What an excellent resource you have put together Vicki. I am currently compiling as much information as possible on Costa Rica, with a view to initially visiting the country and in time, possibly moving there. I started off with the blog called Costa Rica HQ that someone put me in touch with and have checked out some others but none have this kind of information on them. I like the idea of the PC Club. Whilst I use a laptop extensively, I would not be in any way technical so it's nice to know that help is available and where to find it. Thank you for sharing your experiences and providing the details of the resources that are available. I really enjoy your blog and the excellent information you provide.
It was a very long time ago that I had the opportunity to visit Costa Rica. I had forgotten how beautiful a country is was until I, like the previous poster, happened upon the blog Costa Rica HQ.
This blog does not have as much resource information as yours, but it does provide a very personal account of Costa Rica.
Your readers may be interested in checking it out. It's at CostaRicaHQ.org .
You have really put together some great information here. Between your blog and the other I thinking about when I can get back to Costa Rica.
Although I commiserate with the iBook user whose Apple warranty was not accepted after just three months, it is always best to check if a specific failure has become a part of a "Repair Extension Program," meaning Apple fixes a part that has failed in many machines, and they do this world-wide. AppleCare is their extended warranty program, that can be bought anytime during the first year, and for all Apple laptops this is also valid world-wide. I have heard of cases were a refund was offered when customers were turned away in other countries. You might want to bring it to the attention of headquarters in Cupertino, CA.
ICON, the oldest authorized Apple dealer in CR, has turned other people away, who also had legitimate world-wide warranty claims. In CR we must learn to double-check everything and each time. However, taking advantage of the unsuspecting is a world-wide "habit" for sure. It's important to bring these things to Apple's attention so they have an opportunity to help their "authorized" dealers to clean up their act.
According to ICON, Apple is very slow with shipping parts. It takes ICON 25 to 40 days to receive a spare part. They keep hardly any in stock. Cupertino should know about this as well, as this compares very unfavorably with the quick return of repairs in their Apple Store Genius repair service centers. Most problems are handled there the same day or within two days. But that's the States for you. Sure we can not expect such magic in CR, with such a low Mac user base, but 25 to 40 days should be beat.
There is a guy on Lake Arenal in Guanacaste who has helped me several times with hardware and software problems. He works the entire area (also Tilarán and La Fortuna), and it is best to bring your machine to him in Arenal. His name is Oliver Duex, and his phone is 333 2729.
While not an official "Apple technician", I have had years of experience repairing and upgrading Macs, and have a good amount of knowledge of PCs as well. I have primarily used Apple computers in the production of visual art, music and photography.
Whenever someone has a computer problem in my neighborhood, they often give me a call. If you are in the Northern Pacific region (Guanacaste), I might be able to help you at rates less than what you see listed above. I speak English and I am fluent in Spanish as well.
NAME: Joshua Wilson LOCATION: Playa Flamingo CONTACT: deepsoundcr *at* yahoo.com (replace the *at* with @!) ARTIST WEBSITE: www.myspace.com/beautystruck
Here is the URL for PC Doctor at the Cariari Mall. They have always had what I wanted and were very helpful for me.
http://www.pcdoctor.co.cr/
We have a computer club up here on Lake Arenal. The club meets at 2PM on the first Wednesday of the month at Hotel Tilawa where there is a gringo gathering each Wednesday at about 4-6pm.
Apple authorized Service Providers in Costa Rica: http://alacservice.apple.com/service/en/find.php?srchType=Reseller&go=..%2Fen%2F&frmCountry=Costa+Rica&btnBuscar.x=36&btnBuscar.y=15
HI Vicki Thank you for having me on your contacts I glad to knwo about you again here is my new information I'm back to San jose now still working with Mac computers you can send me a email to rmoracr1@gmail.com and my new phone number is 88805013
Please do NOT leave a anonymous post if you desire a response and do not leave bogus/unrelated to Costa Rica spam responses (whereby creating REALLY BAD karma for yourself and those you love!!!)
What an excellent resource you have put together Vicki. I am currently compiling as much information as possible on Costa Rica, with a view to initially visiting the country and in time, possibly moving there. I started off with the blog called Costa Rica HQ that someone put me in touch with and have checked out some others but none have this kind of information on them. I like the idea of the PC Club. Whilst I use a laptop extensively, I would not be in any way technical so it's nice to know that help is available and where to find it. Thank you for sharing your experiences and providing the details of the resources that are available. I really enjoy your blog and the excellent information you provide.
ReplyDeleteIt was a very long time ago that I had the opportunity to visit Costa Rica. I had forgotten how beautiful a country is was until I, like the previous poster, happened upon the blog Costa Rica HQ.
ReplyDeleteThis blog does not have as much resource information as yours, but it does provide a very personal account of Costa Rica.
Your readers may be interested in checking it out. It's at CostaRicaHQ.org .
You have really put together some great information here. Between your blog and the other I thinking about when I can get back to Costa Rica.
Thanks,
Scott
Although I commiserate with the iBook user whose Apple warranty was not accepted after just three months, it is always best to check if a specific failure has become a part of a "Repair Extension Program," meaning Apple fixes a part that has failed in many machines, and they do this world-wide. AppleCare is their extended warranty program, that can be bought anytime during the first year, and for all Apple laptops this is also valid world-wide. I have heard of cases were a refund was offered when customers were turned away in other countries. You might want to bring it to the attention of headquarters in Cupertino, CA.
ReplyDeleteICON, the oldest authorized Apple dealer in CR, has turned other people away, who also had legitimate world-wide warranty claims. In CR we must learn to double-check everything and each time. However, taking advantage of the unsuspecting is a world-wide "habit" for sure.
It's important to bring these things to Apple's attention so they have an opportunity to help their "authorized" dealers to clean up their act.
According to ICON, Apple is very slow with shipping parts. It takes ICON 25 to 40 days to receive a spare part. They keep hardly any in stock. Cupertino should know about this as well, as this compares very unfavorably with the quick return of repairs in their Apple Store Genius repair service centers. Most problems are handled there the same day or within two days. But that's the States for you.
Sure we can not expect such magic in CR, with such a low Mac user base, but 25 to 40 days should be beat.
There is a guy on Lake Arenal in Guanacaste who has helped me several times with hardware and software problems. He works the entire area (also Tilarán and La Fortuna), and it is best to bring your machine to him in Arenal. His name is Oliver Duex, and his phone is 333 2729.
While not an official "Apple technician", I have had years of experience repairing and upgrading Macs, and have a good amount of knowledge of PCs as well. I have primarily used Apple computers in the production of visual art, music and photography.
ReplyDeleteWhenever someone has a computer problem in my neighborhood, they often give me a call.
If you are in the Northern Pacific region (Guanacaste), I might be able to help you at rates less than what you see listed above. I speak English and I am fluent in Spanish as well.
NAME: Joshua Wilson
LOCATION: Playa Flamingo
CONTACT: deepsoundcr *at* yahoo.com
(replace the *at* with @!)
ARTIST WEBSITE: www.myspace.com/beautystruck
Here is the URL for PC Doctor at the Cariari Mall. They have always had what I wanted and were very helpful for me.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.pcdoctor.co.cr/
We have a computer club up here on Lake Arenal. The club meets at 2PM on the first Wednesday of the month at Hotel Tilawa where there is a gringo gathering each Wednesday at about 4-6pm.
Regards,
Ed Reames
Apple authorized Service Providers in Costa Rica:
ReplyDeletehttp://alacservice.apple.com/service/en/find.php?srchType=Reseller&go=..%2Fen%2F&frmCountry=Costa+Rica&btnBuscar.x=36&btnBuscar.y=15
HI Vicki
ReplyDeleteThank you for having me on your contacts I glad to knwo about you again
here is my new information
I'm back to San jose now still working with Mac computers
you can send me a email to rmoracr1@gmail.com and my new phone number is 88805013