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A triumph over technology and corporate greed

Discussion in 'Off Topic Lounge' started by D.S.Masters, Aug 7, 2018.

  1. D.S.Masters

    D.S.Masters Sir Not-Appearing-In-This-Film

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    As y'all know, I've been offline for a week and a half now because the USB port on my tablet bit the dust. Because it's 5 years old, the manufacturer no longer supports it (despite the fact that you can still find this model for sale online brand-new), and they said that my only real choices were to buy a refurbished tablet or a brand-new one and transfer my account over to it (which would mean losing everything that can't be backed up or transferred). I started hunting around, checking out computer & tablet repair places up here in the Lake Region of New Hampshire, and I checked at least 15 places, none of whom could do anything. I was about to give up when I did a search for 'electronics repair', and I found a place up in Meredith, NH run by Brad Tratzinski - GeekLender (http://www.geeklender.com). He still does all the old fashioned stuff, replacing parts on motherboards, soldering, etc., and he does everything (computers, tablets, phones, TVs, game consoles, etc... soldering seems to be a lost art, but he does it. Despite the fact that his shop is 20 minutes from here, he'll even pick up and deliver... and he had it fixed in 45 minutes for a grand total of $60, which is a heck of a lot better than $350 for a new tablet. So three cheers and major kudos to Brad! And yeah, I'm back. :sneaky:;):thumbsup:
     
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  2. Don G Rowe

    Don G Rowe Famous Member

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    Great story. In a similar vein, I found a local guy here in St. Louis, MO who still repairs "real" stereo speakers. You know, the kind built in an acoustic cabinet with actual cone+foam suspended drivers with electromagnet coils? Well I have a very fine pair of Infinity Sterlings, and the foam in the woofers and midranges was completely shot. And anything I listened to that even roughly approached their fidelity was going to set me back at least $4K, and of course everybody I went to said, "Yeah, those Sterlings sure were sweet. They stopped making those drivers about 15 years ago." So I did a search and found this retired guy who works basically out of a Tuff Shed in his backyard. Replaced the foam suspensions in all 4 drivers for $150. And they are rockin' like new.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 9, 2018
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  3. D.S.Masters

    D.S.Masters Sir Not-Appearing-In-This-Film

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    Sounds great (no pun intended). Most everything these days is plug 'n play, and a lot of techs only know that - they don't know how to get their hands dirty soldering or replacing components, that kind of thing, but if you search hard enough, you can find somebody that can. So any reason to star out St. Lou like that? And just in interesting (to me, at least), the Coast Guard has Sector Upper Mississippi River (one of their administrative divisions) in the Robert A. Young federal building on Spruce Street, and a station (what they call a Base Detachment) down on the river, next to the rail yards.
     
  4. nGord

    nGord Standby Administrator, Retired Moderator Staff Member

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    Any word containing the letters "louis" used to be a banned word. I removed it from the list and fixed the spelling above in Don's post. :sneaky:
     
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  5. D.S.Masters

    D.S.Masters Sir Not-Appearing-In-This-Film

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    Ooookay... I'm not sure that I want to know, but I'm guessing it was a person with that name?
     
  6. nGord

    nGord Standby Administrator, Retired Moderator Staff Member

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    It was to stop spammers trying to peddle Louis Vuitt0n (<- still a banned word) branded products. They've moved on to mostly pharmaceuticals these days though. :unsure:
     
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  7. D.S.Masters

    D.S.Masters Sir Not-Appearing-In-This-Film

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    Ah, okay, understandable... and this is why I never wanted to be a moderator, even though I did it for a few months back in the 90's during the Star Trek days - I tend to say what's on my mind, and I don't have much of a sense of diplomacy. :confused::oops:

    Just in cute, though, years ago I had a friend (one of my buddies in the Corps) named Lou, and what do you know about Donald Duck? His three nephews - if that's what they are - are called Huey, Dewey and Louie... when Lou showed up anywhere, we used to ask him where Huey and Dewey were... standard warped military humor. ;):rolleyes:

    And while we're at it, what's up with your avatar? A rooster standing on top of a dog in a car? Just curious.
     
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  8. nGord

    nGord Standby Administrator, Retired Moderator Staff Member

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    The dog's name is Huey. And I believe the rooster goes by Dewey.
     
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  9. D.S.Masters

    D.S.Masters Sir Not-Appearing-In-This-Film

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    You must be thinking of a different character. Back in 1937 Disney introduced 3 young ducks (ducklings?) to their lineup, Huey, Dewey and Louie. They always hung around Donald or Daisy, and sometimes Scrooge McDuck. Nobody knew who their parents were, but a lot of people assumed they were Donald's nephews.
     
  10. Black1226

    Black1226 Famous Member

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    Do you suppose he could try to fix my old 10 inch Galaxy? Its been out if commission since about a year and a half after I bought it. I was in love with that thing. I'd have to ship it to him.
     
  11. D.S.Masters

    D.S.Masters Sir Not-Appearing-In-This-Film

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    I have no idea, but I think he likes trying his hand at any piece of electronics. His email is info@geeklender.com, and his phone is (603) 707-2735
     
  12. Black1226

    Black1226 Famous Member

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    Thanks, my friend. I'll shoot him an E-mail. Do you mind if I tell him that you recommended him?
     
  13. D.S.Masters

    D.S.Masters Sir Not-Appearing-In-This-Film

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    Go for it.
     
  14. Black1226

    Black1226 Famous Member

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    :D
     
  15. D.S.Masters

    D.S.Masters Sir Not-Appearing-In-This-Film

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    :thumbsup: Let me know how it all turns out.
     
  16. Black1226

    Black1226 Famous Member

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    Roger that, Delator!

    :rotf::D:p;)"
     
  17. D.S.Masters

    D.S.Masters Sir Not-Appearing-In-This-Film

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    Er, 'Delator'? Not me...
     
  18. Black1226

    Black1226 Famous Member

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    Geez, I don't know what I was thinking if i was thinking at all. I am truly sorry, I knew who I was talking to but had a brain, shall we say, slip. Please accept my apologies,v D.S. (not sure what else to call you). I located my of Galaxry and wil email your friend to see if he'd like to work on it.

    Again, thanks for the lead, and ill be sure to mention YOUR name when I do!

    Later!k
     
  19. D.S.Masters

    D.S.Masters Sir Not-Appearing-In-This-Film

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    No problem... we all have brain farts every once in a while. And the name is Dave. ;)
     
  20. nGord

    nGord Standby Administrator, Retired Moderator Staff Member

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    Hi Dave! :party:
     

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