THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 6, 1994 TAG: 9407020199
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: EARNING A LIVING IN VIRGINIA BEACH
SOURCE: BY LORI A. DENNEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
DEAN ROBB KNOWS HOW to clean. He's dusted for dust bunnies, fished for Fritos and even slopped up spilled root beer.
He's a man who preaches preventive maintenance, including keeping things tidy and dust-free.
``My biggest hurdle is educating people on maintenance,'' said Robb, 30. ``Eighty percent of all computer problems can be prevented through regular maintenance.''
Robb began PC-Easy out of his Kempsville home in March. In his business, Robb does on-site computer maintenance, as well as repairs and consultations.
``A lot of times, computer problems are environmental in nature,'' said Robb, an Arkansas native. ``By doing the work on site, I can pinpoint the problem easier.''
Sometimes ``the problem'' is just an overheated disc drive caused by dust or hot, humid weather. In any case, for $45 an hour, Robb will drive to a location and do a full diagnosis. Once the problem is found, Robb buys the parts and the customer reimburses him.
``Customers pay only my hourly fee and the cost of the parts,'' Robb said. ``And nothing above that.''
Robb chose to make his business mobile because, he said, he feels that people are more comfortable having their computers worked on in their homes or businesses rather than having him take their equipment somewhere for days of repair work.
If there is any time left in an hour, Robb will spend the time giving advice for software programs or explaining the intricacies of computers and their operating systems.
``By coming to you, we remove some of the mystery of computers,'' said Robb. ``I'm a real person, I'm not an IBM clone. I'm not some techno-geek sitting here spouting techno-babble.''
In addition to repairing and rebuilding computers, Robb also offers customers a maintenance service. For $200 a year, Robb will come out to clean and tune-up a computer four times a year. He cleans disc drives, keyboards, printers, floppy discs, mice, trackballs and monitors; checks for computer viruses; and runs a complete diagnostic check each time.
For a one-time cleaning, he charges $40.
If there are problems during the time of a service contract, the customer pays only for the parts, not labor.
Another facet of Robb's business is consultation. For $25 an hour, Robb will help someone decide what type of computer will best suit their needs and also, he'll shop around to find the best price. He then tells the customers where to buy their system.
``I see my role as helping them (the customer) decide what they need so they don't get ripped off,'' said Robb. ``You wouldn't buy stocks without talking to a stockbroker. After all, computers are the third-largest purchase most people make in their lives.''
Robb, a former operations specialist in the Navy, became interested in computers in the mid-80s. Soon, friends and family began calling him for advice about their computers and software problems.
Just before Robb left the service in November, he took his own computer to a local company and was charged $90 for two days of work that didn't change a thing, he said.
``That's when I developed a distaste for leaving my computer anywhere,'' Robb admitted. ``I knew my time was coming (to get out of the service), hence, the on-site idea was born.''
Robb and his wife, Debbie, are both computer freaks. In their living room, there's not only a couch and coffee table, but also two well-organized desks, each with a desktop computer, disc drive and printer. Debbie Robb is a computer specialist with civil service.
It's fitting that the couple, married just over a year, met through a mutual friend on a computer bulletin board. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by CHRISTOPHER REDDICK
``My biggest hurdle is educating people on maintenance,'' says Dean
Robb, who operates PC-Easy out of his Kempsville home. ``Eighty
percent of all computer problems can be prevented through regular
maintenance.''
by CNB