We were once again on NPR affiliate stations WYPR and WYPF for Mario’s Digital Cafe, discussing computer repair options. Some people are going to take us to task for recommending Zone Alarm, but it is a pretty good option, when the virus scanner is turned on, especially for a beginning to intermediate user.
laptops
![Court Transcript Of "Peek Squad" Agent's No-Contest Plea](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/peeksquadcover.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
Court Transcript Of "Peek Squad" Agent's No-Contest Plea
We just received the court transcript detailing former Geek Squad Agent Hao Kuo Chi “no-contest” plea in the case of his alleged setting up a cameraphone while on call in a customer’s house and recording a young woman taking a shower.
![Man Gets Brand New Laptop After Suing HP In Small Claims Court For Losing His](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/davidbarzelay.jpg?w=150&h=199&crop=1)
Man Gets Brand New Laptop After Suing HP In Small Claims Court For Losing His
HP seemed to have “lost” David Barzelay’s laptop when he sent it in for repairs. After a month of no laptop, HP wouldn’t replace it or return it.
![40% Geek Squad Downsizing Memo? Not That I Know Of, Says Founder](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/keanujohnnyutah.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
40% Geek Squad Downsizing Memo? Not That I Know Of, Says Founder
When reached for comment, Geek Squad founder Robert Stephens said he knew nothing about 40% tech staff reduction / have-more-repairs-done-remotely-by-techs-in-India memo as described by our tipster. In fact, he said he’d like to see it if we did ever end up getting it. Anyhow, as far as staff reductions go Stephens said, “There has been restructuring since we launched within Best Buy and the most recent was back in Jan/Feb but that’s old news – and quite public.”
![Geek Squad Peeker Plead "No Contest" To Privacy Invasion](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/sovietcameraposter.jpg?w=150&h=192&crop=1)
Geek Squad Peeker Plead "No Contest" To Privacy Invasion
When former Geek Squad Agent Hao Kuo Chi appeared in court on April 3rd, 2007, he plead “no contest” to one count of unlawful invasion of privacy, according to the LA County DA’s office. He received this sentence:
!["Peek Squadder" Beloved By Customers, Colleagues](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/geeksquadhaokuochi.jpg?w=150&h=170&crop=1)
"Peek Squadder" Beloved By Customers, Colleagues
Though he stands accused of a disgusting act, secretly recording a customer taking a shower, Geek Squad Agent Hao Kuo Chi was held in high esteem by customers and among his fellow employees.
![The Kind Of Cellphone Geek Squad Might've Taped Showering Customer With](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/htcapache.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
The Kind Of Cellphone Geek Squad Might've Taped Showering Customer With
If Hao Kuo Chi really did tape the 22-year-old daughter of a customer taking a shower, the phone propped up in the bathroom might have been a PPC-6700. These PocketPC phones are standard-issue to the Geek Squad techs who perform in-home repairs — known as “DA’s” or “Double Agents” in Geek Squad parlance.
Geek Squad Sued For Videoing Customer In Shower
Hao Kuo Chi was paying a house call when Sarah Vasquez says he set his camera phone up in the bathroom, left it running, and recorded her bathing.
![80% Of Geek Squad Employees Say They Don't Use Anti-Static Wrist Straps](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/geeksquadwristrstrappoll.jpg?w=300&h=108&crop=1)
80% Of Geek Squad Employees Say They Don't Use Anti-Static Wrist Straps
56% of Geek Squad employees responding to a poll on a company online forum said they found “no reason” to use anti-static wrist straps when repairing customer’s computers.
![LEAKED: 6 More Geek Squad Manuals](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/geeksquadmanualcover.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
LEAKED: 6 More Geek Squad Manuals
Here’s 6 more Geek Squad manuals. Combine this with the 6 we’ve already posted and soon we’ll have enough info to open our own franchise.
AUDIO: Screaming Dell Customer Can't Figure Out How To Shutdown Laptop (Hint: Hold Down The Power Button…)
We can understand his rage. We’d be angry too if we were born so stupid we couldn’t figure out how to press and hold the power button.
![INSIDER SECRETS: 5 Ways Best Buy Ruined Geek Squad](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/geeksquadbooty.jpg?w=150&h=200&crop=1)
INSIDER SECRETS: 5 Ways Best Buy Ruined Geek Squad
Five ways Best Buy drives the costs out of the system, sullying Geek Squad CEO Robert Stephen’s vision of superlative computer repair, as told by a former Geek Squad Senior Agent.
![Geek Squad Insider Speaks Out](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/geeksquadvdub.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
Geek Squad Insider Speaks Out
A common refrain we hear from the former and current Geek Squad employees we’ve been talking to is that Geek Squad used to be awesome. Robert Stephens built up an award-winning company with a reputation for being the best in the business. Then he sold it to Best Buy and they turned it to garbage.
![Geek Squad City Insider Rebutts Founder's Retort](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/robertbadge.jpg?w=200&h=156&crop=1)
Geek Squad City Insider Rebutts Founder's Retort
Chris has a parry and thrust to the Geek Squad founder’s response to his original confession.
![Geek Squad City Tell-All VS Founder Of Geek Squad](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/geeksquadforce.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
Geek Squad City Tell-All VS Founder Of Geek Squad
We’ve got a special two-for-one Geek Squad tale here. The first is a flameout email from a fired Geek Squad City repair team manager with some startling accusations about his former employer.