General Computer Systems

Address:	3226 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610, USA
Phone:	+1 510-208-1937
Site:	gcsystem.com
Rating:	3.2
Working:	10AM–6:30PM 10AM–6:30PM 10AM–6:30PM 10AM–6:30PM 10AM–6:30PM 10AM–4PM Closed

Location

Photos 5

Reviews 8

Michael Tonsing

I am a lawyer. I need dependability. I write a column on technology for lawyers for a national magazine. I wouldnt call myself a computer engineer b y any stretch, but on the other hand I would say I know more than the average business computer user about computers. I have good online support for software issues. I need a very solid and totally trustworthy source for "hardware." I rely on Alex at General Computers for my hardware needs. He is extremely honest. He is very bright. He is very fair. He sometimes tells me that I dont need something when I am prepared to spend more. I like that. He even does "housecalls" when I have issues that would best be resolved if he visits my office in the home here in the Lakeshore District. Today, I am accepting delivery on a high end computer that Alex has built to order for me. I have complete confidence that what I will receive will be far better for me than anything I could order from Dell, Amazon, or any other online discount source. I know from experience that Alex stands behind what he sells and services and part of the equation for me is knowing that if anything falters, Alex will make it right at a very fair price. Alex has been my "go-to" hardware guy for more than 5 years and has taken me through several crises -- where I face tight deadlines with clients -- without fail. That means a lot to me. It is no accident that General Computers has been in business for more than 20 years, while other companies have come and gone.

Ashamed ToBeBlack

I have not used their services for a little more than 2 years now but I was referring people to GCS. I telephoned them today to see how much, if anything, they would charge my dad to just put the latest update onto his system for Adobe Flashplayer and Java. The programs are already installed but peer-to-peer Global Networking problems have kept me from remote accessing his computer. The Asian male who answered the phone kept trying to tell me that it was $75 an hour and may be more if they find problems on his computer. I told him again that there are NO problems and I just wanted them to hit "Update" on those 2 programs (my dads almost 80 so not the most computer literate person) which takes less than 10 minutes. I did not want them to even LOOK for problems and this guy kept talking about how they might find problems in his system. I hung up and read reviews and then decided to write my own. Yes, I am angry but that does not change the fact that I asked him to load the latest update of 2 commonplace programs onto a laptop and he kept telling me how he might find problems which might take more than an hour to fix. I used to trust these guys but never again. I have used Adobe forever and Java since it came out and have had no issue EVER in installing the latest updates. This was just an attempt to swindle me out of money and I didnt appreciate it.

Josh Saintperle

I have relied on General Computer and E.G. since CPM / floppy disc days (remember that?) 25 years or so... by accident, they were near my home, but their service impressed me so much then, I kept on... I find when I recommend them to someone, they tell me their own experts sent them to general and they already go there as needed. I habe had them build computers for me, and/or customize my Lenovo laptop, convert to solid state and upgrade software. Always on the job, always guarantee their work, always willing to explain things to me -- why one thing works and another doesnt. Check things out to make sure they;re working right (had to bring in an HP printer that was getting weird recently, kept telling me to put in paper or a new cartidge when already done... one of their guys fiddled with it for a few minutes and said "Its working now." See you next time. Their knowledge is encyclopedic. Theyre always helpful, and know you want/need that computer back as soon as possible sometimes: "Go next door get a cup of coffee and come back in half an hour" and maybe itll be done or else they can tell me how long, tonight, tomorrow... In other words, they know that you;re there for them to help you, and thats what they do. The best.

Jon Hartung

I had sent in my computer to HP for a screen replacement, and it came back devoid of programs and data (another story -- one star to HP also). I had backed up the computer before I sent it in, but was having trouble restoring the data, so I thought I would go to a specialist with my back up disks and backup hard drive. Ten days and $150 later I got the computer back with nothing but the operating system, with the owners explaining in broken English that although they had tried mightily, they couldnt restore the data. I went onto the hard drive and quickly discovered the backup file, which I transferred to my desk top and transferred into the appropriate files. $150 down the drain. I agree with prior postings. These guys might be wizards at fixing hardware, but they appear to know little about software, and completely ripped me off.

Anonymous User

I took my Sony Vaio laptop there for repairs. They bought a new motherboard (which was needed) and a new keyboard (which wasnt needed - I couldnt see anything wrong with the old one except a broken touchpad). Repair took about two weeks and cost about $350 for motherboard and keyboard. About a month later, my laptop broke again. This time they told me it was a hardware problem. They ordered a new one. It racked up to about $100. Its been about a month since that last repair. Today my laptop bluescreen errored on me and said something was wrong with the hardware (which is supposedly new). Taking it back again for a third time, this time Im definitely not paying. If it doesnt work out again, I will be asking for a refund and buying myself a NEW laptop. Never revisiting that shop again after this trial..

Allen Chin-Jian Huang

Ive been to this store two times in last 8 years because my computers dont break often. I had wonderful experience when I visited this place. First time, they took out the harddrive from my laptop PC because it was too old, too slow and it was time for the upgrade. They made a nice external harddrive from my old laptops harddrive. I remembered it cost probably $60+ dollars almost 8 years ago. The second time took place last week. It was for my old desktop PC. I took it in and the staff diagnosed the problem. He explained it to me what the problem was. He could do it but he would charge 40 dollars, etc. The staff also cleaned my desktop PC. I would recommend this place to my friends.

Dan Tonelli

I have been doing business with General Computer for 25 years. Too bad the small neighborhood computer store is a vanishing breed, but General Computer survives. They have always steered me the right way. Even though I could get a better deal on line or at a Best Buy, I would never consider buying a system anywhere else as General Computer sells quality systems and stands by them.

Anonymous User

They are crooks dont go there they lie about everything thats wrong with your computer so they can charge you for extra hours and even hold you up a day or two longer ,than you need to be there,the owner wants to show you past invoices so you can agree on a price and if you dont negoite you will be ripped off I hate this place I will never go there or recmond this place