learn a particular Mac model, it will always be the same every time you work on it again

There's some good tutorials (and tools for sale) over at http://www.ifixit.com/

 

[gunslinger]

I love Mac support. I can charge double and it takes half the time to do anything. I learned Unix years ago and it comes in very handy with the new Macs seeing as Apple just basically stole open source software and pretended like they invented something special

I see the deep down Mac hate is already starting to flow. I don't think its possible to "steal" something that is open source.


Anyway, I started supporting Macs this year. They have very few issues for the most part but when they do its almost always very simple to fix. The customers are a different breed as well and don't mind paying for quality work.

 

[nXtGenPC]

I love doing Mac support, like for example last week, a girl called me asking if I could back up data on a mac, and since I had a mac (this is hard to do without one, almost imposible to back up pictures) I said yes, which was followed by "Thank god, your like the 20th shop I called"

Mac customers usuly are much different then PC users, by this I meen willing to pay higher rates for quality work, where a data transfer on PC might cost Customer A $115, if Customer A had a Mac you could easly charge $185. And maybe it's just me but Mac customers tend to be nicer, and less of a pain in the @$$

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

I was thinking about a niche market that I could target and was surprised to see a lack of MAC techs. Granted I am not an expert in the Apple arena but I could polish up my skills on it. Has anyone else gone done the path of MAC support and how did that turn out for you?

That's all we do is Macs. I'll only do PC work under special circumstances and for our business clients. There are still nit-picky, haggling customers, but they are generally fewer and further between. Folks pay good money for good Mac help since it is hard to find. The only real pain is I get many folks in from out of town that want to wait around or at least stay in the area so they don't have to drive all the way back home and then drive all the way back when their machine is fixed. We are just too busy to operate like that unless we aren't busy at all or a quick fix is all they need. They just want me to mostly do their machine on the spot. But many folks understand that things take time.

 

[ajc196]

Call me crazy, but I don't see why being a Mac tech should be considered such a specialized thing. They're just like any other computer, but with minor differences. Any skilled PC tech should be able to pick up all necessary Mac skills within a week or two if they really tried. The whole "I don't do Macs" line I hear from many fellow techs on other forums (not here) just gives me this odd anger toward their apathy about their job. If someone took a phone to a phone repair shop and they said, "oh, we don't do iPhones" and they only did Android/WP7/Blackberry, wouldn't that seem silly?

 

[gunslinger]

Call me crazy, but I don't see why being a Mac tech should be considered such a specialized thing. They're just like any other computer, but with minor differences. Any skilled PC tech should be able to pick up all necessary Mac skills within a week or two if they really tried. The whole "I don't do Macs" line I hear from many fellow techs on other forums (not here) just gives me this odd anger toward their apathy about their job. If someone took a phone to a phone repair shop and they said, "oh, we don't do iPhones" and they only did Android/WP7/Blackberry, wouldn't that seem silly?

Very well said! invisible filler text...............

 

[smmirza]

Thanks for the insight guys. I think it would be a valid tool to put into my arsenal. Still trying to come up with differentiators for my new business. I don't want to skimp on price; got a family to feed.

 

[SmithFamilyDesigns]

I can tell you why I personally dont: simply, not enough demand to justify the cost of a mac to learn on. Id like to, but I get MAYBE one request per month for simple things that definitely wouldnt pay for my time or equipment to learn.

Do I hate apple? Irrelevant, its about money. That's what this whole business is about (and helping people more than likely if you're a true tech). You'll go into a cat house owned by a smoker to service a 15 year old packard bell but won't work on a persons computer (and subsequently take their money) because of "morals" or loyalties or something else? Stfu & gtfo please and thanks.

Edit: I want to clarify that this is not aimed at anyone in particular, I'm just tired of the attitudes related to mac vs pc that seem to come up all the time. So here's my take, I hate both the companies that make the oses is question, I'm just much more familiar with one.

 

[ajc196]

Very well said! invisible filler text...............

And with Macs using Intel architectures, you no longer need Apple/system-specific diagnostic tools or TechTool Pro for your typical RAM/HDD diagnostics. I'll use memTest86, then follow up with a HDD test with WD Data Lifeguard from Hirens' Mini XP. It's pretty agnostic in regards to brand, partition table, and file system. If it's a HDD, it'll test it accurately. Then, of course, I have DiskWarrior handy for directory rebuilds, and TechTool for running diagnostics on older PowerPC Macs.

I can tell you why I personally dont: simply, not enough demand to justify the cost of a mac to learn on. Id like to, but I get MAYBE one request per month for simple things that definitely wouldnt pay for my time or equipment to learn.

Next time a client wants a low profile PC, mention the possibility of a Mac Mini + Windows 7. That'd be roughly $699($599+$99) at cost, then mark it up accordingly. Before you set it up with Windows for your PC-expectant client, just take a little time to familiarize yourself with OS X Lion 10.7. As I said before, I would expect most techs could nail down a new OS very quickly with enough effort. Learning the different file structures, partition tables, system file paths, customizations, programs, etc. Then after a few days, just load up Windows 7 and send it away with your PC-customer.

Please reconsider learning. I don't come across bad sticks of RAM that often, but I consider it to still be an invaluable skill to know how to run ram diagnostics, reseat sticks, etc. See what I'm getting at? Besides, Macs are fun, just like PC's! All computers are fun! Yay computers! Isn't that what this business is about? Passion for tech?

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

Any skilled PC tech should be able to pick up all necessary Mac skills within a week or two if they really tried.

I think that is definitely an exaggeration. Maybe hardware wise they could for pinpointing your typical bad RAM, optical drives and hard drives. But most Macs are far from cookie cutter towers. There is really no way someone in a week or two could just fall into place with Macs, especially not from the standpoint of being an Authorized service provider.

 

[ajc196]

It would just depend on one's personal ability, habits, speed, and dedication. I would consider myself to be very OCD when it comes to learning things, at times it feels like unhealthy perfectionism. I have nothing but time being fresh out of college.


To each his own, I guess. Maybe the "any" was an exaggeration.

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

It would just depend on one's personal ability, habits, speed, and dedication. I would consider myself to be very OCD when it comes to learning things, at times it feels like unhealthy perfectionism. I have nothing but time being fresh out of college.

I started with Macs having a very heavy PC background and it took me a good year of full-time Mac work to get somewhat comfortable with not only troubleshooting them but also the tricky take aparts of many models, even having all access to the official Apple tear down guides. Granted that this was back before the Intel Macs, but they are still a different beast. Its true having a strong PC background helps, but how many Macs is someone besides an Authorized Service provider really going to see to where they are pretty much comfortable with most situations that are presented to them.

On top of that, I'm not sure what the "fresh out of college" comment implies about your ability over anyone else's, but I was an honors graduate myself. Your making your assessment out of pure speculation, where I'm actually speaking from experience, but maybe you are just extra special?

 

[ajc196]

I started with Macs having a very heavy PC background and it took me a good year of full-time Mac work to get somewhat comfortable with not only troubleshooting them but also the tricky take aparts of many models, even having all access to the official Apple tear down guides. Granted that this was back before the Intel Macs, but they are still a different beast. Its true having a strong PC background helps, but how many Macs is someone besides an Authorized Service provider really going to see to where they are pretty much comfortable with most situations that are presented to them.

On top of that, I'm not sure what the "fresh out of college" comment implies about your ability over anyone else's, but I was an honors graduate myself. Your making your assessment out of pure speculation, where I'm actually speaking from experience, but maybe you are just extra special?

I'm out, this can only end in some pissing contest. Individual obsessions vary, and I was not trying to brag by any means. I'm not claiming to be some infallible genius. But apparently that's what I "implied". So I'm done here before it gets out of hand and too unprofessional.

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

I'm out, this can only end in some pissing contest. Individual obsessions vary, and I was not trying to brag by any means. I'm not claiming to be some infallible genius. But apparently that's what I "implied". So I'm done here before it gets out of hand and too unprofessional.

I'm just strongly disagreeing, not trying to turn anything into a pissing match. I don't have any sort of hidden agenda and am always a first and sometimes only responder on this forum when it comes to techs needing Mac help. Also, I encourage others to take on Macs. I'm just simply saying its not as easy as you paint it to be. Getting one Mac to play with isn't going to get you ready for most situations that come across your bench. Furthermore, just on a whim deciding to take on Macs as a part of your business won't bring you nearly enough traffic to get good with them in any short amount of time. I started off working on Macs working for an Apple authorized shop that had been in business since 1981, alongside of some techs that had worked on Macs there about that long to cut my teeth with Macs, and yes it still took my a good year or so where I was comfortable with most common situations.

So, yes you do come off as kind of arrogant and incredibly unrealistic. I'm just pointing out that your speculation is just that, speculation. I am disagreeing as a voice of experience where you are simply (pardon the expression) talking out of your a**. I just called you out, that's it plain and simple and the end of this thread as far as I'm concerned. Any realistic inquiries by others are welcome of course..

 

[ajc196]

I'm just strongly disagreeing, not trying to turn anything into a pissing match. I don't have any sort of hidden agenda and am always a first and sometimes only responder on this forum when it comes to techs needing Mac help. Also, I encourage others to take on Macs. I'm just simply saying its not as easy as you paint it to be. Getting one Mac to play with isn't going to get you ready for most situations that come across your bench. Furthermore, just on a whim deciding to take on Macs as a part of your business won't bring you nearly enough traffic to get good with them in any short amount of time. I started off working on Macs working for an Apple authorized shop that had been in business since 1981, alongside of some techs that had worked on Macs there about that long to cut my teeth with Macs, and yes it still took my a good year or so where I was comfortable with most common situations.

So, yes you do come off as kind of arrogant and incredibly unrealistic. I'm just pointing out that your speculation is just that, speculation. I am disagreeing as a voice of experience where you are simply (pardon the expression) talking out of your a**. I just called you out, that's it plain and simple and the end of this thread as far as I'm concerned. Any realistic inquiries by others are welcome of course..

And your speculation is not speculation? You know not of any experience (or lack of experience) that I may or may not possess. You are more than welcome to say "it may not be that easy for everyone" but when you question another's abilities, whether mine or not, when totally unfounded on anything at all, that is what I'm calling out.

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

And your speculation is not speculation? You know not of any experience (or lack of experience) that I may or may not possess. You are more than welcome to say "it may not be that easy for everyone" but when you question another's abilities, whether mine or not, when totally unfounded on anything at all, that is what I'm calling out.

I have a pretty good idea..

I have nothing but time being fresh out of college.