Circle W Offers Computer Solutions

THREE OAKS - One computer business is offering more than just repairs. Circle W Solutions, headquartered in Three Oaks, specializes in hard-drive and motherboard repairs, virus and spy-ware removal, graphic and Web site design, networking and server hook-ups, automatic system backups and storage, and options for monthly services. The business is also offering a plethora of free services to the public, including inspections, internet assistance, and troubleshooting.

Circle W Solutions provides a wide array of free and low-priced computer and internet services to the greater Harbor Country community.

On top of that, Circle W Solutions has a Web site at www.circlewsolutions.com that can be utilized as a safe home page, with virus-free links and surf engines, community information, and even an upcoming chat room for local users.

The business is owned by Three Oaks residents Ron Altman, 50, and Justin Watkins, 24.

Watkins, a graduate of Signal Learning IT in Mishawaka, Ind., said he has been working on computers since he was a kid, first fixing computers for his family, then later for his friends. Eventually he got so many requests for work he decided to start a business.

"And I want to give something back to the locals," he said. "Computer repair prices are outrageous. We are offering a price that's three times lower than the standard price."

This includes a one-time flat rate of $100 for computer repairs, and monthly service packages for computer protection and file backup starting at $25.

The backed up files are stored on a secure server in Arizona, with remote access available to customers.

The business also offers a host of web design packages and other services that can be viewed at www.circlewsolutions.com.

Watkins, who is adept at repairing Macintosh, Windows and Linux-based computer systems, said he developed an interest in computers after working on a Windows 95-based machine growing up.

"It was a really old, slow computer that my step-dad had purchased," he said. "It only held 500 megabytes. So to make it work good, I had to delete files all the time. That's how I learned the core of the system, by learning what I could and couldn't delete. It was fun. I loved to be on a computer and never got off them since."

For those who aren't familiar with the World Wide Web, Circle W Solutions can help. For free.

"We'll be looking to help out people who don't normally use the internet," said Altman, whose niece, Angela Griffin, will be handling phone calls on internet use issues. "If somebody's got a problem with the internet, they can just call and talk to her. She can walk them through how to set up an account (or any other problems they may be having with their hook up)."

So why offer this for free?

"Well we're nothing without a good reputation," Altman explained. "So we have to earn people's trust. And the way we are going to do it is we're going to try and help them do whatever they need to do."

Altman, who is handling the structuring of the business, said future plans for the Web site would include a chat room for local users, and useful information for the community, such as necessary preparations for college.

"This information is already free (online)," Altman said, "but you've got to hunt it down. Well, we'll do the hunting down. Then you just come to the Web site."

Another unique service offered by the business is remote assistance. As long as customers have an internet connection, Watkins can access their computers via a remote login icon at the business's Web site. Customers and Watkins must first login using the same nine digit key that is randomly generated each time. This will allow Watkins access to their desktop so he can perform any software or program repairs as needed, including virus removals.

This way, Watkins only has access to a computer with a customer's full knowledge.

And, while Watkins is logged on, an icon will be visible on the customer's screen that will allow him to remove Watkins at any time if he so chooses. Using this program, Watkins can handle up to eight customers at one time, and schedule further appointments with customers as time becomes available.

And Watkins performs graphic design and Web page work too. An example of the latter can be found at the Web site www.exit1newbuffalo.com.

"One of the cool things, pretty much every time I go on this job, with technology upgrading, is it's like there's something new every day," Watkins said. "You never know what you're going to face."

The business headquarters is located at 7966 Kruger Road, in Three Oaks, with drop off locations at 4554 Niles Buchanan Road, in Buchanan, and 11 S. Townsend Street, Suite 3, in New Buffalo.

For more information on Circle W Solution, visit it online at www.circlewsolutions.com, or by phone at (888) 676-1672.