DoctorDave Computer Repair

Thank goodness for Dr Dave making the computer world accessible to all. Being a person of a certain age, working in a field with a high security need, the dangers of cyber attack scare the devil out of me. I'm savvy enough to get my work done but when it comes to understanding how's and whys of computers and internet... well, I need help. Like most people, I just want to turn my unit on and work. Having someone like Dave to guide me through is wonderful! And he is kind, never says anything that causes me to feel stupid, and talks in words understandable.
Currently Dave is helping me select and install a new computer system and increase security. I am so thankful for him and trust him completely.

I came back from a six week trip to find my Mac desktop no longer connected to the internet and was giving me strange messages about my IP address. I called Dr. Dave and things were tricky because a) I had no internet so he couldn't do anything remotely, and b) I was positive for Covid so couldn't take it in to be looked at. He ascertained I had tried all the usual things to do, and then patiently walked me through a number of screens to see if he could work out what the problem was as it wasn't a simple fix. And, amazingly he was able to. It's not the first time I've used Dr. Dave and I'm sure it won't be the last. Definitely my first stop for computer problems.

I spoke with Dave by phone. He was extremely arrogant, condescending, and misogynistic. He also gave terrible advise that showed he isn't an expert.

Warning from a tech professional: He either isn't the expert that he claims to be or was trying to sell me expensive service that I didn't need assuming that I wouldn't know that his tech advice was flat wrong.

This job at hand was for my mother's computer, something that I know how to do. Even my 70+-year-old mother knows how. We would normally do it ourselves but due to an emergency don't have time right now so are hiring someone.

I explained to him exactly the job I needed, and he tried to tell me nonsense like that Microsoft Word, Excel, and jpgs files from a Mac copied to a properly formatted thumb drive wouldn't be readable on a PC.

When I told him that I am a professional in digital media and university faculty who has taught this stuff in college, he became belligerent. I asked him to consider the disrespectful ways that he was speaking to a woman, particularly given the plentitude of harassment and discrimination women in tech experience every day. His attitude mansplaining that wasn't accurate as to tech knowledge. I knew more than him.

He launched into some Trumpist-sounding, MRA, alt-right tirade calling me a sexist one with nonsense about misgendering him because he's really non-binary. It is beyond belief that a male-presenting man would defend his harassment by claiming he is the victim when truly female, queer and transgender women are harassed, attacked, targeted for hate crimes, and live in constant fear of lethal violence.

Regarding a second job resolving a lost-password data recovery/reset problem, he implied that I may have stolen my computer and would need to give information to the police. I understand that documentation of ownership for situations like this is a good idea, and I have it. However, no other tech service I've called has questioned me or implied accusations of dishonestly like this. In fact, he could verify the ownership of my Mac himself -- no documentation is required.

He launched into accusatory questioning of me like I'm a criminal before even addressing the lost password problem, caused by my students who I mentor on computer security, and if he knows how to do it. There is a set of procedures for this on a Mac, and it sounded like he had no idea how to do the job or admit that he would need to refer to Apple guidance for troubleshooting and procedures dependent on OS, model, and security features selected. (I already had, and I knew the process and factors TBD).

I told him this wasn't going to work out, and that I'd be going with a different company that treated me with respect and showed that they knew what they are doing. He kept going on a tirade of insults when I repeatedly tried to say goodbye and end the call. I had to firmly say that I was ending the conversation and hang up on him -- while he still was still ranting -- to get off the call. This will likely be a familiar story for any woman in tech. His fragile ego clearly couldn't handle a woman who spoke to him firmly, with expertise, and wouldn't put up with his abuse.

We had a computer repair facility down the street for years that we used until they closed last year... Turns out it was not such a bad thing because it lead us to DoctorDave.
We're not tech savvy in my office, but we do need our system to work. Dave was able to get us up and going remotely and timely.

Thanks Dave, we will be back!

Dave upgrade two Mac computers last week and did a great job. He knew what he was doing, was onetime, and the price was great. I would recommend him for any technology work you need to have done. Great to see someone who cares about doing a good job.

When I left a message asking to schedule an appointment and get some help with my stuff, I got a call back in a couple hours FROM AN ACTUAL PERSON and had a tech at my house JUST TWO BUSINESS DAYS LATER. No long chain of menus to wade through, just left them a voice mail. When I explained my issues, he was honest and said "we haven't worked with that gateway before, but we can try". I figured sure, I'd give the local business a try. My DoctorDave tech was AWESOME. Friendly, patient, and helpful. Got my wireless gateway talking to my desktop computers (neither one could even "see" the gateway when he arrived), installed my new printer, made sure the tv could still see the gateway, did a test to see how fast the gateway was running data, etc. Answered my questions in "non-tech" language. The best part? An hour and a half later, everything was up and running for what I considered a reasonable and fair price. If I have future issues, or any friends I know do, I'm telling them to call DoctorDave.

Dave is fantastic! I haven't brought a problem to him yet that he didn't know how to fix. Friendly, smart, fast = yes, I trust him to work on my computers.

Unfortunately my experience was terrible. He wasn't able to figure anything out for two hours until my husband came home and told him how to move ONE account. He then charged me $265 for the 30 mins that he accomplished something. I was literally looking up other options while he was telling me how he couldn't do it.

Worst customer service ever by an IT pro (we don't know which one we dealt with since you don't get to just walk in. You have to have a conversation via a speaker and we weren't given a name.)

We were treated very condescendingly. We were told one thing when we called...and another when we got there with the laptop we were told to bring in. That happens. But customers shouldn't be sneered at because of it. Heck, my friend gave the invisible person his name as being the one who called, and the invisible person literally snarled at him, saying "I don't have anyone named ____ on my staff." (Hmmm. "MY staff?" Sounds like maybe we were talking to Dave Greenbaum himself.)

We finally said "Thanks for nothing" in frustration and left since he had done absolutely nothing to help us with the laptop problem, much less anything worth being considered even decent customer service. Heck. He didn't even ask us what the problem was.

Fortunately we ran into someone a little bit later who told us about iGuru downtown on Mass. and THEY were great. We're delighted with them.

As a quick aside, it takes forever to find Dr. Dave's because the sign on the front door (there are multiple businesses in the same building) was illegible. Tiny and faded. And there are no big signs outside near the street (unlike the other businesses in the business area), so you don't know you've got the right place without having to make a genuine effort.

Sometimes I just can't figure out how to get our computers to work properly. We are a multiple mac and pc home, so sometimes we have issues. Dr. Dave has been a lifesaver for us and our friends and family many times. The nice thing about Dave, is that he can help absolute beginners or those of us who still have fond memories of our Commodore 64's.

If you're looking to buy your first computer--or--you're ready to throw yours out the window, call Dave, any time and he'll work with you. He can advise you on how to work with the company who sold you your computer--Dell, Apple, you name it, AND he's got the experience and knowledge to get you back online.

Amazingly enough, he does really make mouse calls, or you can go to his office--he's super flexible and always, always cheerful and calm, even when you're freaking out.