Imagine any of these scenarios: Your PC is suddenly acting strange, running slower than normal and shutting down unexpectedly. You’ve decided to connect your new iMac to a wireless network, but you’re not sure how to do so securely. That 20-page term paper you’ve been writing for the last month is suddenly corrupt and won’t open. Or, your child drops his laptop, and the LCD screen cracks. If you were faced with one of these situations, would you know what do you do?
If you’re like most people, you’d probably take your computer to an expensive big-box retailer for repairs or try to fix the problem yourself. Or, in the case of a broken part or serious error, you’d simply throw out the damaged machine and buy a new one. Now there’s an easier—and cheaper—solution, right here in your own backyard.
“Most people have old computers that they never get around to fixing because they just go out and buy a new one. Then old ones get left in the corner to collect dust or for the kids to abuse,” says James Sulpizio, owner of Computer Artisan, a newly opened computer repair and service business on East York Street. “No matter what your problem, it’s still less expensive to repair the old computer. And in times like these when people are trying to save money, instead of going out and buying new stuff, just get your old stuff fixed.”
With a simple office in the 2424 Lofts, Sulpizio is the antithesis of the traditional computer repair business. You won’t find any neon signs here, no mountains of computers or monitors, and no walls stacked with parts for sale. There are no lines in which to wait, and no bored staff to whom you are just another name and number. In fact, when you call Computer Artisan, you’ll only deal with one person during your entire experience: Sulpizio himself.
“I have the kind of place where people can sit down and relax and get out of that ‘rushy’ environment where they have to wait in line for an hour. And because it’s just me, I can afford to offer lower prices and give you more personal time,” says Sulpizio.
So what can one single person do when it comes to keeping the area’s computers up and running? Well, in Sulpizio’s case, a lot. And unlike most big-box retailers, he has the knowledge and skills to work on both PC and Mac platforms.
An artist at heart (hence the name Computer Artisan), Sulpizio first got interested in computers in high school, using them to digitize and edit his paintings and then transitioning into the world of digital photography with Photoshop. After becoming certified as a repair technician, he worked for 10 years at a major retailer repairing computers while his wife developed her medical career. Once her practice, Serenity Foot and Ankle Center on Girard Avenue, was established, Sulpizio decided to look for a position that offered a better schedule, and he knew there was opportunity in the area for a qualified computer repair professional.
“I’ve been in Fishtown for eight years, and I’ve known of only one other [repair technician], and he left the area a long time ago,” says Sulpizio. “Every so often, I’ll run across someone, and they’ll say ‘Yeah, I used to have a computer repair guy, but he left.’ So they would just end up going out and buying something new or not repairing their computer because they didn’t know where to take it.”
Well, look no more. From removing harmful viruses to setting up secure wireless networks, replacing damaged hard drives to locating missing data files, even performing at-home computer analyses or crafting custom desktop “Unity Build” systems, Computer Artisan offers a full range of drop-off and onsite services, by appointment only, for homes, home offices and small businesses.
“I also do laptop LCD replacements,” Sulpizio notes. “I’ve done quite a few of them already for people who were very surprised at how much lower the cost was and how much faster the turnaround was compared with other companies that do repairs.
“But my services run the full gamut. I’ll do just about anything computer-related,” he adds. “Macs are usually a little more proprietary because you can’t just go online and buy certain parts. But I try to solve any software or network issues my clients may have.”
So whether you’re looking to set up a network of multiple computers for a small business or you’re simply hoping to keep your child’s laptop running effectively for as long as possible, Computer Artisan will get you connected in no time. And right now, if you “like” Computer Artisan on Facebook and get 50 of your friends to like it as well, you’ll receive 50 percent off any repair service. Just visit facebook.com/computerartisan, click “Like,” and get 50 of your Facebook friends to do the same.
Computer Artisan is located at 2424 East York Street, Suite 209. For more information or to make an appointment, call 267-603-1394, or visit them online at www.computerartisan.net.
