I have never written a yelp review but I felt inclined to after visiting cafeMac. The ambiance of this store will give you a peculiar feeling that you may never experience anywhere else in your life. From vibes alone, this store is S tier. It's like a landscape designer imagined a movie set for a tech support store without seeing anything newer than a 2007 iMac desktop computer. Feels vaguely cultish, but in a good way. It is tidy and visually pleasing without the asceticism of a modern tech store. In fact, it's downright cozy. Maybe it's what the 90s imagined the 2000s to be (it's certainly not the 2020s). The world feels smaller, more approachable, and safer at this store. It harks back to a more optimistic time, when people believed that the Information Age would bring nothing but good into the world. This store is a masterclass in interior design. I bought a MacBook charger here, it works very well. read more

Very helpful when I bought a new iPhone for my hubby. And, they'll help him transfer data and learn the tricks on his new phone!!

Apple tech issues? Tired of shlepping an hour to Corte Madera? Look no further -- visit cafeMac in Sonoma on Broadway! So I finally upgraded my iPhone from 13 mini to 17 pro mac. In the process, I took all of my family's numerous USB(A)-Lightning charging cables to my local environmentally friendly recycling center. A week later, I realized that my cordless keyboard and cordless magic mouse both still need to be charged using USB(A)-Lightning cables. Duh! Groan. I had moved to Sonoma where I discovered that there isn't an Apple store nearby. For several small issues, I've had to drive an hour to Apple Corte Madera or waited until I needed to go to SF to visit the Apple Chestnut Street location. Both tend to be crowded. I drove an hour to Apple Santa Rosa, but their staff left me underwhelmed. I couldn't find a used USB(A)-Lightning cable on FaceBook Marketplace that was near enough to me. My environmentally friendly recycle center in San Rafael (Renew) isn't open on the weekends, where they also sell a variety of used cables. ChurchMouse in Sonoma didn't sell the right type of used charging cable. So ... I drove to Apple Corte Madera, where the salesperson *ostensibly* listened to my problem and then promptly sold me the wrong charging cable. They sold me a USB(C)-Lightning cable, insisted that it was the correct solution for what I needed, never asked the year of my destop Mac (it's on their system), the year of my laptop (it's on their system), or what kind of Apple block plugs I have at home. Spoiler alert ... I now realize that they are all USB(A). Rather than drive to Corte Madera AGAIN, I wisely tried out cafeMac on Broadway in Sonoma. BINGO. The owner and staff members are super friendly and understanding. They are great with tech. They are good listeners, unlike some of the staff at Apple stores who are young, new, overly confident (and sometimes wrong), and constantly trying to sell me additional things that I simply don't need. cafeMac happily offered to exchange my "wrong" USB(C)-Lightning cable for the "right" USB(A)-Lightning cable, at no charge. I asked if they needed my receipt to show that I'd bought it directly from an Apple store just a few days prior. They didn't need to see it. Their customer-oriented attitude and friendly nature immediately put me at ease and make me want to come here for all my Apple tech problems and purchases! Their location on Broadway is excellent and street parking is easy. Kudos to owner Jim Witous and his excellent staff for such a smart idea -- providing real service to a geographic area which is not served by Apple. I am so glad to see cafeMac able to service the many Apple users in Sonoma and Napa. I was surprised when I moved here to Sonoma to discover that Apple has no store in either Sonoma or Napa and has no plans to service these areas. I'm proud to support my local stores and impressed with their service attitude. Sonoma Proud! read more

I would give them 10 stars if I could. The two computer technicians and one phone repair person I interacted with were knowledgeable, friendly and super helpful. My old laptop was dead, but they had a similar model for sale at a very reasonable price. They swapped over my hard drive and I'm back up and running. I cannot say enough good things about the folks at cafeMac. read more

super easy super simple super kind. a little pricey for me (someone who doesn't use electronics so I don't really value using them). but overall great experience, they were fast, clear, honest, and fair. can't ask for much more! read more

Bad experience for me. I dropped off my computer to inquire whether it could be repaired. After trying to call and not hearing from the store for several days, I stopped in. The tech, who seemed taken aback to see me, told me in a brusque manner that she decided she simply wouldn't do the repair. No apologies for not calling, no explanation for why. I did call the owner to explain my concerns. He assured me he would speak to the tech and give me a call back. I never heard from him. read more

Fair, competent, friendly and quick visit freebies. Just purchased a new Mini Mac and accessories, the experience could not have been better! The tech support was amazing and made past purchases online look like a nightmare. For a bit more money you get serious peace of mind! read more

Fantastic turn around time, made sure I had no questions and explained everything fully!

I recently purchased from Cafe Mac a Epson ET-2850 wireless printer. It will not connect to my iMac desktop. I've called Cafe Mac numerous times for help, but nothing. read more

Fabulous service. Go there, you will be happy you did. Plus you get to view some early Mac's, made me feel nostalgic. Owner and staff are there to help and they were great,= went out of their way to get my job done. read more

The cafeMac is great. Very friendly and with good advice. I went in with an old laptop Pro that had been rebuilt but sadly was unable to fix. They had excellent advice and recommended a Mac mini to replace it. I feel I got the most for my money and application. Go to cafeMac with questions they have answers and cool Apple museum stuff. read more

If you're having problems with your Apple devices, this is the place to get excellent advice and suggestions to make things work well. I trust CafeMac to help and give better advice than Apple. read more

This is the second time I got "saved" from cafe Mac. I say saved, because when you've tried everything to fix your tech issue and they are able to problem solve right away at a fair price, it just feels like such a relief. Since I've had two great experiences with cafe Mac I wanted to send in a review, even though I'm not a fan of yelp, I do recognize it helps people make a decision on visiting a business. read more

I wanted an extra charger for my Apple Watch. I called all over town and everyone recommended this place. They just sold the last one yesterday. I would have bought one if I could! The girl working there was nice enough to let me borrow her personal charger while I sat and waited. That was very nice of them! Definitely the place to buy anything Apple related in Sonoma. read more

cafeMac - Throwback - Computers Near Me - Sonoma, California

I am so happy to have cafeMac service all my apple products. I will continue to use them as my go-to for problems and purchase. My computer crashed and I thought I lost everything but Breanna brought it back! she is extremely knowledgeable, fast & efficient. No more big box stores for me not when we have this wonderful locally owned store with A+ service. Thank you for this gem of a store & bringing my laptop back to life! p.s did I mention the affordability? that's​ another bonus. read more

I called up and asked it they have a few items in stock, they just so happened to have everything I needed, went it an hour or so later and walked out with all my items in under 30 minutes. Great place for all Apple product needs in Sonoma! read more

This place is a total scam. They are not only over priced but sell products that are lemons. Really un-honest work. Be careful before taking your computer to this place... read more

looked into cafeMac thinking it was a cafe selling coffee. got looks from everyone in the shop. instantly realized it's a Mac shop, so i closed the door and left. i don't have a Mac and they don't have coffee. everything looked neatly organized though. easy parking in front. read more

My computer got a bath a few weeks ago thanks to a leaky water bottle and our dogs tail of doom. After taking it to the Apple store for an assessment of the damage I was told it was dead and best case scenario was to send it out to Apples service for a small fee of almost $800, and they'd more than likely wipe it clean causing me to loose everything. Yeah. No thanks especially since they didn't really tell me what was wrong, nor did they see any water damage. Thankfully I know a little bit about computers and I knew if my hard drive was undamaged I could turn it into an external. So I went to Cafe Mac for a second opinion. I read reviews before I emailed Jim and I have to say - all the rave reviews were spot on and then some. He was kind enough to meet me at a time that worked for my new mom schedule, he opened up my computer and within minutes was able to tell there was no water damage. He even showed me what to look for. He took the time to educate me on everything he was doing to check all components of my computer. He showed me how to link my external hard drive to time machine, he checked my memory capacity, he removed unnecessary programs to make more room. He spent almost an hour with me. It was like meeting with a friend just talking about computers. He never spoke down to me or made me feel incompetent. We discovered that my computer was in fact very much working and nothing seemed to be wrong with it. It must've just needed a good 2 week break. He gave me tips on how to keep it running longer and gave me insight to things I never knew. I HIGHLY recommend Jim for any and all Apple product needs. read more

Who needs a genius bar when there's a genius right here in town (Sonoma). I have had ongoing problems with two (apparently incompatible) email accounts. I was unable to access current emails on my Mac Mini, so I took it in today, pretty much freaking out. Brianna the Very Smart Red Haired Computer Goddess helped me, restored my emails and saved my life. LOVE having this place in downtown Sonoma, it is such a godsend. THANK YOU Cafe Mac and THANK YOU Brianna!!! read more

Fabulous customer service! Although he could not fix my laptop Jim did a thorough diagnosis and spelled out what I need to tell the Mac store. Really great people! read more

Jim and staff are both fair and knowledgeable. I've never walked out of there without a clear understanding or a resolution to my problem. With technology taking a larger and larger role in our lives, I am so glad to have them in Sonoma. read more

I brought my new mac and old PC laptop here, to have information exchanged from one to the other. My old PC wasn't letting me log on properly (this has happened before, and it has been fixed before) so I also requested that my PC be repaired - just for basic use to the point where I could log on and off and access the software already on it. When I dropped them off, the woman at the desk offered to wipe my old computer clean and reinstall the Microsoft software on the computer. I told her I didn't really want that - I didn't need my old PC to be in tip top perfect working order, I just wanted it to be minimally functional, as it had been. I was nervous about dropping off my computers here, because in the past with another computer repair shop, the technician always broke something - the screen hinge, my fingerprint reader, or other screws and fixtures. So I was concerned something would go catastrophically wrong. She assured me they would take better care of my equipment than that. After a week, an employee called me to confirm what it was that I wanted. I explained all of the aforementioned to him. He again offered to wipe my computer clean and reinstall the software, for a total of 2 hours of labor. I said again that I didn't really want that, I just wanted to be able to log on to the thing. He said he would work on it. After nearly 3 weeks of waiting to hear the status of my computers, yet another employee called to inform me of what was being done. I was told the file transfer was done, and would cost 1 hour of labor ($140). This employee again offered to wipe my computer clean and reinstall updated software. I AGAIN said that wasn't what I was looking for. He insisted it was the easiest way to resolve any issues with the computer and ensure it would be in proper working order. He made it sound very simple, and again said it would take about an hour. So I finally relented and said do whatever it takes.. I just want to be able to log on. Well... 4 days later, I call again... still waiting... for approx 1 hour of labor... and the same guy I spoke with last says "oh yeah I forgot to tell you, it will be an extra $130 for the software, on top of the 2 hours of labor, do you still want me to go through with it?" Ummmm what? $410 to be able to log on to my goddamn laptop? In addition to the $140 I already owe on my macbook? I said yeah um no I don't think so. This is exactly what I didn't want. I don't care if its not up to date. I don't care if my iTunes doesn't work properly. I just want to be able to log on to my administrator account and use the word processor and applications and such. And THEN he tells me that he already wiped the hard drive clean and it cannot be restored with the original Microsoft software on it. WHAT THE F*CK?! I really just wanted to scream into the phone. But I didn't.. So. In summary, my old PC is non operational. Until I want to fork over a REDIC amount of money for them to fix THEIR error. I dropped off two laptops, for what I was told would be approx 1 hour worth of work. 3 weeks later, I pick up one laptop and a very expensive paperweight. Needless to say, I am NOT a happy customer. I will not be returning here with my business again. This has been very upsetting to me, as this business was a highly praised referral from a family member. read more

Paid $70, for the diagnosis that my computer is broken. Not quite the real answer I expected. There is no business phone number to get a hold of anyone. They just offered to sell me a different computer. Pretty disappointed with my experience. Would definitely seek alternative professionals for help with more complicated issues. read more

Thank you Jim Witous for getting rid of my adware situation. I had been spending 50% of my computer time closing out irritating pop ups and now its all gone. I enjoy my time on the computer again. You also helped me fix some other issues in terms of organization and even gave a few tips that I have used today. Thank you for the excellent service! Leah Jones read more

This place is the real deal. I experienced some of the best service from the owner and he is truly the kind of person you want in your corner. He sincerely cares and it shows, which isn't something you find in today's world as a consumer. I will recommend him and this business to anyone who needs help. read more

cafeMac has provided great service maintaining and updating our Apples products as needed. The staff are friendly and very helpful. Couldn't say enough good things about all of them, especially Jim. He's smart, efficient with time, and willing to go the extra mile to help solve problems. Yeah cafeMac! read more

My review is a little late as I visited cafeMac in 2019. I'm reminded to leave a review today as I pick up the phone to call them re another issue with my MacBook Air. My Gypsy cat enjoys the bird videos but unfortunately anointed the keyboard with urine as she got up to the screen for a closer look. In a state of panic I called every local shop and sadly, some have never called back! Apple, of course, would require an appointment. Breanna said to bring it right in which was key to the issue not becoming bigger than it was. Long story short....Breanna took the computer apart and cleaned it up. Fortunately no major damage and odor dissipated within the week as she anticipated. Local, professional, courteous, excellent customer service, no complaint re cost! Thank you cafeMac!! read more

I walked into café Mac with a five-year old Mac Mini that had been getting slower and slower, and then finally refused to restart. Within two days, the café Mac staff had given me back a working computer that was working just fine and (I hope) will give me several more years of service. The cost of the repair was reasonable and, Jim, the owner, gave me some valuable tips on how to keep my Mac working well. I was very grateful to find a Mac service location like this so close to home. Thank you, Jim and Breanna! read more

Incredibly nice folks who run this place. Would highly recommend you visit them for any of your Mac needs in the area. Just yesterday I was staying nearby at the Inn at Sonoma, having brought my parents up for a day of wine tasting and found myself with a near-empty MacBook Pro battery. The front-desk didn't know (or remember) cafeMac so they instead sent me to Staples which unfortunately didn't have what I needed. Staples was aware of the fine folks at cafeMac, however, so I got back in my car and drove there. While they had just sold out of my specific adapter (at 85W for the MBP 15" Retina it's not exactly the most common one), they rummaged through their own personal inventory and were able to find what I need. When I tried to give the man, whom I believe was the owner or at least the manager, my credit card or cash, he simply asked for a business card. I was sent away free of charge with a promise to drop it off the next AM. Long story short, they helped me out in a bind. Yes, I originally attempted to buy something, but they were under no obligation whatosever to lend me something (free of charge). Can't thank the team at cafeMac enough for saving my day and my project! read more

I was in Napa/Sonoma area for a medical conference and my iPhone quit working. Thankfully I drove by cafeMac and stopped inside. They tried to charge my iPhone and when it wouldn't start they offered to lend me a phone for the weekend. I opted to just buy a new battery instead and they replaced the battery lickety-split! Amazing service. Wonderful people. read more

Just wanted to say what a pleasure Jim Wittous at CafeMac is. Always helpful, informative and smiling! Congratulations CafeMac on your new location! Lisa P. read more

I love Jim! He's super helpful and doesn't make you feel stupid when it's something simple Took my four year old I pad in there to see if it had any life left and he cleaned up files to increase speed, backed it up to I cloud, told me it was still good enough but compared function with newer ones Recommended donating it or gifting it to someone if I did trade up, then cleaned up my phone for battery life as well all in about 15-20 minutes By then three people were waiting,hanging out and we discussed Yelp ratings and other sites...that kind of service doesn't happen at the Genius Bar. Thanks (I wound up getting Apple TV here too) read more

Jim always knows what to do and is never condescending. When I go in without an appointment ('damsel distress'), Jim takes the time required to straighten and explain my crisis-of-the-moment. Also, there no sales pressure. Another PLUS is that Jim's kind, personable and always in a good mood. Thank you, Jim! read more

One of the worst customer experiences of my life. Needed a hard drive copied from one computer to another. Instead I got convoluted explanations about how this was broken or that was broken or this needed to be replaced. When I finally got wise and took the machines to the Apple Store, they told me that during the transfer some bad RAM had caused the problems in both computers. They identified the problem in 5 minutes that CafeMac didn't seem able to figure out at all. The worst part? The bad RAM that caused the meltdown? You guessed it. Installed at CafeMac a few months before the transfer. And if the general incompetence regarding repairs weren't enough, CafeMac didn't answer calls or return emails for months. read more

I love Cafe Mac. Jim is so helpful and generous with his time. He was a southern California surfer in the late 60s, so it was fun hearing all his stories while we were waiting for my computer to be updated. A couple months ago, my old iMac kicked the bucket and I had gone to the Apple store in Corte Madera to try and fix it. ( I wish I had brought it to Cafe Mac first!) I ended up buying a new computer from the Apple store. When I got home, I had all sorts of trouble with my Time Machine migration, and ended up having to manually transfer all my files (lots of hours on the phone with Apple care). I brought the computer to Cafe Mac to install Adobe Creative Suite and brought it home. Today I brought another computer to Cafe Mac that was donated to the place I work, because I wanted to install Adobe Creative Suite on that machine too. He spent lots of time with me getting this computer up to speed, wiping the hard drive, installing new RAM and upgrading the operating system. I told him I had been having trouble with my other computer backing up files, so he let me bring that one back and patiently did some troubleshooting to figure out what was up with my back-up drives. Jim is really personable and explains things very respectfully. Now I feel like my digital world is in order! Thank you. read more

After struggling for several days trying to figure out how to reload my programs after an attack of malware, I took my Mac Pro to Jim Witous of Cafe Mac in Sonoma and he fixed everything in under an hour. I can't recommend him more highly! I'm so glad he is located in Sonoma. read more

Very helpful twice in the past month; first on a replacement MagSafe power adapter for a MacBook Air, and second on having just the right cable for a somewhat obscure printer setup -- they even generously offered to loan me the cable for free. Makes being a Mac guy in Sonoma much more straightforward. read more

I've been to Cafemac several times. The service has been excellent, what they sell works and they stand behind their work.

Extremely helpful advice - family owned business - helped me decide what the best product was for my business. Didn't even sell me something from their shop personally and recommended where I go to get the best deal. Very knowledgable. read more