Alifano Technologies is definitely what a business should be. They are knowledgeable and kind. That is important when one has no idea what is wrong! We have brought in computers, and we have gotten excellent advice when we have had questions. They go out of their way to be problem solvers. I recommend them highly. read more

Good people and very technically savvy. For sure this is the place to go if you any computer issues. I also like the professionalism. Thank you Alifano! You guys really helped me get back up and running. read more

Certainly MY one-stop for computer help! All of the techs are professional and qualified, and I don't want to leave anyone out, but I have to highlight my experience with Ian and JP! (Sorry, Mike, you're The Man, but lately I feel you're getting out-shined by your brilliant team!) Yes I said it. When my hard drives on laptop and desktop needed an upgrade, I called Alifano Technologies. JP helped me, first by explaining my options, then by installing the drives and migrating the data. What I was impressed by most , is that JP really took an interest in customizing my needs. He asked me questions to determine my data needs, and then created a solution that was the best fit for my use and budget. When I stopped by to pick up my computers, JP sat down with me (for like 30 minutes) and explained how to manage my data, effectively back-up my laptop and desktop, and made recommendations based on my personal preferences. It was cool that he really listened and then made relevant suggestions to my unique situation. We use Alifano Technologies for our small business too. Because it doesn't make sense for us to have a full time IT guy, we just call Mike and he comes out or sends one of his guys. They do a great job hosting our website and email. Sure, we could employ some massive faceless company to try to save a few bucks, but it is SO worth it to have a local, responsive team. It's so much better to call Mike and Courtney right here, instead of dealing with an offshore call center. To sum it up; they care, they treat you like an individual, they will work persistently to solve your problem, and once you experience this level of service you will not want to goof around with some other geeks. read more

Alifano Technologies - JP returned my laptop after it was souped up with a new hard drive. - Computers Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

I have used Alifano Technologies for our home computer issues for several years and their knowledge, services, and professionalism is top-notch. They are truly passionate about solving problems! My husband has brought Mike into several of his businesses -- always when they are in crisis mode -- and Mike is always hailed as the "hero." Thanks, Allen, Mike, and Cortney...keep up the good work. read more

Yet again this business gave me prompt, reasonably priced service! I highly recommend them!

I really want to support local businesses, so I am sad to report, I had a terrible experience here. Don't get me wrong, the staff is incredibly helpful and nice. I wanted to love this place - I have done two data recoveries, bought my mac here (where Mike was extremely helpful and I was happy to have the money stay local) and have referred a bunch of people here - but after my latest experience, I will never go back. I want to be treated like a person - not like I am an idiot or that I am inconveniencing anyone. After having Mike scream at me for 15 minutes because of HIS lack of communication on my project (he thinks he went above and beyond and I had no idea what was going on), and then the disappearance of my tower (only the hard drive was returned) I brought in - I won't be back. A simple email, that takes 2 seconds, would have made my experience a completely different one. Think about the customer experience and make it a great one. When a customer sends you an email, reply in a timely manner. And, for the love of god, don't argue with a customer about random unimportant facts - on the phone or via email. It doesn't do anybody any good. As for my projects, I brought two things in for data recovery and nothing was recovered. Can't necessarily blame them for this - but I think after this experience, I am going to explore this a little more. NOTE: Apparently you sign something that says after 30 days they can get rid of your stuff without your permission. My legal friends were ready to question him on this one. What happens when your project lasts longer than 30 days? read more

The Dell computer we bought for our new business from Alifano's has been nothing but a Lemon. We lost a lot of valuable time and data trying to figure out what was wrong with it. I have had much better support from Dell with the last two computers I bought directly from Dell - It was all free too. Alifano's wanted to charge $50.00 just to look at it. Instead we had Mike The Computer Guy look at the computer and he found out the computer was saving everything in the recovery ( which was a manufactoring/build problem). Mike was even able to recover our lost accounting data. MB from montara read more

As a solo entrepreneur and very dependent upon my technology to be updated and working in higher efficiency, I'm forever grateful Alifano Tech is here on the Coastside. I started my business the same year Alifano did so I've been a loyal customer for 18 years. Mike has guided me through many computers and back-up systems that I would not know how to do if it weren't for his expertise. Recently, I had an unusual situation with my hard drive crashing. Every person on staff was assisting me through this period of "no computer" with exceptional service and most of all care and concern for my business. When my computer was returned on a Friday evening, Mike offered to help me over "his birthday" weekend if there were severe glitches. Talk about WOW! I consider Mike and his team to be part of my business family as I wouldn't be able to function or succeed with my clients without their support and guidance. If you want to know the latest and greatest ways to operate your business with technology with the BEST service and support, Alifano Tech exceeds at all levels! read more

This is difficult. Mike is an important figure in HMB. He's been on the Fire Board before being voted off in a recall. He's on the Board of the Cabrillo Education Foundation and has been on the Board for the Boys and Girls Club. He works for good causes. But he's also abusive. As other reviews have already noted (and community experiences) here have shown. (a 2014 reviewer said "Mike screamed at me for 15 minutes") My experience with Mike (and Allan) in the Alifano Tech shop was not significantly different. Technically Alifano Tech probably has the best skillset on the Coastside when employees are included. They can do good work, at least theoretically. They also have (by far) the most expensive skillset. And their retail outlet is so far above retail prices it hurts to walk in the door. CoastTek is one example of Coastside Tech Support that is far more reasonable and cost-effective. And there are others who appear on Yelp. Use them if you can. Alifano Technologies have had numerous reviews here tossed for various reasons, but if you include those reviews the reality is clear. If it is Saturday and you need a router and no one else can configure it for you and money is no object then Alifano Technologies are your guys. You will pay a ton more than you should, but the work will get done and (hopefully) it will work as advertised. (If not you are going to be billed again and again...) Otherwise get your parts and pieces from Strawflower Electronics and get your tech support from CoastTek. You will not be disappointed if you do. Unlike if you go to Alifano Technologies. read more

Went in to have my 17" Mid 2009 MacBook Pro checked out. Got the ? with a folder, which means that computer is unable to find my boot up disk. First off I had talked to Mike a couple weeks prior about upgrading my HD soon because anything that was associated with it (Disk utilities and Disk Doctor) were working VERY slowly. Two weeks later, hard drive is unable to be recognized. Brought the computer in, figured that the HD is no longer, we decided to throw in a SeaGate 1TB Hybrid SSHD, no big deal, swap drives out, try to recover data, should be done. Come to find out, the computer is unable to recognize the new HD. Andy, his tech dives into the issue, finds out that the original (2nd one from Apple) is reading externally. Now the issue is the board itself or the cable. Mike suggests to order up both the cable and Data Doubler (Install a HD in exchange where your Super Drive is) so there would be no wasted time if the board itself has lost contact. Wait a few days, pop the new cable in, viola it works. Given that the Data Doubler is an inexpensive add on, had him throw the original HD in with it so now I have gone from 500gbs to 1.5tbs. Very happy with the customer service this place has and how in depth their tech's knowledge base is. Hell if I had taken it to some other place I probably would still have a computer that's not running because they would tell me to go repair the board, when all it needed was a simple cable. He keeps in touch with you, ask you your budget before they get started and does his best to work within your capabilities. He is straight forward with the plan he has in mind and always told me the worst case scenario, which was a motherboard repair which becomes VERY costly. I would definitely recommend their work to everyone and I will be back again when issues arise. Thanks again Mike and staff! read more

We run a small business and have industry software running on multiple computers, networked and sharing printers. When we first purchased the software we also signed up for software support for which we pay a monthly fee. I'm know a lot about computers and when something goes wrong, it usually falls upon to me to fix it. After talking to tech support and getting their help, I realized that we were wasting a lot of money. We pay a monthly fee for someone we talk to on the phone that's half way across the country. I decided to cancel tech support. I figured I could solve most of the problems, and the stuff I couldn't fix, I would call someone else to handle. I was kind of nervous. I felt like I was taking off the training wheels but I wasn't confident I could ride the bike. If our computers go down, our business stops working. That would be devastating. Twice now in the past 6 months I've called on Alifano Technologies. The first time was to fix some printers. They got knocked off our network. I could get them to print with a direct connection, but that's all. I couldn't get them back on the network. The second time I installed a new wireless router, and suddenly half the computers could see the internet, half could see the network, but none could see both. JP was the technician they sent both times. The router problem was solved quickly and efficiently while our office was closed. The printer problem was solved during business hours. JP was courteous and efficient, and got all of our computers printing on all of our printers. We were able to keep working while he took care of everything. Having a local business like Alifano Technologies to rely on is great! I tell Alifano Technologies the problem and they take care of it. It saves us money and time. I'm not wasting money month after month for tech support I'm rarely using, and I no longer have to sit on the phone while some faceless voice walks me through each mouse click. read more

I needed some programs installed on my laptop that had very little memory left on the hard drive. My son referred me to Alifano Technologies Inc. I was very impressed with the owner, the staff technicians, the quality of their service and in-store inventory. The whole operation is professional and on top of their game. Whether you need a repair, a part, information or good advice, I think you'll find it all here. To me, AT is like a technology hospital for computers and Mike and his staff are the emergency room doctors. Behind the sales counter, AT has work stations filled with different kind of computers all in different states of repair - like they're in surgery. I'd go so far as to say that one of their "emergency room services" is for people like me who don't know much about computers, call up in a panic and need /want help NOW. It is a life saver. For those of you who already know how to fix or enhance your computer, they have a large array of parts and equipment for sale there too. What I appreciated most is how Mike, the owner, squeezed me into his busy schedule as soon as possible to help me out. He also took the time to explain how computer systems' memory work so I could understand the challenge he faced trying to install the programs into my computer. He was so nice and accommodating about everything, including all of my questions. I left there a happy camper within a couple of hours of my first call with the new programs installed. Plug for Half Moon Bay - I live on the peninsula but it was definitely worth the drive over the hill not only to get my computer issues resolved but to also visit and enjoy Half Moon Bay. I mean if you have to spend 15- 20 minutes driving somewhere, wouldn't you rather be driving the mountains, forest and fresh air to a laid back village destination on the ocean rather than sitting in bumper-to-bumper grid lock on 101 going nowhere? Anyway, Half Moon Bay is so darling and it made me realize that it had been way too long since I had last visited. Can't wait to go back for business or pleasure. read more

I have gone in to see Mike, Cortney & everyone at Alifano Technologies now a few times, each time was exceptional. My computer problems were addressed quickly with a full explanation that I, not being a computer guy at all, could understand. Mike has also made visits to my office to set up a new computer system & to our home to set up a new memory storage & wi-fi system. Alifano is our fully trusted, one stop shop for all things technology. Thanks for the great CoastSide service !! read more

Great service. Ordered a new audio system in our house. Quickly understood our needs and tailored a very good solution to match at a competitive price. Installation was professional and friendly. read more

I received straight-forward and knowledgeable service in my recent purchase of a dell workstation for a new business. I went in wanting a Small Form Factor case. Mike, however, explained why a Mini Tower would work better for me in the long run, with more space for upgrades and ease of maintenance - Very logical stuff, but I had overlooked these things. He also elaborated the warranty process, and the benefits of doing claims through Alifano. Mike put me in touch with Allan to complete the order. They did the initial set-up and install of Anti-Virus and Office for me, which was delayed only because of some weird data outage that day (Comcast in our area went down for a bit, I wasn't receiving data through Verizon either... odd). The workstation has been running flawlessly. I'm definitely glad I went through Alifano and would not hesitate to contact them for continued support. read more

Sorry, Hands down, the best and only place I trust. I would take my mac, PC here before anywhere else. Why you might ask? I trust them, that is everything to me. I hate my computers sometimes, Alifano makes it all easy. Thank you Mike!!!!!! read more

I have been working with Alifano Tech and their team for almost 10 years. From booming times when everything seemed affordable to times like now when the budget is as important as the quality. Now I'll be honest we tried to go the low budget way for our service and maintenance and tried a couple other coastal tech companies and in the end here on the san mateo coast there was just nobody really capable of providing the service level I need for my business and at home, let alone the knowledge and skills to run simple servers and workstations for us efficiently. Surprisingly one of the others couldnt figure out how to get microsoft outlook to work. :( Their crews are proffesional and polite and knowledgeable, and Mike and Ian have always been there within a couple of hours, usually within the hour when we are in crisis mode at the office. They revamped are system and helped us maximize our equipment and set us up to be more efficient and need less maintenance over the past year. Even tough it makes less work for them down the road, it actually made us appreciate all they have done for us in the past decade. One last thing when I moved from Pescadero to El Granada, Ian came down to pesadero and broke down my Home theater system, computers and packed it up neatly and delivered it to my new house, set it up, ran cables for all the speaker, surround sound, computers, direct tv and programmed the damn remote control to mange the thing before I even had all my furniture put in place. Got to love that.. read more

Joel took great care of us. We needed a special type of USB cord for a photo shoot on very short notice I was worried I'd have to drive "over the hill" to get what I needed. Joel was able to figure out what sort of cord we needed over the phone, and confirmed he had it. 10 minutes later, I had exactly what I needed. Thanks Joel! read more

The son is a terrible business person, they will charge you almost twice the cost of any other company and then when it doesn't work a month latter they want more money. The father should have continued running the business, the son and daughter in law are out to over charge and never follow up.if you have a lot of money and want to throw it away go to them for some work, there is a reason why most of the businesses in half moon bay will not go back to them for any work. Beware ..,they will screw you . read more

I agree with Terry, Alifano Technologies sucks. They had a terrible attitude-- like they were doing me a favor by taking me on as a customer and installing a wifi system using Apple Airport Extreme for me. When the system didn't work as promised they charged for extra time to "trouble shoot" it and in the end it still didn't work. When I complained about the service I was told that "they didn't know why it wasn't working" and "I've never seen a problem like this before" but if i wanted they would do a service visit and I would have to pay them extra to come out and try to fix the system that they had installed in the first place. I was so mad that I said no and went to the Apple Store help desk and got instructions on how to fix the problem. I went home, followed their instructions and had the entire system up and running on my own in 15 minutes--so much for Alifano expertise! Alifano Technologies over charges, doesn't keep their promises and in general seem like incompetent tech and business people. read more

Based upon other reviews, it sounds like Alifano Technologies provides great service for hardware support, however as far as purchasing retail items, they fail. As much as I try to buy from and support our local merchants, even if it costs just a bit more, Alifano Technologies retail prices are outrageous! I needed printer cartridges that normally retail for $15, however Alifano Technologies charges $25 for the exact same cartridges. That is way more that "a bit more" in my book. When it comes to the retail side of Alifano Technologies, if you're not desperate or don't want to be taken advantage of, don't waste your time with them, just go over the hill. read more

As a person who appreciates well tuned motorcycles and cars I can say the "tune up" my computer received by Mike and his crew took it from a stock iMac to a "custom" machine (so fast) in less than three days! I got a fair assessment of what needed to be done to improve the performance and advice on not doing things (buying) that weren't necessary or were over kill! My computer is back to being a tool rather than a source of frustration! BTW, they are in Half Moon Bay but WELL worth the drive if you live on the Peninsula! Thanks again! read more

Okay, I'd consider myself a 9-outta-10 on the technology scale. I write code and frequently build my own computers. So it was a dark day when I tucked my tail between my legs and took my computer into Alifano because I had spent too much time trying to fix an issue. They understood that not having my computer was a big issue for a guy like me and so they started working on it right away. They called me to let me know what was going on and to get permission to do things before they did anything evasive. When I came in to collect my machine the next morning it hummed (in a good way) perfectly and they took the time to explain everything they found wrong and the steps they took to fix it. The bill was very reasonable and I would not hesitate to recommend or use them again. read more

These are the best and most helpful computer people I've ever dealt with. They helped me, with only explaining with my little knowledge of technology, the problem in minutes. They are the best. Thank Heavens they are here in my sweet town of Half Moon Bay. I would recommend them to anyone. Thanks Alifano folks. Becki Porzio read more

Alifano Technologies has always provided top notch service on both repairs on my family's laptops and on helping me with parts and accessories that I have needed. It is very convenient to have a computer store in Half Moon Bay, rather than having to drive over the hill for parts. Prices are comparable, service is very personable. I recommend Alifano as a coastsider's best option for service. read more

Alifano Technologies is my IT department! Whatever I need, a new computer or printer, service on my computers or a network setup/problem solver, Alifano is the best. Their staff is very knowledgeable and professional. I highly recommend them! read more

Mike Alifano is the best! I am a senior and he always patiently assists me with my computer and I phone problems ,questions and concerns. I had a problem and took a chance by walking into his office without an appointment. He stopped what he was doing and got my IPhone up and running in five minutes. I highly recommend AlifanoTechnologies for all of your IT services and computer repairs. Teresa Adam read more

Came here desperate... Im an animator and my computer was having some mysterious problems. I brought it here and the problem was fixed it seemed but the problem persisted. I came back three times, and although it wasnt magic at first everything is working smoothly now and im in a better position as far as knowledge with security and backing up. Technology isnt an exact science...mike, stevie and andy worked with me over the past two weeks to narrow the problems... They were very reasonable when it came to what they charged me. Instead of owing them more and more over time, they gave me a huge break because of they value their customers. Mike especially took the time ... An hr or so to walk me through the possible problems and the solutions I could have. I was in the middle of a project and they had my computer working so at least i could meet my deadlines through this techno-drama. Im very grateful. Thank you guys! I'll come back for sure for any future issues! read more

Mike, Ian and Cortney are helpful and reliable. I am very pleased with the work done, the knowledge of the staff and the overall wonderful service. We will definitely be back for future services. Thanks Alifano! read more

Responsive, knowledgeable, and reasonably priced. Great local business to assist you with all your computer needs. I had them set up and optimize my home network which was fairly complicated. The local systems engineer JP helped me set up my Cisco routers and did a great job. read more

Consumer Reports recommends going to your local IT shop for the best service. That is what I did and I am grateful for the good advice, and for a friend's recommendation pointing to Alifano Technologies. My five-year old computer was feeling shaky. When I called Alifano, they took the time to have a thorough conversation, ranging from my needs to my options. With their help, I purchased precisely what I needed, including a proper back-up device. And they transferred all of my programs, files and data. I am in San Francisco, they are in Half Moon Bay. However, the distance was no barrier, taking about as long as a door-to-door trip from the Sunset to downtown San Francisco -- and their parking is right out front, and free. Added benefit: two trips to glorious Half Moon Bay. Bottom Lines: Their prices are very competitive, including the hard ware and three hours for file transfers/set-up. They are available 24/7 should I need further assistance. The staff is friendly, professional, savvy and articulate. Just what I need for my own IT Department. I have already turned around and recommended them highly for other colleagues. read more

It is surprising, in this little burg of ours which often features inadequate (to be polite) service provision, that we somehow won a million to one shot with the second-to-none computer services and technical support offered at Alifano Technologies. I would expect to find Alifano's level of proficiency only in Palo Alto or Cambridge or some similar techie haven. So wow! My hard drive recently crashed. I was told by knowledgeable people that it was almost certainly dead and gone. But Andy performed miracles, saving my dying data and restoring my computer to its blooming, buzzing self. This is not something just anyone could do, and I felt very lucky. I have only good things to say about Alifano's responsiveness, knowledge, and customer support. I went through the whole data loss event without them once making me feel stupid -- which I most certainly had been to have not backed up more carefully. They are so kind. I do think their website is dated and not as helpful as it could be. This is a small nit but the website looks like someone grabbed a cheap template in 1993, and stuffed in some information. it could be a lot better to inform people about what Alifano can do, and to provide a more pleasing online experience. Update, May, 2012: I recently had a small problem but one that needed immediate attention. Mike helped me on Mother's Day which was extremely professional and kind of him. If everyone in America had similar standards of customer service imagine what life would be like. read more

Alifano Tech. totally saved me yet again. They booked me an appointment with super short notice, came on time, stayed in budget and fixed my internet issues with ease. I'm so excited to for my super fast internet now, and happy it was an easy experience. Beyond fixing my issues with the internet, they explained to me how to back up my work in a more efficient way, how to maintain my Mac's and even gave me info on the latest Cloud backup info. They went above and beyond with great customer service and general advise. I highly recommend using Alifano for your tech support needs - especially if you live on the coast. They are the best! read more

Trust these guys with my work computer! Owners and employees are great to work with.

I have known the Alifano's going on 7 years now. When I was going through my divorce Mike came by and re set up my entire home network,wireless router and printers. He offered me advice on how to keep my network safe and provided me with multiple phone calls -emails and FB messages to make sure all was functioning. I always know if I call Cortney or Mike they will be there ready to help me and put my mind at ease..Thanks guys!!! read more

wonderful place for any type of computer issue. I had some sort of virus and they were able to log on remotely and had it fixed the same day. The cost was fantastic too. We are so lucky to have them here on the coast. read more

I was somewhat apprehensive initially about getting help with my home computer system as well as my home theater plans. My regular neighborhood tech guy Dougal Donaldson (miramar technologies) had moved out of the area and I needed to find someone I could trust with my tech issues. We contacted Ian from Alifano and I couldn't be happier with the care we received. Ian helped us get a discount on a high end 85" Sony TV, he delivered it, set up the home theater, and fix several issues I was having with my computer and internet. Ian has been out several times as other things arise and he is always 100% punctual to the minute (which is rare with home visit on the coastside). He is completely professional, and takes time to explain things to me and my wife. I didn't review Alifano immediately because I wanted to see how they did over time. I can say that they earned my trust with their work ethic, top notch customer care and knowledge. Thanks Ian and everyone at Alifano read more

The outstanding customer service and computer knowledge of Mike Alifano's team deserve more than five stars! If you are in need of a repair, look no further...you can feel confident that both you and your computer will be well taken care of by the talented team at Alifano Technologies. read more

Very reliable, helpful, genuine, and informative. They have skilled employees who managed to transform my 'dead' laptop into a top running machine again. If you need your computer wiped out, memory boosted, and software/programs updated, this is your place. Price-wise, I was very happy. I thought it was a good deal for great service and have already recommended my friends to this place. In fact, one of them purchased a refurbished DELL from them, directly---and I'm getting a bit of tech-envy. Good job, guys! Keep up the good work. read more

On Wednesday, July 18, I received my "fixed" computer from Alifano Technologies. I took it in because I could not send e-mail messages. This is the second time I was told that my problem was in Microsoft Outlook. When I got the unit home I found that I still could not send e-mails. This was surprising as I was charged $200 for repairs that did solve my problem. Upon my 2nd return visit Mike Alifano did demonstrate that my computer could indeed send and receive messages from a smart phone. I know there are several ways to access Outlook, so I am not clear on exactly what I was seeing. I set up Outlook to send unimportant e-mails to the Deleted Items folder 9-10 years ago because I was receiving dozens of e-mails every day. Outlook has worked just fine since then. The problem with sending e-mail occurred when coastwave.net stopped working. This occurred 3-4 months ago. To say that I somehow disabled Outlook is preposterous. Mike also thinks that it was his idea to refer me to Coastside.net. In point of fact, I knew very well that I could go to Coastside.net for repairs. I chose to go to Alifano Technologies for the repair because we have worked with you for years and have always had good experiences with you. In fact I bought this computer from you. To say that I am unhappy is an understatement. I am surprised that this incident proved so painful. I did contact Coastside.net and they came out the next morning and repaired the unit with a few keystrokes. They didn't charge me for the site visit or the repair. I do not plan to use Alifano Tech any more, and I shall indeed seek recourse at the appropriate level. Regretfully yours, Morgan Walford read more