I'd always been afraid to stop in and use their internet cafe. The idea of working in an Apple repair place intimidated me a bit. But when the latch on my laptop busted, I finally stopped in. I opted to drop in here instead of making an appointment or waiting on line at the Apple Store. (I'd already stumped the Genius Bar with a problem with my iPod Touch, so I wasn't eager to wait in line for a dead end again.) There was no wait. I explained my problem, paid the $30 bench fee, and was told I'd get a call from a tech in one or two business days. Got a call the next day, explaining that they'd fixed the problem quickly and that my computer was ready for pickup! No additional fee, no long wait time. Sure, my issue was a simple one. But at other places, it might have sat on a shelf for a while before anyone had time to look at it. I'm completely satisfied with quick turnaround and courteous service. Wish I'd used the internet cafe now... read more

Often I'll dip out from tiresome shopping by plugging into this portal to the metaverse on Newbury Street. They have a free wi-fi network that also covers Sonsie, BAC, Trident and a few others. If you didn't bring your compie along, they've got half a dozen Macs to play around on. The small, light blue space is somehow airy and comfortable. They have a few beverages, but are no cafe by any means. I speculate that being an authorized Apple repair center actually pays the bills and the other stuff is just to have the distraction of people and have some sort of human contact. They also sell basic Mac accessories. Can't say much about their repairs, but the staff that I've interacted with are pleasant college kids who play non-offensive music, so work can be done. By the time you reach this end of Newbury it's a nice respite from the heat and weariness and an easy alternative to my couch-cum-office. read more

I love this place. I sent my old power book there to install Air Port that Apple Store had refused to do. They had more parts than Apple Store, and did a great job on my power book. My 10-year-old power book B4 is still working very well now. They also have a nice internet cafe. It's free if you bring in your own laptop. I used their internet cafe when I lived in an apartment near by. It was more convenient than Starbucks free wi-fi. They never rush me and always make me feel comfortable staying there. read more

I walked into Tech Superpowers the other week with an Apple eMate 300, an ancient Apple relic that most of you don't remember because it was from before Apple was popular. Oh, snap. I had just been turned away at the Apple Store asking to borrow a Apple proprietary screw driver so I could replace the battery. Only one person at the store actually recognized what the darn thing was. But they refused to help me at all with it. AT ALL. Two minutes later I'm at Tech Superpowers where a nice gentleman is happily playing with my eMate and reminiscing. I tell him of needing to replace the battery and of the proprietary screws. He goes into the back and comes out a minute later and GIVES ME THE EXACT SCREWDRIVER I NEED TO KEEP. FREE. FOREVER. MINE. That's customer service. Supporting products not even the company who made it still supports. In the past I've brought every Mac I've owned here for repairs and they have always treated me right. Great, friendly service and fast turn-around. What more can you ask for? Let us compare the Apple Store around the corner to Tech Superpowers: -No line to talk to someone who actually knows stuff -No need to make a reservation to ask a question (or pay $99/yr to skip the line) -No salespeople to stalk you like your some kind of techno-idiotic gazelle -Will answer all of your questions and concerns about service/repairs/products -ALL repairs are done in-house resulting in much shorter repair times than at the Apple Store -Accepts your AppleCare warranty just like the Apple Store -Cheaper repair estimates than the Apple Store on out-of-warranty items -Tech Superpowers has a long history of awesome and was impetus for the first public neighborhood WiFi network in America (NewburyOpen.net) Sure, a visit to the Apple Store makes a nice trip and a great place to check your Facebook. But when trouble strikes, don't even bother with the Geniuses. Bring it straight to the people at Tech Superpowers. They'll help you right away and have the time to answer all your questions and concerns. read more

After threatening the life of an Apple technician over the phone, my last option was to try Tech Superpowers to try to save my laptop. I was one of the few who got a lemon of a computer from Apple, and their actual technicians refused to help me (even with AppleCare.) In tears, I brought my laptop here freshman year of college, and they were SO helpful. I couldn't ask for more sympathetic, willing-to-help people. They sat me down, waited for the problem to occur that I swore I was having (a whirring sound, that only started after being on for about an hour), told me they'd fix it or get me a new computer pronto, and that's it. One trip here, and I was all fixed. Love. I recommend them to anyone who's having trouble with their laptop. read more

This review is about DATA RECOVERY and awesome business practices. If you need data recovered the place servicing the device has you by the short and curlies and charges a mint because they know this. Tech Superpowers knows this but was still super reasonable about everything. And they didn't have the attitudes that you get when you're dealing with some one with superior knowledge about a subject. The pleasant lack of d-baggery in their attitude carries over to their prices because those were modest as well. Basically, I didn't like what the Apple Store told me my options were for a macbook with a failed hard drive so I did a little digging. I came across Tech Superpowers and called... DATA RECOVERY is a $49 non-refundable deposit and they diagnose things and make sure they can actually get the data then if you approve recovery its another $300. SWEET! This was my last price quote and I'm sooo glad I kept hunting. Before I talked to them the lowest was quote $1200 (highest was $1700 in Cambridge). I brought the macbook in (on a Wednesday) and right off they explained the data recovery AND my options for replacing the damaged drive, pricing, if it would be worth it in the long run (it would've been). They were waaay cheaper on parts and labor than Apple. Like $200 cheaper, for a bigger drive. Then the guy was like, "oh the case is cracked, that's a known issue, we can probably replace that for free if you go ahead and decide to repair this macbook." SWEET! Thursday I get a call saying that it was actually a software problem and that it's be $50 to fix it. Nothing wrong with the hard drive, no recovery needed. SWEET! I approved the software repair and the replacement case. Friday it's ready for pick up and good as new! All my programs and files are intact! Everyone I dealt with was amazing. Idk the guy's name who did the processing when I dropped it off and picked it up. Or the guy's name who took messages when I called. But I do know Kevin did the work because he left me so many voicemails to keep me updated. ***It's kinda tricky to find.. there's no sign. Just a 29 thats camouflaged into a door that leads to Boston Living Center it something abbreviated BLC. There's no sign for that either. You just walk in the 29 door and your in BLC's lobby. Get in the elevator and head to the 4th floor. read more

The upgrade that I mentioned in my original, September 2010, Yelp review finally appeared to develop issues. I contacted TSuperP about the problem; AppleCare had just ended so they told me how to help them complete a diagnosis for free. The upgraded hardware that was found to be at fault was guaranteed at the time of sale. Even this many years later, TechSP replaced the parts quickly and at absolutely no expense to me; my 3.5 year old Mac is working perfectly again. In my earlier review, I flagged the automobile-unfriendly previous Newbury St location. I was able to complete the recent hardware diagnosis and returns over the phone and using UPS, so that I haven't tried their Stanhope St address; be aware that my reservations may no longer apply. I would guess that advance discussion with TSP as you arrange any visit for repairs would net solid travel suggestions. In a review that I wrote for a different location, I mention that I personally rate product costs at this location as 'moderate', although the consensus is the lower 'inexpensive' rating. I think 'inexpensive' could describe upgrade and repair costs here, but my summary there still turns out to be correct for purchases in my opinion: I've found that upfront costs here, as for other certified Apple suppliers, are at the higher 'moderate' or even greater level, but factoring in afterSale service means that lifetime costs of purchases here have been, in the long run, far lower than those of competing nonApple products. read more

When you're on vacation without internet and you need to purchase Greyhound tickets or print out your JetBlue boarding pass, this is your savior. It's a small little cafe with about seven or eight computers all wired up to the internet and a printer. The space is quite comfortable and not at all like other internet cafes you may encounter while traveling. That's probably because this place doubles as a mini-Mac store. (Meaning, the sell a limited amount of Mac products, not that they only sell Mac-minis.) So if you really want an iPod nano, here you go. They also repair Macs. Note: All the computers in here are Macs. So if you are like the computer-fearing-PC-using dad who sat next to me, don't hesistate to ask the person behind the counter to help you out. But really, Mac's aren't that different from PCs. Don't be overwhelmed by the fancy packaging. Just find the menu bar (below or on the side) and look for familiar icons (IE or Firefox). See, it's not so bad. I can't help being computer elitist (ie NERD!). My father was a Wang Computer employee way back in the day. read more

This is my first YELP post ever, but I just felt that that phenomenal service I received from Tech Superpowers had to be posted! I recently purchased a Mac Book Pro (my first Mac ever) from Tech Superpowers. The friendly and knowledgeable staff walked me through all of my options to help me decide on which Mac best met my needs. What I most appreciated was the "non-salesman" approach I received at the store, which you tend to get at the large corporate stores. There was no pressure, no gimmicks, and no pushing me to products I don't need or that were out of my price range. It was a great pressure free experience that I highly recommend for any want-to-be Mac convert! read more

My logic board crashed on my mac book pro, and since my computer is a few years old and I no longer had apple care - the cost was going to be around 300$ (even if it couldn't be fixed). They referred me to Tech Super Powers as a secondary option. Luckily I decided to visit them! I had the cutest and most helpful guy help me. He was so positive and enthusastic, my anxiety and paniac just disapeared and I felt so relieved. Even though in the back of my head I knew that it might not work out that way in the end, these computer things are always more complicated than they seem. The logic baord crashing basically meant that I would have lost EVERYTHING on my computer, and unfortunately I hadn't done a back up in a few months. This would have been a terrible terrible thing since alot of my personal, academic and professional work was on that computer. When I did pick up my computer it was in amazing condition and worked better than it did before! The guy backed everything up on a hard drive for me first just in case things didn't work out with the logic board, I dont know how he did that, but I really appreciated him thinking about that just in case! ALSO - They didn't charge me! They said it fell under a known issue? Some sort of qaulity program they offer! I couldn't BELIEVE IT! I was sooo happy I almost smooched the guy at the counter! I really recommend their services and have recommended them to friends, all whom have been very happy! Tech Super Powers is a great resource! Thanks! Mika read more

This shop has no rival, no competitor, not even a neighbor of the vaguest comparison. For story, read below: When my beloved 2008 Macbook Pro conked out in the middle of finals week last May I was ready to cry. Her display was all black but I could still hear faint signs of life through her worn aluminum sides. So I brought my old friend to the Apple store on Newbury St--only to find that my online appt somehow disappeared. I sat down and waited ages to get her looked at. The technician, a nice enough fellow, told me the logic board had malfunctioned, and that sending it to Apple 'Factory Land' would cost something like $500--and I would lose all my data. Then he pointed me towards the stands housing the new macbooks. I walked out in a daze, turned the block and caught a glimpse of an Apple logo. Enter our savior: Tech Superpowers I walked in, explained my issue and was pleasantly surprised. My laptop possibly fell under a known problem with the nvidia video chip and might warrant free repair. I left it there overnight, got confirmation on the recall, brought in a drive the next day for a quick back up and voila! I had my computer back within a few days. It was fully functional AND got a serious 4 yr checkup including a new optical drive, logic board, etc. I couldn't have been happier. Total cost fell under a hundred dollars, I think. These guys combine a unique passion and curiosity for the Apple product with an unmatched skill for safe and speedy execution. With the wrong diagnosis I would have spent months recovering, financially speaking. But you guys really saved the day! special thanks to Graham (or Wes?) and Paulo who handled my computer and I will see you for my next machine! read more

Problem w/ my imac about 2 yrs ago regarding a fail hard drive, end up spending about 700ish on new one plus an external hard drive ..top of the line shit ugh!!!!!! Now my suppose top of line hard drive fail and should be covered under 3yrs none of my appt was update d correctly ... where does $179 come from if its covered for a new one? oh labor? fail! yup as piss off -i got it fix on top of another $50 just to know it was the hard drive fail .. pick it up and later that night the dame optical drive fail!!!!!! no cd intake no nothing- now call to address the issue "oh it can go anytime" what? so your saying it broke from the time i picked it up and place it on my desk.. i'm over it $139 at cost originally between $250 $300 for something that was working fine.. what to do? feel like i shouldn't have to pay for something that was working fine! Thanks to Paul - I got refunded $129 plus they fix my optical drive at no cost... Yelp does help!! 2 extra stars to Paul!! A bit of a hassel and stress i'm over it! read more

Thanks for the FREE wi-fi, take your time because it's free and you will not be rushed! Relax on a small, but curvy-cool couch or set-up at the counter by the back wall. Clean space with nice computers. You can purchase increments of 15mins or 1hr packages. They also offer printing services and candies & sodas are available for sale. Friendly greeting when you walk down the stairs off Newbury Street into this charming Internet cafe. THANKS!! read more

The genius bar @ apple told me that my logic board had corroded, and I would need to get my logicboard replaced. She recommended I go to Tech Superpowers for a second opinion, which was right down the street in Boylston. When I got here, the technician was really rude and insensitive the whole time I was explaining what I needed fixed. If you hate your job, quit it. Don't stand behind the counter scowling at customers and exacerbating their bad day. What kind of an unfeeling guy tells you that it'll cost $900 for you to get your laptop working again with an accusatory attitude? My friend came in with a similar problem and she can attest that this same associate nearly drove her to tears. Fortunately, she later found out from a different repair shop (The Computer Loft) that the guy at Tech Superpowers was wrong about what she needed fixed. It was a software problem, not a logicboard problem. That's an eight hundred dollar difference... Anyways, if you have any computer problems, you should consider checking out The Computer Loft in Alston. The associates there are infinitely more professional. Also, they have great extended apple care warranties that you might qualify for. read more

AMAZING SERVICE!! AWESOME EXPERIENCE!!! RECOMMEND 100%!!! I went to Tech Superpowers for data recovery, after going to the Apple store where they told me there was nothing they could do for me but send the computer to get new internal parts at a cost of $800+tax, which did not include data recovery. Apple did not care about what the actual problem was, (certain keys in the keyboard were not working) if it had anything to due with water the gave the same solution. At Tech Superpowers, Kevin actually heard what happened to the computer, and gave me a much better understanding of what could have happened internally due to the water damage. He gave me more options that would depend on an analysis he was willing to make, Apple was not, to see what was the problem and how it could be fixed. Tech Superpowers charged me HALF $$ what the Apple store was going to charge me, & the computer was fixed by the NEXT DAY! Kevin was a total life saver! Super understanding & helpful!!! THANK YOU TECH SUPERPOWERS FOR ALL YOUR HELP!!!! read more

Let's play "Hypothetical Situation": Let's say a person, we'll call him "John" for the sake of our example, suddenly realizes around 4 in the afternoon that he needs to have something printed out quickly by 6:30 PM. Nothing really that big (actually, just a sign-in sheet). However, he doesn't own a printer, and isn't at work, so he can't just print out the sign-in sheet. Enter Tech Superpowers. John calls, gets through to someone, confirms that they have a printer, and is then able to rush over and print. Crisis averted :). In the age of more prevalent PCs and printers, Tech Superpowers is kind of an anomaly: A remnant of the days when internet cafes offered access into a world wide web. While the laptop has made a place like Tech Superpowers a little bit of an anachronism, it still has a useful purpose: if you're out and need to get quick access to the web, it's there. And the prices aren't terrible ($3 for 15 minutes). The printing price isn't terrible, but if you're looking to do major print jobs, something like Staples is much better. They also have repair services, which I can't speak to, but I thought I would mention. Overall, it's a nice little place on Newbury that has needed computer access, and at a non-bad price for those people who don't have their lappy with them. read more

I've had some good, but many bad experiences with Tech Superpowers. My laptop died due to water damage, and the Apple store was too crowded, so I went around the corner to Tech Superpowers where I was greeted by a friendly and knowledgeable representative. Unfortunately, it went downhill from there. They stuck to the time frame they quoted me, but I was charged three times what they said I would be without warning or explanation at the end. Not only that, but when interacting with one of the men behind the counter, I was treated really rudely on multiple occasions -he was uncommunicative, uninformative and unhelpful. I would say I understand computers better than the average person, and yet this representative only ever gave me vague and useless information, even when I asked for clarification. They got my data, yes, but it wasn't worth five trips to the store and three times what they said it would cost. I could have put my laptop into a bag of rice for a few days and run tests on my own, sparing myself the aggravation. read more

My first time using tech superpowers. They fixed my computer so quickly I did not even have time to take my coat off. The price was great and the tech person was very knowledgable. Best of all he gave me some great advice that will help me avoid problems in the future with my vintage mac book pro. The new office space needs some work, it was not clear if I was actually in the right place. But luckily, I was not there long enough for it to matter. I would definitely use them again. Suzanne M. read more

The Best!! Broad knowledge, high customer service, and desire to understand your business needs. read more

Mac users, rejoice...this little tiny service center may be a little standoffish (too much coffee and computer-screen staring), BUT all your service needs are inexpensive. They also make checking your warranty super-easy. plus they have a little mac internet cafe, so you can check your email while you wait. or you can take off and go shopping on newbury street. I only have a mac and used them for its service, so i only know about that...definitely check them out for pc's and other services too... read more

When Apple suggested I bring my vintage MacBook Pro circa 2006 to Tech Superpowers for repair, I didn't have much hope for my laptop. The reason for my laptop not starting was originally thought to be due to a dead fan (which was no longer being made by Apple). 2 hours after I dropped it off at TS, they called to tell me that they found a software glitch that was the main problem and resuscitated my laptop! I was able to pick it up the same day! I will definitely go back to TS if I have another problem with my laptop - they were thorough, fast and affordable. read more

Tech Superpowers has been my ISP for eight years. Amazing support and talented people make these guys the best. Computer repair to hosting my site they are on top all the time. read more

The LCD screen on my Macbook Pro 13inch Unibody was, for some strange reason, was non-responsive. The idea to go to the Apple store at Boylston Street to get it repaired, scared the s*** out of me because of the ridiculous prices to repair a laptop. I had a friend of mine who had the same issue and "some guy in a tight blue apple shirt with a badge told me it was gonna cost $1000" (her words not mine) So I decided to look for an Authorized Apple Service Providers in Boston that could fix my screen. They were nearest were these guys. As I told them what the issue was with my laptop I was told to pay $49 "to see what the problem is or if there are other issues". This is the only problem that I have with them. I feel that paying $49 for just checking and calling (or emailing you) to report what the issue is, is a bit too expensive. Maybe $25-$30 is reasonable. But $50 way too much. After getting the phone call and confirming that it was indeed that the LCD screen was indeed the problem, they wanted my authorization to go ahead and order the part. $399 for a new Apple Glossy Display (Geezzus Apple!!!) plus $50 labor. Within 2 business days my laptop got fixed. For all under $500. If you need your Macbook, Mac Pro or any Apple product of yours to fixed fast and if you don't mind paying $50 (ouch!!) for a dialogistic report. Then this is place to bring it in. Yeah there is a cyber cafe here but I didn't get a chance to use their services...sorry :( read more

Extremely helpful and very knowledgeable staff, lovely place. Would definitely recommend to anyone, and will definitely come here in the future! read more

I was able to resolve some of my frustrations with an assistant manager the next day and received a refund equal to the student discount. I found management to be helpful and responsive--the manager says that they have made several changes including posting the student discount on their website and making sure to offer it in the store. I'm very pleased with the work they did on my computer and trust that future customers will find transparent pricing and a better overall experience. read more

I had a 10 year old 17" Mac Powerbook (i've moved on to a Mac Book Pro) so with little resale value, I decided to donate it to a non-profit dance company. Only problem was the power source had gone bad. After ordering a replacement part online that did not work, I called Kevin at Tech Superpower, and he located one that looked like it would work in their spare parts bin. I went over to Tech Superpower, tried it out, and when it worked, he "donated" it to the cause. Thanks--always great to buy locally! read more

I had the BEST experience at Tech Superpowers with Kevin. I spilled water on my Mac, had to buy a new one, and needed to get the docs from my old comp to my new comp. I was in a total panic as I am in the midst of studying for the state bar exam and potentially lost all the work I had done this summer! I ran to Tech Superpowers at the recommendation of the Apple Store. The guys working there were super friendly and very calming. Kevin opened up my computer and right in front of my eyes recovered all my documents in a matter of minutes. He didn't even bat an eye when I squealed and clapped my hands! I knew that a service like this costs minimum $100 and can be up to a few hundred bucks, but Kevin did it in 5 minutes FOR FREE! I then bought an enclosure for the hard drive he recovered from him. Not only do these guys know what they are doing, they are nice and won't take your wallet for a ride. I would recommend them to anyone. read more

Friendly guys, hooked me up with an EDS bag for shipping a failed after market hard drive back under warranty. Had already bought a new Mac, was overdue anyway, but definitely heading to these guys for next problem I have! read more

Super friendly, defused all of my computer terror and helped me out of a jam without any attitude. I would absolutely use these folks again!

I just want to comment about the excellent customer service I got at Tech Superpowers. I had some (unsolvable) problems with my macbook, but they were able to get all my data in a timely manner. But before you go, please keep in mind that these guys deal with dozens of cases each week and EVERYONE who walks through that door has some "major issue" with their laptop so please don't give these guys a hard time/ attitude just because you are stressed about your Mac not working. They are there to HELP you and they do a thorough job and try their best to handle your case with care. I really appreciated that the person who handled my case kept me the loop of what was going on the whole time and was realistic about what could/ couldn't be done. And they didn't charge me extra to get ALL the data/pics/ music off my hard drive, but simply added $40 to the initial 49 dollar upfront fee, which is a good deal because most places will charge you more dep on how many gigs you want to save... I mean in comparison to the Apple store where the sales ppl are super aggressive and at genius bar, they were kind of rude and pessimistic AND I didnt even get my laptop fixed; I can honestly say I had a great experience withTS so DEF go there if you have problems with your mac. read more

henry is gone and so are the stars. we miss you henry, really miss you. the genius, at the genius bar, wasn't such a genius after all so we called henry. fact is we call henry ALL the time. he talked us off the ledge. he made "screaming d" laugh. you get five stars for this alone. note: henry, add peacemaker to your CV. THANK YOU!! UPDATE: henry to the rescue again! we think that this guy wears a cape. it was all going VERY wrong a few weeks back. henry (calmly and quickly made it all right again) hey tech super p. clone this guy! five more stars. thanks from all of us. KUDOS henry. ***** these stars are for you! we use henry for tech support. he has a cult following around here. very smart, very funny, very good. read more

These guys did an amazing job helping me decide exactly what I needed and making sure I got the best deal possible. I wouldn't go anywhere else! read more

They brought my 2006 MacBook back to life last year and helped me max out the ram on my new Mac mini today... For free! These guys rock.