After the power supply to my boyfriend's computer started emitting a burning smell, we made an…read moreemergency trip to Novatech before the item in question burned his office to the ground. I feel out of place in stores like these, as I have no idea what I'm looking at because my technophobia means I can barely turn on a computer. Novatech was unlike any computer store I've been in - it's more like a geek boutique, with glass display cases replacing the usual stock you find crammed on the seemingly endless rows of shelving units. The motherboards on exhibit were arranged more like Chanel bags than computer equipment. We found the staff here to be knowledgeable and helpful; I'm unfamiliar with Novatech's technical support or range of stock, but I can report that my beloved walked out of this fine store with a suitable replacement for his power supply. Mission accomplished.

Although it's on a road apparently full of nothing but car dealerships and mechanics, this is a…read moreneat little computer shop on Penarth Road, at the Sloper Junction. They have a good range of desktop computers and laptops, as well as smaller hardware to coincide. So many of these computer shops are full to the brim with salespeople; it become a chore just walking in an out the door without buying a warranty. Novatech computers, however, are different in this respect. Perhaps they're not paid on commission, but something is different. You feel like they are speaking to you because they genuinely want to help. With parking on site, this is a handy place you might want to pop into for computer advice or to compare prices. The assistant there did tell me that their busy spells come in periods; inexplicably they will be packed one hour and dead the next, so don't let either state when you arrive put you off!

Level 1 of the students union is home to the IT Shop (or the Siop TG for the Welsh-speaking amongst…read moreus). They offer an IT Clinic, to which you take your computer and they will hopefully fix it right then. If they can't, they'll take it from you and sort out the problem. They also sell a range of electronic equipment and accesories, such as earphones and webcams. There is also a fair amount of stationery. I went in looking for earphones and found the service to be adequate, though I did feel a little as though I was intruding on a private conversation. The prices aren't great but it's a fair service for students. All in all, it's just average but, if you've got a problem with your laptop, it's the closest place to Cathays to go for help.

The IT shop is situated on the first floor of Cardiff student union. This shop can even be found to…read morebe open outside of term times, making it very handy whether you need some supplies or you need your laptop repaired. They stock a vast supply of everything you could possibly need to function as a student. They sell stationary, technical items for computers and even laptops, with prices not being too extortionate. There is also a photocopier that you can pay to use. Repair prices aren't too heavy either, when I went to take my laptop in, they quoted a price of £15 to have a look at my laptop to see why my left mouse key wasn't working. The guys that work here are very friendly and there to help as many of them are fellow students. This store is a great asset to students and beneficial for anyone looking to get a good price on their IT needs.

My brother, the computer geek scientist (love you bro!), has an affinity with this store. Not I…read more No, that's a downright lie. I love it too. Perhaps I'm a little bit more tech-savvy than your average female arts student (oh, I really need to get out of the habit of saying that I'm a student, seeing as I graduated two years ago). EDIT: Perhaps I'm a little bit more tech-savvy than your average yelper, but I find that conversations about computers with the staff in Maplins are extremely interesting, easy and informative. Unlike store such as Comet, PC World and Currys, these guys know what they're on about, aren't desperately trying to sell you warranties and software, and explain things in a very clear and professional manner. Having had a problem with my laptop I went in to ask for advice and they spent 30 minutes helping me with no cost, and in the end I didn't have to buy anything to sort out the problem, yet all the while I felt like a valued customer. Well done Maplins. Excellent service.

I want to sing songs about Maplins. I want to dance and shake it to the songs I sing about Maplins…read more I want to write sonnets about the place. Craft solid marble statues in its honour and then shoot any pigeon that dares lay a feather on its resplendent beauty. Maplins should be where every good tech nerd goes to die, wrapped in bandages made from wires cut to different, but equally necessary lengths. Their headstones should be made from melted and re-formed solder and their epitaphs should be nothing more than the voltage that finally took their lives and carried them to geek-Valhalla. And if Maplins is such a religious experience, this store is the Mecca. A massive store filled with all the seemingly arbitrary-but-actually-completely-necessary bits and bobs that keep the turbines spinning and keeps the voltage flowing. The staff are eternally helpful, to old pros and beginners alike and the prices are exceptionally reasonable given the monopoly Maplins seems to hold on this market.

I'm glad I don't inhabit Sim Tech World, and instead lead a rustic existence, but I have had reason…read moreof late to thank my lucky stars that shops like Sim Tech World exist. Like so many before me, I managed to drop my iPhone several times before the screen ultimately smashed. It was of course, only a matter of time before this was inevitably going to happen... but did I think to take out insurance to protect myself in this eventuality? Well, yes I did... But whether I got round to actually doing it is an entirely different matter! So, with the exorbitant cost of getting Apple to fix it for me, I began a quest that lasted well over a month to find a indie mobile phone shop like Sim Tech World that would do it cheaper. It ultimately cost a staggering £80.00 to get the screen replaced, but I had, in the meantime, damaged the LCD screen, making the job more expensive, (well, it was actually my neighbours cat jumping directly onto the broken screen in an attempt to catch a moth that put paid to the LCD screen in reality...) I didn't end up using Sim Tech World, but it certainly made me aware of their existence. They are seemingly a tight little business, that specialises in mobiles and home computing, including PC and Apple laptops, games consoles etc, as well as digital cameras; essentially all of your portable electronics that you can bring into the shop for attention, (thy don't do home visits). They also call themselves an 'entertainment exchange', which, as the name suggests, means that they sell second user kit as well.

Small independent electronic engineers like Sim Tek World thrive on the repair of electronic…read moreequipment that inevitably happens. There expertise can help fix mobile phone faults, problems with ipods, ipads, apple products, xbox 360s, playstations, PC's and laptops. A very useful technical fix is there mobile phone unlocking service. The Sim Tek people aim to fix the phone while you wait rather than the 28 day service most high street stores offer. If you're in a pinch and need something fixed quickly without the extra cost of sending it away to be looked at Sim Tek offer the best service around. The shop itself is very small and over cluttered, which is to be expected of a electronic repair shop the outside advertises all the different services they perform and that leaves little room to let light in, so it's a bit dingy inside.

Internet City is a popular internet and laptop repair shop at the city centre end of City Road…read more They have a lot of desk top machines for internet use, that are conveniently partitioned to allow for a more private means of publically going on-line. This makes using Skype, gaming or even watching a film entirely feasible, without feeling as though the rest of the world is watching you. Clearly a good headset is required to make Skype conversations possible... you can either bring your own, or use one of the Internet City headphones without charge. They also have a couple of international phone booths at the rear of the shop. Again, these have been built with privacy in mind, and allow you to talk to friends and family around the world without feeling in any way self-conscious. I've not used their laptop repair service and so I cannot vouch for this. But they seem to stock a selection of accessories and consumables, and so it looks as though they are equipped and know what they are doing. They also offer money transfer with Western Union, but with the controversy surrounding this company, as well as the charges applicable, I think you'll find that it's possible to wire money more inexpensively at Nazzal On-Line up the road.

I have rarely needed to use other internet cafés except to receed into the online universe that is…read morethe gaming fraternity. As internet cafes go this ones got the international phone booths the private desk areas that hide the computer screen from your neighbor and the setups to use skype, email, use the internet or do some work on the fly. With the advent of skype I would of thought all international phone calls would be made from a skype enabled computer, but it hasn't fully changed yet. If you are an international student you will be happy to know they offer western union money transfers, they may be on the excessive side when it comes to the fees and applicable charges so check alabany road for better deals. This internet café charges more than I was ready to part with especially with what I had in mind, would easily exceeded £10 and when there are other internet cafes that cost £10 for the day you can understand why I didn't sit down. The shop also offers laptop repair and accessories sales for peripherals.

Easy Link Internet Café is more spacious than you would expect. It doesn't enjoy a particularly…read morelarge shop front, but the shop itself extends quite far back into a deceptively large building. Having said that, it's not easy to miss this very visible business, with its red and yellow signage that leaves you in no doubt about where they are and what they are doing there. As well as providing a good number of Internet dedicated desk top machines that are separated by partitions for privacy, they also provide a number of office services including faxing and copying. It is also possible to make cheap international calls, as well as having your laptop fixed and maintained. Mustafa Jassem is the Senior IT Technician and owner if this well run business, but the shop is managed by someone else. I wish I could remember his name, as he's a really lovely guy, ever helpful and pretty jolly with it. Specific IT services include virus and spyware removal, virus protection, data recovery and back-up, onsite laptop repairs, (no home visits), network and wireless installation, as well as the sale of accessories and components. Mustafa: 07501 88 03 03

Much like if you need something for your PC you immediately think 'PC World' GAME is the same and…read moretheir marketers will be pleased. It's this knowledge though that I find GAME excessive in their prices. Owning most of the Gaming monopoly does not bode well for us then. Exchange prices are not great if you are bringing anything in, the RRP are as high as they think they can cheekily get away with. It's not the staffs fault, but more the aggressive sales style that the company are looking for. It makes for an uncomfortable shopping experience as you feel they are forcing inane questions at you in order to make you buy something. Even once you've bought a game they are still asking if you'd like to spend more on controllers etc with lines like "The game is a multiplier game and an extra controller would enhance the gameplay, would you like one' Not word for word, but along those lines. I find it patronising and geared towards people who are not as savvy gaming wise. However the staff are always friendly whenever I've been in there and the bright, spacious shop makes for far easier navigation for the products you need. It's a shame, but I'm always put off with their prices that I generally just go there to browse now.

I find game to be a pleasure to shop at, it is well laid out and easy to get around and extremely…read morewell stocked with the latest titles and a small range of used games. Its staff friendly, and very well informed about new products. Full disclosure, I run my own game shop near by focusing on the older games.

Accessory World shares the same retail outlet space as Student Services, in a prime location where…read moreAlbany Road meets City Road. Occupying a corner unit provides them with two large shop windows, which face the traffic from different directions. This is particularly advantageous at this point, as the traffic lights that serve the junction are always immensely busy, thus providing Accessory World with unmatched visibility. There are a couple of other mobile phone services shops in the immediate area that offer very similar facilities and supply a commensurate range of accessories, but none enjoy the same level as exposure that Accessory World has managed to glean for itself. One of the mobile shops is actually just across the road, but the Adam and Eve Hair and Beauty Salon has managed to claim the corner unit at this side of the street, and so the mobile shop only looks out onto Albany Road. Accessory World offer a full suite of services including; mobile unlocking, mobile accessories for all makes of phone, mobile phone, iPod, PC and laptop repair. They also carry some accessories for laptops and PC's.

COMPLETE SCAM ARTIST. Sean said replacement screen was £50, Which I Paid. However When collecting…read morehe said it cost £90 due to him needing to replace something inside which he made up ( I later checked online) He held my phone hostage and forced me to pay extra £40, because "the work was already done" Furthermore, he said it was original apple screen. IT IS NOT It is a fake, I know this because it broke within days and i took it to apple who confirmed. DONT USE SEAN HE IS A LIAR AND SCAM ARTIST. ps you can even notice the fake reviews below

Microlink supply computers custom built to specifications and provide a unique service for people…read morewith disabilities. They have a delivery service in Cardiff area for free, which is a real plus. They have a range of assisted computer products, such as peripherals i.e. mouses and keyboards for people with special needs. They also cater to students and can upgrade systems. For me there best feature is they are a certified apple repair centre.

Internet Land is not simply an internet café. They are also PC repair centre as well as a mobile…read morephone shop, stocking quite a lot of mobile phone accessories including SIM cards for all providers at £1.99. They also provide a limited range of office services including: faxing, printing, copying and laminating. As well as being able to use the internet to use Skype they also have phone booths for making international phone calls. In addition, they sell phone cards that make the cost of foreign calls a lot more affordable. This is quite a popular internet café, and is my favourite in this area. This is mainly due to the fact that they serve a decent cup of coffee, (Kenco), and their rates are competitive. They are also always open when I need them. Being a small hub of the community they also permit the use of part of their shop window for the advertising of local businesses. They charge as little as £0.50 for this service.