Computer Loft (07-28-17) Today was the second time I made the mistake of entering this House of Snark. Both times I was trying to find a way to read some old 100MB Iomega diskettes. Both times I felt not only unheeded, but talked down to. During my first visit I was told it would cost $100 to put the 10-15 Iomegas on a thumb drive...IF they could be read. I told the Woodstock-era GHKIA (grey-hair know-it-all) that the cassettes worked just fine. I knew that because I'd already transferred them to my current computer. The problem wasn't copying them. It was reading them. They appear as unreadable black files with EXEC on them. Ergo, it'd do me no good if the Loft copied the files to a thumb-drive because I still wouldn't be able to read them. GHIA didn't "grok" that. I left and looked online for workarounds, a way to translate those old files to something my current system could read. No luck. Apparently the only solution is to read them on a Tiger OS computer, then screenshoot each file. Fine. Tedious, but I'm willing to do that. Now...I HAVE a barely-used iBook G4 with the Tiger OS on it. I bought it before Wifi availability, so I mainly used an Apple PowerPC G4 tower (My primary PC now is a Mac Mini running Sierra). Thus, the iBook has seen very little "action." However, when I fired it up a blinking folder with question mark appeared. I didn't know if the problem was with the physical drive or a corrupt OS. I thought maybe Loft could tell me. So I brought it in: my old, but pristine-looking iBook. Could it be made serviceable... at least long enough to read 10-15 cassettes? I tried talking to one guy who barely made eye-contact. He seemed not so much hostile as socially-awkward. Who knows, maybe he's brow-beaten on the job. It wouldn't surprise me. Flummoxed, he went to consult "the expert." That turned out to be...you guessed it... Senor GHKIA! The latter then proceeded to talk to the techie like I didn't exist. Like an arrogant/clueless doctor who speaks to nurses as if patients aren't sitting right there. To wit: no bedside/customer-service-counter manner. Mr. Woodstock then opined that my laptop was more or less "junk." I felt like a parent whose child is called "ugly" by an autistic adult. WTF? Some people should never come within 50 miles of customers. They act like clients exist to serve businesses, not vice versa. I found him both irritating and arrogant. People come to repair stores like penitents to priests. They don't know what's wrong with their machines, just that they contain data that's valuable both monetarily and emotionally. They seek solace, not high-horse hectoring. His "solution" was nonsensical. Again... SAVING data is not the issue. READING it is, files created by an older OS. He kept not "getting" that. I felt I was trying to reach him by using sign language while on Mars. No "capisce" moment ensued. I've used Apple products for, literally, decades. I went to old-school MUGs (Macintosh User Groups) back in-the-day: meet-ups where everyone helped each other. Newbs, in particular, were welcomed, given help, hints, software, and manuals. It was an era of smart AND friendly folks...like "phone phreaks" (google it). I have found current-day Apple stores to have a similar mix of savviness and esprit, filled with staff who are both knowledgeable and pleasant. Certain "grumpy gramps," howsomever, seem to have missed the memo. They prefer smile-free work environments a la Scrooge 2017. SUGGESTIONS: To myself: forget the Loft's futile $70 fee for a procedure I don't need. Instead, buy a functioning used iBook G4 online for $100. Then connect the Iomega USB drive, insert cassettes, and "Screenshots, ahoy!" To the Loft's owner: read Dale Carnegie's classic, "How to Win Friends and Influence People" (free online). Then implement some of its customer-friendly policies. Just like computers aren't just hardware, customers aren't ciphers. Going-concerns that treat people like robots tend not to last long. To Apple users forced to use this store: treat it like you're entering a lion's den. That is, get in and get out. Don't expect much in the way of human interaction. Hopefully such venues will soon be staffed by bots...who'll prolly act warmer. read more

I can't praise this place enough! Like many other people, due to COVID-19 I am completely dependable on my laptop for work and school. So when I opened my laptop one morning to discover the LCD screen was broken (during finals!) I was so upset. With Apple stores temporarily closed along with other places, I had no idea what I was going to do. The Computer Loft showed up as an authorized store and was open! I dropped off my laptop later that afternoon and picked it up a few days later. I couldn't be happier with how quickly they turned it around and they were super nice! read more

Went into this place literally just asking for a copy of macOS and ended up taking about a personal computer science project I was working on with the salesman. He asked me all about what I wanted to do and tried to upsell me some product to help my project - unrelated to what I came in for. He wouldn't stop talking about selling me $150 worth of software. I know this is overpriced and I didn't need it anyway. I kept trying to get back on topic and he avoided my questions. He started to talk down to me and get upset. Eventually he said, "this isn't a library, you can buy [Parralels and pay $150 for labor] or spend $300 [doing it some other way]". The weird part is, I already have parallels and I don't want to spend $100 on it. I didn't want to bring it up because he was getting upset, and it wasn't what I came in for. At some point I realized I was defending myself from this guy. It was a little weird. When I ended up asking him if I could speak to someone who could tell me a little more, he basically asked me to leave. The manager came by and apologized on my way out, saying that is not our policy. Frankly the whole thing was bizarre. This guy must've just been having a really bad day and didn't want to be there. Anyway I ended up making an Apple store appointment at another location and got everything taken care of right away and for free. Even at the Apple Store they were really surprised about what happened. The manager at the Apple store was very nice and took my complaints, she said that they'll actually be investigating this place because the experiences are supposed to be just like the Apple Store. Such a weird place! Don't go! read more

Best service I ever got! The staffs there are really nice, patience and professional. They made my day! Do appreciate their time and help! Feel safe to come even during this Covid-19 situation. read more

The Computer Loft - IT Services & Computer Repair Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

The Computer Loft has long been my go-to place for Apple/Mac repairs, both when under Apple warranty, and when out of warranty. The staff at The Computer Loft are caring, attemtive, and meticulous. Every time I've received a computer back from The Computer Loft, it's been repaired to a state beyond my expectations. For Apple/Mac repairs in Boston, I'd head to one place, The Computer Loft. read more

I have used their services many times. Real professionals. I prefer to go to them for Apple warranty service than the Apple Stores.

I decided to get my scratched iPhone 13 mini screen repaired because they took day-of appointments and they were a certified Apple repair store a 5-10 minute walk down the road for me instead of going to an Apple store that was further away and not available until next day. When I called them, it was 4PM already, two hours before closing and they said they could do the fix by end of day within and hour. When I gave them my phone I was asked to sign an agreement on their POS machine that was tiny and no one ever reads them (TLDR), but I was never asked if I had a recent backup of my phone. Never did I imagine a simple screen replacement would cause any issues... They told me to come back in an hour, I did and I waiting an hour and thirty minutes past their closing time. The new screen they put on was corrupt and caused my phone to restart every 2-3 minutes while in use... They told me if this type of situation happens, then Apple requires them to just send in the problem phone and I get a brand new one. Problem with that is that I did not have a recent backup... I lost two months of data because of them now. They did not get a new phone in for me next day, and were not being responsive through email, so I had to return the to store to get an answer. While there, I was set up with a burner Xr to use until the new phone arrived because my phone was literally unusable. They took my broken phone trying to work on it to see if potentially restoring the older scratched screen would fix the issue. Next day, I get a call that the new phone arrived and I need to come back in to swap the SIM card back in, but they were unable to get my old phone operational and I have officially lost all the data from the last two months... The rep told me he worked on it all day yesterday. He said he was sorry because their store specialize in data recovery, but sorry literally only goes so far. I had a 2m charging cord on hold to purchase from them as well and they had the audacity to ask me if I still wanted it and didn't even offer to comp anything after losing all my data. Sorry was all I got from their employee. Great... I would absolutely not go back here. After all their great reviews online, I left pretty frustrated and disappointed. read more

I always have a good experience at Computer Loft, but today they went above and beyond. Helped me with two issues and told me not to bother with the third because it would cost too much. And then did not charge me for the time today. Wonderful people work there. And my computer works. read more

if you have an apple product do not bother with these people. Took an AppleTv in. Without missing a beat or even plugging it in the tech said that the product needed to be swapped out and could not be fixed. Turns out to be nonsense. The guy simply could not be bothered even though i asked about a restore option. He said there was no such thing. The internet gave me a solution. so i restored the AppleTV by myself - it was quite easy. read more

This is THE place to go for all your Mac needs. They can fix anything and/or hook you up with a new or refurbished mac at a great price. A hidden gem that's worth finding! read more

I was impressed not only with the reviews here but the owner's polite and considered responses to the very few who complained. My issue: making sure after being fooled into giving remote access to my computer to a technician I thought was a Canon tech that my security was restored. It was and quickly done. Nice to know they are nearby! And parking is not an issue, either! read more

My computer had an issue with Google Earth and was completely shutting down. I brought it into The Computer Loft and their whole staff worked with me to fix the issue. They did not have any speciality in google earth but managed to find the root of the problem (the VPN) and get my computer working. I had tried taking it to the Apple store and nobody could fix it before these guys. They were very patient in explaining stuff to me, and very sweet people. 10/10 recommend- I will be going back. read more

They are not geniuses that is for sure, but they are regular down to earth people that do not ride around on high horses or have a chip on their shoulder. Not only that, they are smarter than the hipsters working at the corporate Apple store. I have brought quite a few laptops in here for various repairs. Smashed cases, dead hard drives, keyboards missing keys, you name it I have probably dropped it off here. The turn around is amazing, being without your computer can be tough and they know it. I often get told it will be done in a few days and the next afternoon I get a call saying it is ready. Their prices are fair and they sometimes even have used parts for a better deal to patch up some of the uglier machines I have brought in. Careful when you call, there is a Craig and a Greg, it gets confusing for me and I am sure it gets confusing for them. Stop going to the Apple store and feeling like a 3rd rate citizen. Drop by the loft and get treated the way customers should be treated. read more

If you need to get your Apple stuff fixed, definitely, definitely, definitely go here. I've been here twice, now. Both times they were so fast to get it repaired, ridiculously friendly, polite, and so helpful and knowledgeable. Especially right now when the world is a lot, they were clearly taking precautions to be safe for staff and clients. Cannot recommend them enough! They're excellent. read more

Not only are they Mac geniuses - they will help you get the stuff off any PC and onto a Mac. We have been bringing our Macs to them since 1997. Today they let me futz with files on a dead PC/Compaq and found me multiple versions of software and counter space to try to get data from the !#$@! PC to a Mac. They were never flustered and always patient, (I would have thrown me out at some point) and I was both flustered and impatient and there for hours! 10 stars would be a good start. Simply the best. read more

My SRO# was S-631194 and my laptop still doesn't turn on. I ended up having to purchase a used iMac desktop for $500, which was $100 less than my repair quote from you guys. read more

The Computer Loft - IT Services & Computer Repair Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

I came here because they had 4.5 stars out of 5 on Yelp. Well, whoever didn't give them that 5 should lose their Yelp privileges. They diagnosed two problems in my computer and suggested I needed an upgrade. They gave me a discount on the upgrade and a discount on some software repairs. I left the computer with them. I was in Boston from out of town, so they rushed my job through to get it out in 3 hours when normally it would have been a full day. When I came back, turns out the computer was in much worse shape than they anticipated (not a surprise given how it was performing) and they told me they didn't do the upgrade because I needed a much bigger repair. But they did fix the software issue. I was quoted a $75 price for that when I dropped the computer off. When I picked it up, they didn't bill me for that repair. They couldn't have been nicer, more accommodating or more upfront. They gave me numerous options and you can just tell they really know their stuff. I now need a new computer (not their fault), but if I can find someone in LA who is half as good and nice as these guys, I'll be thrilled. read more

Was recommended by Apple customer service to visit this place to fix my macbook. Great service and good advice on solutions.

My macbook pro had trouble turning on one day and I called a Apple Support Specialist to see if it could be a quick fix. After I got off the phone with them, they recommeded that I bring it to The Computer Loft instead of the actual store. I brought it in and they diagnosed it immediately when I got there without a wait or fee. My logistic board was dying and they guaranteed a flat fee of $350 assuming there was no water damage. They weren't going to charge me at all if it couldn't be fixed either. So I agreed to have it fixed. 1 week later, the computer came back and they replaced the logistic board - and they replaced my hard drive because they said it was dying and because they didn't make my old drive anymore they upgraded it. All at the promised flat fee. They told me they replaced anything that was about to break down on my computer so it came back practically new. They were fast, super nice and reasonably priced. I would highly recommend them than going to the Genius Bar. read more

I came to the computer loft to diagnose (and hopefully repair) my failing early 2011 MacBook. While The Computer Loft team was not able to repair my computer (due to Apple discontinuing parts), they were extremely courteous and professional in how they helped me. I walked away knowing that if I ever have any other computer problems that require repair - The Computer Loft is the first place I'm going. Before coming to The Computer Loft, I had gone to Micro Center and had quite a poor customer service experience. I found it worth the wait and extra trip to get great service at a good price here! read more

I had a problem with the screen on my old 2008 macbook. I took it in to Apple, who said it was an inverter cable that needed to be replaced, and it shouldn't take more then 3-4 days. Of course, Apple took a week, and for a student who relies heavily on their computer, that's a long time! Anywho I happily picked it up from Apple, and went home. When I got home, surprisee! the screen wasn't fixed. After dealing with Apple support over the phone (They tried to charge me $50 to talk to someone!), I decided, screw it, I'm going to the Computer Loft The inside is super cool, you would never expect it when you are walking down the street in which they're located. Anyways I explained the problem, and the guy told me no prob, they'll take a look and let me know. The next day, he called me telling me it was ready- Apple didn't screw in the cord all the way, and that's why I was still having problems. I definitely recommend this place- they are fast and friendly, and they get the diagnoses and repairs done FAST. Plus they are close to my apt :) I only wish they were open on the weekends too. read more

This is probably the most helpful computer repair place i've ever encountered. After my trusty computer had a melt down i brought it to the computer loft. They were entirely honest and told me that it was a logic board failure and that the estimated costs of fixing the computer would be so high that it wasn't even worth having it repaired by them. I was very grateful that instead of trying to take my money, they gave me honest advice to just buy a new computer from either them or elsewhere. Upon getting my new computer I once again was having issues transferring my old files to my new computer. The old computer would not stay on long enough to do a basic start up in firewire mode, so i was going to have to remove the harddrive and put it into an external (from an ibook g4 it is nearly impossible to get out of the case). So, i went over to the computer loft and they actually removed the harddrive for me FOR FREE. This is not a small task and something i was very willing to pay them to do. Their externals were highly priced so i personally did that part on my own (however they DO offer this service). They gave my computer back to me in pieces, so that I would still retain all the parts. This is now my favorite repair shop, they are honest and are not out to swindle you. Which is very rare today when we have things like best buy's geek squad or even apple computer care itself which charges you just to make a phone call if you don't have apple care. read more

Outstanding job!The best around!Guys have gold hands and list price around! I had to replace top case cuz of the liquid damage.went to several repair shops and all told me no less than 400$ and maybe logic board replace (another 600$).These guys repair it for under 300$ and the quality of work is unbeleavable!The best mac repair shop around!Highly Recomend! read more

So like a bunch of people in this section, I spilled water on my Macbook. Lovely. I took it to the Apple store and they told me it would take $700+ to fix. Yikes. So I looked around my area and found an Apple authorized repair shop and saw the Computer Loft had pretty good reviews. So there I went. I don't understand why people keep on calling them kind- they are professional and efficient, but in my opinion, nothing more than that. Anyway, so basically, they told me the superdrive was the only thing damaged. Being the computer noob I am, I thought this would solve my keyboard issues. (No common sense.) So I said go ahead with the repair, only to find out an hour later from receiving my Macbook that I still had keyboard issues. So I went back and they fixed it for me for free- instead I got my broken superdrive back, which for me was no problem. Anyhow, two days later, I have my Macbook back- hurrah! They did the job- and quickly too -although I wish they had figured out what was wrong earlier. That's why I had to knock off a star. read more

The manager is by far the rudest piece of shit I have ever met in my entire life. Zero customer service skills. Lied about the price over the phone! Just wow! DO NOT GO HERE BEWARE! read more

I work for one of the Colleges/Non-Profits in Boston, and have taken many Macs in for repair over the years for warranty and non-warranty work. I also take my own hardware and side work repairs there. They will always take a look and get you an estimate for free (they don't charge a bench charge like many shops). This lets you decide if you'd like to go for it and get more years of service out of your beloved Mac, or time to let rest in peace. They are an Apple Authorized shop, so they can officially do warranty repairs, and their parts come from Apple. Bob W read more

I received today, and am typing on now, my previously milk-damaged macbook pro, in like-new condition and with the memory and data restored completely , all the way down to my "restore session" on firefox. I spilled, like an idiot, about a half cup of milk onto my laptop. Though I flipped it over immediately and unplugged it, I knew that there was little to no hope for it, especially after reading other experiences with milk and other liquid damage. To make it worse, applecare doesn't cover consumer damage, and apple doesn't do data recovery. My computer had so much on it, and I was terrified. In my extensive research on the topic, I came across the computer loft.. with great reviews for data recovery and dealing with liquid damage through apple and at the shop. Which was what I needed. So I sent it in. They were fast in assessing the damage, informative and clear when talking to us. They performed data recovery to save everything, and sent and received it from apple in record time, then restored everything (all my data) back onto the computer and sent it back- all within a week. I now have a like-new computer for less then 800 dollars when I expected at least 1k or even having to replace the computer completely ($1600) They were great. Definitely a fan. read more

This place is great! After back and forth with many apple support I found my way here to get it backed up before apple was going to wipe everything and try reinstalling my OS. I was pretty dismayed and was wondering if this was the end of my four year old laptop. Instead, the computer loft immediately figured out the problem and got the part replaced (hardware wire) in less than a day! So pleased. As for some reviews that have discussed an employee here being curt/patronizing, I disagree. I'm unsure of their name but the gentlemen I worked with gave it to me straight. While other people may find this off-putting, I appreciated it immensely after days of sweet but not quite as useful Genius Bar employees. He told me what was wrong and why file vault shouldn't be used on my computer. He's straight to the point- but still very informative. The day after I met the owner when I came in to pick up my computer and he is very sweet and helpful as well. I will definitely be sending all my friends here if they experience Mac trouble! Thank you SO much. read more

I don't take my Apple biz anywhere else; friendly, professional, expedient, trustworthy, what more could one ask? Parking is tricky... read more

Ryan paid close attn to my needs and got me into a new laptop for a great price quickly

Recommended to me by Apple Store when my Mac Book got too old for them to fix. VERY competent and also honest. Fair on pricing. Parking is tough though. You will have to leave the computer which means parking twice but the people are expert and honest. read more

I came here under the recommendation of my roommate, who also had a problem with her macbook pro no longer powering on. Apple told her she had to pay $800 to have her logic board replaced, so she went to TCL for a second opinion. They fixed her computer problem for less than $40, since it turned out to be a problem with her software instead of the logic board as the genius bar had incorrectly diagnosed. She said the associates were very understanding and kind and told me I should have them take a look at my macbook too, before shelling out an exorbitant $800. This afternoon, I came with high hopes of having my logic board repaired without having to pay the $800. Apple said the logic board was damaged from corrosion and the only thing they could do was replace it. The associate who helped me at The Computer Loft unscrewed the bottom of my macbook and patiently showed me where the logic board had corroded, and explained that it was beyond repair. He was so honest and undemanding during the whole ordeal, it made the harsh news a lot easier to bear. He didn't try to charge me extra for "potential fixes". Everything was done with extreme care, even though there was no guarantee that I would purchase anything from the shop. He took my external drive out, and carefully placed it in a baggie in case I wanted to have the data from my mac recovered. He was so nice and sympathetic, it really made my day. If I ever have any problems in the future with my mac, there's no doubt I'll be coming here! read more

I've been to the computer loft a few times now and every experiences has exceeded my expectations. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly. Their service is great, and in my experience extremely fast. I sold my old macbook pro, and simultaneously purchased a new macbook air from them last year. The price the gave me for my old computer was much more comparable to what I could get selling it on my own than what I saw at other trade-in locations. They also set up my new computer with all of my setting and transferred my data, which made the whole experience 100 times more pleasant than doing it on my own. I recently spilt on that macbook air, and the lovely people at the computer loft were about to complete the repair within one business day! (friday afternoon drop off to monday afternoon pick up) They helped make an unpleasant situation much more manageable with their great service. I would recommend the computer loft to anyone and everyone. read more

From the outside, this place looks like it could possibly be the shadiest place you would ever take your computer. From the inside, it looks like the brain trust of the worlds most experienced Mac users. I took my 6 year old ibook G3 in because it had just ceased to do anything productive. When I walked in, I was immediately helped. The guy took my computer, hooked it up and immediately diagnosed the problem. I needed a new graphics card - which would cost $700 and they don't make anymore anyway. He explained what caused the problem in terms that I understood and reassured me that all my data was safe. I was in and out of there within 5 minutes at no cost. As a Mac user, it is difficult to find a place that will actually work on my computer and not charge an arm and a leg. Going in to some place like Best Buy or CompUSA is useless because they usually only have 1 Mac guy who works part time. If I have any issues with my new Mac, I will most definately take it here. I could not recommend them enough based on my 5 minute exchange. Had their inventory of used Macs been more to my liking, I would have seriously considdered buying a used computer from them as well. read more

I wanted them to replace my HD in a 2017 iMac. It works but the drive is not SSD so it slows. My machine has a 1mm dent at the top edge 3 inches from the right top Corner. I was told around $300 on the phone. In person they said the would have to replace the case because the tech wouldn't be able to get the wires back because of the dent. That was a bold face lie. The screen has two connection to the right of center 2/3rd of the way up and is held on w glue. The hard drive is in the lower right corner. Neither remotely connected to the dent. The glue is in place at the dent. He said it would have been worth it if not for the dent. Quoted me $789. Then tried to sell me a new one instead for $1200. I was told by a competitor that does not work On my particular model that they were good "but you got to watch these guys". I guess that is true. If I did not know the process of putting in a hard drive I would have believed them and walked with another machine. I hate a liar. read more

I have used Computer Loft many times. This time I brought my son's MacBook Pro in for a screen repair. The screen needed to be replaced and the work was diagnosed and completed with 48 hours. Moreover they looked up the records and notice we purchase the extend warranty so it was covered - to my surprise. Courteous, fast, efficient, and clear explanations. Will be a many time repeated customer. read more

Everyone who works here is a god or goddess. I am here to say I had a very sad computer failure and bypassed the Genius Bar to go straight back to my pals at the Computer Loft. They did not disappoint. They spent some time checking things out, and delivered the bad news to me in a gentle way. They didn't charge me a penny, and I suspect they would have been just as pleasant had I walked out the door to buy a new laptop at the Apple Store. But no! I am smarter and kinder than that. I did buy my new laptop from them, and they transferred all of my info for me painlessly, and even somehow scraped off my big peace sign sticker so I could apply it to the new machine. I am telling you, the Computer Loft can make you SO HAPPY. Try them, you won't regret it. read more

Don't bother going to these guys, they are not helpful at all and super rude. I needed Software help and they told me to do it myself without even listening to the problem. I called Apple directly and they are going to help me and we're shocked at what was said to me by this place. Just go directly to Apple if you need anything. read more

I can't say enough good things about The Computer Loft. My Macbook Pro mysteriously stopped turning on at just about the worst time ever. It was going to be three days before I could even get an appointment at the Genius Bar at the Apple Store, and while I got in to see the Geek Squad at Best Buy the same day, they said they would need to send it off for possibly two weeks. That wasn't an option, so I searched on Yelp to find the best place to take in my Mac. The next morning, Tess at The Computer Loft was awesome. She quickly and simply explained what could possibly be wrong with my computer. She noted what would be the easiest/simplest fix and what would be the most complicated/expensive. She said it could be about a week to fix in-house, but that they may have to send it out to Apple, worst case scenario. I hoped that it was the simpler/cheaper/quicker fix. She was courteous and helpful and made a stressful scenario much better. My computer was all fixed in less than 48 hours. It ended up being the simpler fix, and my wallet got out relatively unscathed. ALSO - my data was totally backed up. I couldn't have been happier with the quick and friendly service and will absolutely take my computer back any other time I may have problems. Thanks so much, Computer Loft! read more

Great service! I brought my MacBook Pro here for the keyboard recall program. I had never been anywhere other than an Apple store for hardware repair, but was convinced to get The Computer Loft because I needed a same day appointment (none were available at the Apple store) and only this placed showed up. I checked Yelp and saw so many good reviews, so I gave it a shot. I was extremely pleased with the results! The owner of The Computer Loft was so helpful and friendly and gave me an accurate estimate of when I would get my computer back. Apple wanted to take my laptop for a week or more, while The Computer Loft had it back to me in a few days. I will definitely be coming here first, over the Apple store, in the future! read more