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Mr. Notebook
Category: Local Services IT Services & Computer Repair IT Services & Computer Repair [Edit]
2401 Rio Grande StAustin, TX 78705
Neighborhoods: West Campus, University of Texas
(512) 474-6060
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 10 am - 6 pm
Sat 11 am - 4 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
36 reviews for Mr. Notebook
36 reviews in English
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Review from Marvin S.
Austin, TX
9/7/2011
I bought a new, larger hard drive for my Dell D430 and could not get it installed correctly or get the computer to recognize the drive when I tried to reinstall the OS. I went to Mr Notebook and Mike immediately noticed that the ribbon was not attached properly to the drive. When I told him that I was then going to take it home and reinstall the OS and then restore my files with Carbonite which would take MANY hours to accomplish, he said that he could reinstall the OS in 15 minutes and clone the old drive and install in an hour. Heck yeah! I left the computer to run errands, came back two hours later and bought a new battery...
Total bill? $176 !! So totally worth it!!
My laptops go to Mr. Notebook from now on, many thanks Mike! -
Review from Sharon S.
Austin, TX
9/5/2011
In June I dropped of my 5 yr old laptop because it was running really slow.
Upon walking into the shop, I second guessed that decision: employees pretty much ignoring customers, papers and equipment stacked up haphazardly. Given the positive reviews, I gave the benefit of the doubt, thinking what the folks there may lack in organization, they make up in actual computer repair skills.
The tech who took my computer said it would be a few days for them to run diagnostic and get back to me. Two weeks and no call, so I picked up the phone. The tech who answered asked me who worked on my laptop. Uh, shouldn't they know that? Then he asked what type of laptop I had. Again, shouldn't they know this stuff? I was put on hold. The tech got back on the phone and said "We can't find your laptop. We think so and so has it, but he's not working today." WHAT? YOU CAN"T FIND MY LAPTOP?? The tech on the phone seemed to not understand my concern but said he would call me back. A full day went by and no call. I called the next day and the tech said, "Oh, yeah, so and so had it with him." At that point I was pretty frustrated. Not once had anyone at Mr. Notebook called me back when they said they would and on top of that, my computer was MIA for a time and no one really cared.
A few more weeks of this sort of ill communication. Then I finally get a call my computer is fixed. Woohoo. The tech who worked on my computer, Skyler, gave me the low-down that a few programs were in conflict. I went home and fired it up only to discover the sound drivers were non-existent. I reluctantly took my computer back to Mr. Notebook the next day. The tech at the front desk, Dylan, took my info and called Skyler to the front. Skyler's response to Dylan telling him the sound drivers weren't working was "whatever." He made no eye contact in my direction, shrugged his shoulders and walked away. That's exactly what customers want to see and hear. Dylan jumped in and said he'd look at my computer personally. He then started searching for my ticket from the previous day. He literally pulled what looked like a trash pile off the floor and was leafing through loose papers. After finding no paperwork on my computer he opened another ticket. One more customer service gold-medal moment.
Over two weeks go by while I'm traveling and no call, no update. I'm disappointed but not surprised. The first day after I get back in town I head to Mr. Notebook asking for my computer. The tech goes to the back and I can see there's lots of scrambling and conversation. At least 10 minutes go by. The tech comes back out and informs me they are still trying to get the drivers loaded. What he said sounded exactly like the same thing I was told before my trip. He asks me to wait a few minutes and he goes to the back again.
Finally, the manager on duty, Mark, gets involved. I recap the situation. Mark is empathetic but also chock full of excuses ... my ticket was lost existed .... Dylan who was last assigned to my computer was on an offsite ... these driver things generally mean a full restore and no one wants to do. Mark does commit to getting my laptop fixed that night and I head home. A few hours later and for the first time ever someone at Mr Notebook calls when they said. My laptop was finally fixed. Almost 3 months after I dropped it off. Two weeks after Mark called to check up. Really nice of him but too little too late. Never again will I go to Mr Notebook.Comment from Dale C. of Mr. Notebook 9/28/2011
Sharon, We appreciate your feedback regarding the… More » -
Review from Globochem L.
Austin, TX
7/9/2011
It's already been over what they estimated my wait time to be. I understand it's just that, an estimation, but I don't understand why they haven't even looked at my computer in over a week. Maybe I'm being naive in hoping it will be faster for them to fix it rather than me pick it up and bring it somewhere else.
I haven't had much need for repair shops in the past but when I have, Laboratory Computers has had a very fast turnaround. I suppose I'm just spoiled.
To their credit, the guy at Mr. Notebook did try to get me right when I was in-store. He was pleasant and helpful, but like someone else mentioned, I should have known something was up when I saw a huge shelf, lined to the brim with laptops. -
Review from Jackie T.
Austin, TX
2/18/2011
I brought my broken laptop here in December. I was told it would be 2 weeks before my computer would be fixed since it was the holidays and people were out of town. Totally understandable. I let two weeks go by without hearing anything. I gave them a couple more days, then I called to ask about my computer. They said they'd be getting to it in a couple of days and I should be hearing from them soon. I let another week go by and still no word from Mr. Notebook.
At this point I was so frustrated that I drove over there to demand my computer so I could take it to Fry's instead. The guy at the counter showed me my laptop on a shelf filled with at least a hundred other computers. A sticker on the side with my name on it had been highlighted. "This means you've called us about it and we'll be getting to it soon, so are you sure you want to take it now? It'll probably be just another day or two...". Um, no. It had been over THREE WEEKS and you initially told me I'd have it back in two. You haven't even looked at it yet! And I call asking about it, so you highlight a sticker instead of actually looking at the thing? Great business strategy there...
I should have known from my initial impression of the place that they weren't going to meet my expectations. The place is filthy. As in strewn papers and garbage on the floor. A big copy machine skewed at an angle in the middle of the room. Piles of laptops, piles of laptop carrying cases. And you can see through a window into their back store room and it's just madness. I don't know how anyone who runs a business could function in such chaos. Clearly, they're not doing it right. And yeah, I agree with another poster who said that a bunch of the people that work there looked high. Whatever, I'm a stoner too, but not at work. -
Review from Steve C.
Austin, TX
5/2/2011
I've had MANY business interactions with Mr. Notebook on 24th Street over the past 7+ years. I purchased a laptop from them and I've had at least 3 others services there over the years. Most recently I spilt water on my keyboard and took it in. They were able to clean it up and salvage it for me. I had it back the next day, gladly paying the express service fee.
If you have a unit not worth repairing, they'll tell you. They won't try to up-sell you or oversell you. They'll advise you against spending too much on an old machine. You basically get the straight poop on whatever it is you're asking about, and they know what their doing. In short, they provide you with the information about the repair, and you can make the decision.
That's good service. -
Review from R. C.
Austin, TX
8/9/2011
The staff are very, very nice. That's about the best I can do.
There's a surprising dearth of decent computer repair placesin Austin, for such a tech-heavy town, and for laptops with hardware issues, this seemed to be the best bet. I was a little alarmed by the condition of the shop, because the neatness level often says a lot about the way a place is run. The front of the shop is piled high with boxes and computer bags, inexplicably jammed into a huge rack by the door. The back area has a door that really should be kept shut, because if a customer sees back there, they'll want to scream and run. It is literally littered with hundreds of laptops stacked one atop the other, and the floor is covered in various bits of electronic flotsam and jetsam.
A tall guy was at the desk when I came in, though he was helping another customer. Just on the other side of the glass behind him, two younger guys were chatting away. The door was open, so it was clear the conversation wasn't work related. The tall guy told them, twice, to come out and help the customers. I appreciated it, but he shouldn't have had to ask. That was the first red flag.
One of them finally came out and looked at the laptop. I noticed the pricing board listed wait times which were surprisingly long, but figured it was because they were in demand and took it as a good sign. "We'll call you." Nope, they didn't. Eventually, after several days of being very patient, called them. - Oh, the problem was fixed a couple days ago. Waiting to see if we can locate another part you might need (not an essential part - just a could-be-useful part). We'll call you in a few hours. - Nope. Call again. And again. Getting in touch with these guys is surprisingly difficult. Getting them to give you even a ballpark clue of when your machine will be ready is pretty much impossible.
Finally, after weeks, told the computer is ready and go to pick it up. Drive all the way up there to find that in fact, it is not ready. Wait for a long time which the technician finishes. He comes back out with the laptop, and it's now missing parts that it came in with. Some are just gone - others have been replaced with bits from another machine. Computer is now a technical Frankenstein.
The explanation given is that they came off and he has several computers on the desk so sometimes the parts get mixed up. My jaw was on the ground. Wouldn't a repair shop have a system in place (and by "system" I mean "ziploc bag") to make sure that the pieces stay with the machine they came from?!
Best part? It didn't even work. Took it back, and they said they tested the component, but clearly missed something because it was not repaired. So, they had it a good week or 10 days longer than necessary (vs. when they first said it was fixed), and then the "fix" didn't even take. Another expensive component was necessary to get it going again.
Again, the people who work there are nice, but with the exception of the tall guy, the professionalism is just not happening. It was a very frustrating and disappointing experience. I used to go to PC Guru, and will be going back there instead next time I need a repair. -
Review from Michael M.
Austin, TX
7/23/2011
Edit: I have self-repaired the whole issue that Mr. Notebook initially told me needed done in the span of 10 minutes. It took them a week and a half to do nothing with a problem they created.
My story begins when I decided to put a new internal hard drive in my Playstation 3. I had run out of space and ordered a new 250 GB and 1 TB external to back it up online. As I opened my PS3's disk tray, I discovered what is known as the "Blue Screw of Death". The only screw that holds the tray in is notorious for being impossible to remove and easily stripped. After a few attempts with my rudimentary screw driver, the blue screw was beginning to strip. As I live down the street from Mr. Notebook, I decided to go in and see if they had any professional tools to help me remove the screw and not strip it beyond repair. As it turns out, they did.
However, as I was making conversation and explaining what I was trying to do (I had already backed up the contents of my drive onto the 1 TB external), one of the employees overheard and explained that I needed to "clone the operating system" to make my desire for 250 GB of internal space a reality. I explained that I didn't know this and that, if it really needed doing, I would be happy to leave the PS3 with them. I had even brought my new internal drive in the hopes that I could put it in there once the Blues Screw of Death was removed. When asked how long it would take, the employee who recommended the cloning said "if not by the end of today, then tomorrow."
Tomorrow came and no call from Mr. Notebook. I stopped in and they told me that they were "doing research" on how to fix the issue. This should have been my first warning sign.
A week after dropping the PS3 off, I called again. They explained that, in fact, they didn't really know what they were doing when they said the OS needed to be cloned. I had granted them more generosity with this since they're Mr. Notebook and not Mr. Playstation. However, I was very upset that they would claim a job needed to be done, and present themselves as knowledgeable, when in fact that they had no idea how to fix the issue they had made up.
Throw in the fact that I am moving out of Austin this weekend, having told them this beforehand, and I had not received a phone call by 3:50 p.m. Saturday, 10 minutes before they were set to close (and they're not open on Sunday). I had to call and explain that, regardless of progress, I was on my way to pick up the Playstation that was a week and a half overdue.
It was explained that I wasn't being charged because they had broken the original 40 GB hard drive in the process and replaced it with a 120 GB. The 250 GB that I purchased online was not touched. After examining the drive myself, I noticed that nothing was corrected and they had lost 3 out of 4 screws for the internal hard drive enclosure. There is now one screw holding everything in.
I decided, for laughs, to see if my original back-up on the 1 TB external would work. I downloaded the new PS3 OS and put it on there, too. And, wouldn't you know it, I was able to do all of this myself. Only after Mr. Notebook had told me it was a much more involved process, of course.
In short, Mr. Notebook took on a job they had no idea how to actually do - after saying it would be an easy repair - and repeatedly dogged my calls and provided no reason for the delay other than being honest and saying they didn't know what they were doing.
All of this to get a screw out. -
Review from lynelle k.
Austin, TX
6/2/2010
Q: Could they be any better?
A: Nope -
Review from Ian A.
3/6/2008
It has taken me about two weeks to get the courage to write this review. . .
My laptop was working fine one day, and the next morning would not boot. We had a talk: "Why won't you boot?" "I can't find my hard drive!," he said.
I knew it was a matter of time before my Dell crapped out on me. I wailed and moaned, then Yelped. Don and Megan coaxed me into Mr Notebook. I called, they told me the prices for repair when this kind of thing happens, which were reasonable. I took the laptop in a few days later. . .
One of the guys from the store comes up to ask what was wrong with the laptop. I told him it wouldn't read the hard drive. He picked it up, noticed that the hard drive was NOT ALL THE WAY IN THE COMPUTER, pushed it into place, and booted the computer up.
As I stood in embarrassed amazement, he told me that somehow the screws holding it in place were missing, and that would be why it had fallen out. I asked if he had a screw that would fit, he found and installed one. We looked at each other for a minute, I said 'Thanks!'. He said "Have a nice day."
My embarrassment was payment enough, I'm sure. -
Review from Jens B.
10/3/2009
Purchased Suz a laptop for Christmas a couple of years back. It was an IBM Thinkpad... it was a little more money than I wanted to spend, but it was for my sweetie. Unfortunately, Suz didn't dig the IBM, little things irked her about it. So I went back to Mr. Notebook with my tail between my legs asking for a return. NO PROBLEM, I was told and then found a Dell which was a little cheaper and thought the Suz would like it. They swamped out the puters, refunded the difference in price and I was on my way home with a new offering to my master.
She loved it and all was well in the world. Fast foward a couple of years.. my work laptop crapped out on me. So I needed to ship it out to our corporate repair center and then I bummed Suzies laptop in order to have some internet access at my office. I thought I needed to download the DSL disc I originally received from ATT... apparently not... no internet and now her puter was frozen no shortcuts appeared on the desktop, no start bar showed up... I was fk'ed and super pissed at ATT. After an hour on the phone they couldn't fix the problem their software had inflicted on Suz's puter.
I thought, well I'll take it back down to Mr. Notebook and get a diagnosis. When I arrived a tech was working with another couples laptop. As stuff was loading on that puter, he started working on mine at the same time. An immediate fix was not at hand so I had to drop it off. It was going to be a 7 day wait since UT just started and they were swamped.
A week passed and I got a call from the tech, he had gone through most everything and found a networking problem, thanks again you wankers at ATT, and fixed it. I went to pick up my machine... and low and behold the cost was free. Yup.. nada. Freebie... It's part of their service guarantee when you purchase a machine from these folks...Great service, great machines, reasonable prices, Austin owned.. I am definitely a Fan... -
Review from Matthew H.
Austin, TX
8/4/2008
I can't, in good conscience, give them 5 stars because I did not have my computer repaired here.
One of the fine gentleman did, however, take a look at my laptop and confirm my darkest suspicions...that "Ol' Bessy" had most likely moved on to the great Laptop dock in the sky. I was told that my data was secure, but the motherboard would be pointless to replace for the cost. As much as I loved my laptop, I gotta say that dropping several hundred dollars on it's aging bones wasn't what I was planning on.
The tech was honest, straightforward with what they offered and why, and gave me a detailed account of possible options for replacement if I wished. There was no push whatsoever, and the guy knew his stuff.
I will hopefully never return...only because that would mean I need to have something repaired again. But if I do need to...this is where I will go. -
Review from Brant S.
Austin, TX
3/29/2010
Alright,
Service and estimate were right on at $75 for an hour of labor because I had purchased the parts online (highly recommended.
However, it took them 10 days to do an hour of work (on the latter end of their 7-10 day time estimate) and there was no choice but to turn in the laptop and get in line or pay $75 to prioritize it. Considering the computer was still functioning, I asked them if I could get in que and bring it back when they could service it and they said no.
Maybe the UT kids can go a a week without their computer (with paying a 100% fee surcharge) but this is unaccectable for any business professional and I won't be back. Thanks but no thanks Mr. Notebook. -
Review from Whitney F.
Austin, TX
5/11/2009
Mr. Notebook, how I love you, let me count the ways:
1. The first time I came to you, it was because the a-holes over at PC Guru told me a pretty simply solder job to fix a problem on my computer would take 2 weeks. You did it in about 30 minutes, while I waited in the store.
2. The second time I came to you, my computer went beserk at precisely 5:45 pm. When I called to see what time you closed, you told me 6, but that if I left right then, they'd stay open for me. You did. My computer was fixed the next day.
3. When a former flame was looking for a new computer, you took the time to explain to him all the features, the minute differences, and price points between the different units you sell. You didn't try to force a more expensive one on him than he needed.
4. When I came in 2 months ago because my laptop had stopped taking a charge, and I feared that the AC port was the problem, you tested it as soon as I came in and sold me a new AC cord instead.
5. And when I came in today, and my computer was once again not taking a charge, even though i had taped and bent the old AC adapter, you exchanged it for a new one for only $10 instead of full price.
So that's 5, Mr. Notebook. Five reasons why I love you. And why you are definitely deserving of five stars! -
Review from Don P.
Austin, TX
Updated - 8/5/2008
I finally got to use their services to repair my old Compaq junkbook... typical power connector problem (Macs are SO worth the money just for the genius magnetic connector).
They were nice, quoted me a price, delivered on time and what they promised. Great experience.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/30/2007
Mr Notebook made me look good.
A customer came into the coffee shop and asked the barista where to… Read more »
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Review from Stephanie H.
Austin, TX
6/3/2009
The Mr. Notebook guys are awesome. I brought my laptop in two consecutive days because my Quick Books was not cooperating. Two different employees worked on my computer for a total of probably 45 minutes over the two days while I was still in the store and charged me a total of $0 for both days and they figured out the problem and fixed my computer with no data loss!
We did give them a generous tip that was much deserved. Not only did they fix my laptop but I now have the peace of mind that if I encounter any more problems I know a trustworthy place to go. I highly recommend these guys, Chris in particular! -
Review from Sugarless C.
Austin, TX
5/8/2009
I've visited this location twice. The first visit went okay and the counter person was helpful.
The second visit was so bad I won't go again. Ever.
I was completely ignored by the counter person who was working on a laptop. There were two other people already in the store who were clearly being helped already.
The counter person didn't acknowledge me after more than six minutes of standing there - no even eye contact.
There were three men in the back talking and working on other computers. After a while the counter person went in back for a part, but never mentioned that a customer was at the counter. He came out and continued to completely ignore me.
After more time passed another employee came from the back room, shared a joke with the counter person, walked over to grab a part and went back into the other room. He also did not say a word or look in my direction.
The counter person went into the back room again and announced that someone was waiting for help. He then went back to the counter and continued to work on the laptop. NO ONE MOVED from the back room.
This same person that came from the back room the first time again came up front . He again spoke and laughed with the counter person who was working on the laptop still. He again failed to acknowledge me in any way.
I finally had enough and walked out. Mr. Notebook sucks in my book. After 10 years in corporate IT I know enough to know you don't ignore customers. I will not use them for any reason. -
Review from Trevor M.
Austin, TX
9/8/2011
The fan on my 5 year-old laptop was making a lot of noise, so I took it in assuming that it needed a new fan. The technician was really straight up with me; he told me that I could get a new fan if I wanted, but it probably wouldn't affect the other issues I was having with my computer (I was hoping that it would). He could have just said, "Oh yeah, sure. We can get you a new fan," and taken my money. I wouldn't have known he wasn't telling me the whole story. Instead, he answered my questions, ran a diagnostic on my computer, took it apart a bit and checked out some insulation thing. I decided that $80 (including labor) isn't too much to spend on a computer every five years, so they ordered the part. A few days later, they called me saying that my part was in. I dropped it off on a Thursday, and told them I'd probably be back to get it after the Labor Day weekend, next Tuesday. But then I realized on Friday that I kind of needed it before then. So, they did the work and I was able to pick it up on Friday! And when I forgot my power cord, they answered the door twenty minutes after closing when my very patient girlfriend picked it up for me on her way home from work. I will for sure come back here if my computer gives me any more trouble. Thanks, Mr. Notebook!
Comment from Jason C. of Mr. Notebook 9/16/2011
Hey there Trevor were glad we were able to help you out with… More » -
Review from John H.
Round Rock, TX
5/1/2009
Today I had to take my notebook down here to get the power jack fixed. As it turns out, it wasn't the power jack but the AC adapter. It was great because even though I had to pay $50 for a replacement adapter, it was better than having them take my laptop for a week and tell me that it was just the adapter. Also got two keys replaced.
Great service, if they had a location in Round Rock I would take my computer to them whenever I had a problem. -
Review from trent r.
New Orleans, LA
Updated - 12/23/2010
dear dale, manager of mr. notebook:
what solution was offered? that i disable the laptop keyboard and purchase another keyboard to plug in? i think that's the solution i mentioned to your employee "dylan," and what i did for a week.
as for being asked for an "expedite rush option," as you so eloquently put it, i was offered that and i did NOT decline. your stoned employee just did not listen. i told him to do what was fastest. he said it would be an extra ten bucks or so and i said no problem. what part of that can't be understood?
again, stoned employees who did not listen.
lastly, if it was 48 hours late, why did it take over a week to arrive? i was told two or three days. three days plus the "48 hour shipping delay because it went ground," and you get five days to do the job, not eight.
not too good at math, are you? what happened for those five days? you guys passed the bong and fast food around? because on the fifth day i started calling twice a day to find out where my keyboard was. nobody told me it was shipped ground. nobody told me when it might arrive. nobody knew anything until i finally got you on the phone and THEN you said "two days."
oh, and when i got the laptop back after you had it for a day, my tiny wireless mouse piece in the usb had the cover knocked off. it was taped the the laptop with "oops. sorry!" written on the tape. how incredibly professional.
how can i give negative stars?
i'm glad you got it fixed in the nick of time. had i not started hassling you guys after five days, i doubt it would have happened at all.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/13/2010
is everybody high that works here? can one employee actually do what they say they'll do?
i spilled… Read more »
Comment from Dale C. of Mr. Notebook 12/16/2010
We apologize you were not satisfied with your service. The… More » -
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Review from Deb G.
Austin, TX
2/3/2011
This business provided GREAT service to me. I had never been in there before. The person who helped me, Mike, asked what was wrong. I told him. He worked on it while I waited, probably 15-20 minutes. Didn't charge a dime. Said no big deal, it only took him a little time. Can you believe that? Their sign said minimum for looking at a computer was $49. He could have easily charged me that and I would have been happy to pay it. Afterward, I had a problem with it once I got home. Called him up and he worked me through it. Very nice and patient. That is service above and beyond with no charge. Will I go back there for all computer needs? Absolutely. Wouldn't dream of going anywhere else.
Comment from Jason C. of Mr. Notebook 9/16/2011
Glad to have you stop by and help you out. We have some… More » -
Review from Casey C.
Austin, TX
9/15/2011
No returns on accessories. I didn't notice this was written on my receipt until I got home and found the laptop charger I was replacing. I feel ripped off. I was thinking about buying another computer from this place but I've changed my mind.
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Review from Anthony D.
San Francisco, CA
2/14/2010
When my lovely, almost new DELL XPS (more like POS) crapped out a few months back, I located these guys thanks to YELP.
They fixed my POS in no time flat (after I told them money didn't matter because no biz=no munee hunee bunee and it WAS Friday and I had better things to do than stress about my DELL POS) and so, within a few hours, I was back up and running.
Now for those sensitive types that get offended if a computer wizard is aloof or odd, I say don't sweat it. After all, some of these guys are brilliant at what they do and they think we're all a bunch of imbeciles unworthy of fine technological craftsmanship used for updating YELP reviews instead of crushing cyborgs from outer space or breaching Pentagon hard drives.
Anyway, I would recommend these guys for sure.
As far as DELL and Microsoft Vista are concerned, they can go to HELL for selling such crap to the public.
BTW, ZERO points to DELL customer service in Bangalore or Bangladesh or whichever 3rd world country they've pimped out.
Between long wait times, getting hung up on, false promises to make things right, bad accents, etc, I gave up and am resolved NEVER to buy another DELL, ever.
As for Vista, well, Bill Gates is totally unoriginal and shortsighted compared to Steve Jobs. My next tech ride is gonna be a MAC baybee!! -
Review from Don C.
Austin, TX
7/20/2011
Terrible service. First business I've ever dealt with where the manager just flat refused to talk to an unhappy customer. I took my laptop in on a Sat. because it was freezing when I opened some apps. They told me it would be about a week. I didn't hear from them for almost 2 weeks, so I called. The tech didn't call me back when he said he would, so I had to call again. This happened several times. Finally, they told me the hard drive was bad and they would install a new one and ghost over my old drive. I picked it up, took it home and it was still freezing. I brought it back and they kept it for another week before telling me that the only solution was to wipe and reinstall the OS. Of course they said that the hard drive really did need to be replaced any way. After 3 1/2 weeks total I called again and they told me it would be ready but of course my MS Office and my Adobe CS Suite are gone and they can't get them back. But, they would be happy to sell me new ones. I told Dillon (tech) that I was not happy and asked to speak to a manager. He told me he was with another customer and would call me back. No call. I waited a couple of hours and called again. Now Dillon says the manager is gone for the day. He also told me there would be no point talking to the manager and I should be more appreciative of all the effort he had put into working on my machine. I told him I wanted to speak to the manager and he told me he would call him on the cell phone and have him call me. No call.
Really not the way a responsible business treats its customers. -
Review from Keith F.
Austin, TX
8/1/2011
before assessing my computer, the employee asked me if i would be willing to spend $150 to repair my computer. that's all i needed to hear. if i wanted that kind of treatment i'd see an auto mechanic. i won't be coming back
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Review from Hayley G.
Austin, TX
10/21/2008
They replaced my "6" key yesterday. For free. After they were technically closed. How nice! I heart Mr. Notebook.
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Review from Yvette Y.
Austin, TX
5/22/2010
I brought my laptop in this week after I accidentally spilled half a glass of white wine on the keyboard. I automatically panicked (of course) and started searching for where to bring it to see if it was salvageable. At first I was hesitant because Mr. Notebook is around campus and I didn't want some undergrad yahoos to half-ass my laptop.. But the more I researched, the better they sounded.
A bunch of places I called told me it was probably a lost cause (because the laptop had turned itself off and thus probably shorted something), but the tech at Mr. Notebook gave me options and explained the process to me. I brought it in, paid the rush fee to have it cleaned ASAP, and crossed my fingers. Lo-and-behold, I got a call 24 hours later that it was fresh, clean, and WORKING!! Turns out I hadn't spilled enough to damage it. Thank God.
The best part was that they didn't charge me full price to clean it because they didn't have to do that much to it. Usually it's $75 to clean and $75 for a rush fee. They only charged me $75 total! When they knew I was desperate and could have ripped me off, they totally took the high road and took care of me. TWO thumbs up (and I'd give them a third if I had one)! I'll drive across town to go back there any day! -
Review from Megan R.
Austin, TX
4/3/2007
Well I thought I had an easy laptop problem to fix, but I took it to another place (see my review of PC Guru) where they kept it for over 2 weeks, could never figure out what was wrong with it, and charged me $100.
I decided to make one last ditch effort to get it fixed before giving up and buying a new one, so I took it to Mr. Notebook.
Within 6 days, the wait time they gave me, they had figured out the problem and had it fixed and ready to go. They told me all the charges upfront and did not charge me anything extra. They even gave me a free charger since mine did not work after they made the repair.
My technician (wish I got his name!) was very helpful and friendly and did not make too much fun of me when a condom fell out of my purse when I brought the computer in. And he had cool hair.
So, if you have laptop problems I highly recommend this place. DO NOT take it to PC Guru.
They also sell refurbished laptops, which luckily I am not in the market for just yet. They had a variety of models and they seemed to be a bit cheaper than new ones. -
Review from Jessica D.
Austin, TX
2/25/2010
Great overall! I had a broken laptop screen and I called to ask about how much and they spent time with me on the phone explaining the various things with me. Didn't rush me with my 100 questions...and then when I walked in they helped me in a relatively quick fashion (few people in line ahead of me). Then he looked it over, checked inventory and fixed my monitor in 10 minutes. Quick service and no problems overall. I'd consider them again for future repairs or purchases.
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Review from L B.
Austin, TX
8/22/2009
I went in today with a missing screw on my laptop. They fixed it for free!
For a more thorough review of their service, I went to them a few years ago, as well, when my previous laptop, a very old one at that time, stopped working. They weren't able to fix it, but put the hard drive of my laptop into a case with a USB so I could access the contents, and didn't charge me too much. -
Review from Kimber W.
Austin, TX
6/2/2010
I wish I spilled a glass of wine on my laptop like Yvette but it just fell off my lap into a tent position on my stone floor and shut down with all sorts of intimidating error messages.
On Memorial Day.
In the middle of my clients' option period for their new house.
Thankfully, Mr. Notebook was open and they didn't even laugh at me when I explained what happened. They checked my hard drive and figured out how to reset my NVRAM (who knew?!). Best of all, they didn't want to charge me but after a bit of friendly pleading, I won and made them charge me $25. SO worth it.
They saved me! -
Review from S F.
Austin, TX
1/22/2010
We decided to try Mr Notebook because I had ready pretty decent reviews on Yelp. Mistake! I don't know if the tech guy was stoned (my boyfriend is pretty sure of it) or what but we went in because my laptop crashed and the person we talked to seemed so out of it. When another set of customers walked through the door he focused his attentions to them in the middle of our conversation, told my boyfriend and I to hold on while he helped them....hmm...then once he was done with them came back and immediately told me it was going to be 50-75$ to fix. Um that was quick estimate for a 1 minute conversation....I took my lap and made a beeline for Discount Electronics.
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Review from movinon ..
San Jose, CA
8/6/2009
Date of experience: Summer 2005.
Four years ago, I bought my IBM Thinkpad R40 from Mr. Notebook. Since then, I've taken it everywhere with me and used it just about every day. Other than upgrading the RAM, I haven't had to do any maintenance on it; otherwise, it's the same as the day I bought it.
The salespeople helped me select the right computer, and hooked me up with all the right accessories. This experience sold me on buying lease-returned computers. Thanks Mr. Notebook!
Now that I'm looking to upgrade to a newer, lighter IBM, I wish there were a Mr. Notebook nearby, but I don't live in Central Texas anymore. If only Mr. Notebook shipped online... -
Review from Veronica C.
Austin, TX
1/15/2011
All the guys at Mr. Notebook were awesome to work with. What I loved about them the most is that they were moreconcerned about fixing your computer than collecting money from you. I love knowing that there are those here in Austin that can fix my computer without me having to pay a computer for overpriced service.
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Review from Rita K.
Austin, TX
12/30/2010
I just have to say that these guys are the best at what they do. I've been to Best Buy, Discount Electronics, just about every computer/laptop repair place in Austin. After living here for 15 years, I can honestly say that I would never take my business elsewhere. Mike not only saved me $200 from purchasing a charger/adapter for my HP, but he also repaired my USB ports, for no cost. I was quoted well over $300 to have my laptop fixed for that. In the end, all I needed was a new keyboard, and it cost me less than $100. These guys go out of their way to help you fix anything, and if it's a small problem, they typically don't even charge you for it. They're laid back, helpful, and never rude. If Yelp had a 10 star rating, I'd give that to them. The Manger, (i forget his name, eep) He's also extremely helpful as well. Kudos to a repair shop that doesn't try to rip people off!!
Rita Keller
Austin, Texas -
Review from Jen Y.
Pflugerville, TX
1/27/2009
I wanted a laptop, but I didn't want to have to sell a kidney to afford it. I checked out Best Buy and Fry's first, and it all added up to a ton of money. Both stores had some cheap laptops, but they had insufficient RAM for the Vista operating system they came with. By the time I moved up to a larger RAM, added antivirus, and added microsoft office, not to mention paying their techs to remove all that extra crap they have preloaded, I would have been looking at no less than $8-900. And at Fry's that was for a refurbished computer!
On a whim, I dropped by Mr Notebook. They don't sell new computers, but at this point I didn't care. Their computers aren't filled with a bunch of proprietary crap either. They had a good 1G RAM laptop, which they added another gig to for really cheap, they loaded Microsoft Office on it, and when I asked them about antivirus, they set me up with a free one that they all use. So I ended up spending, in total, less than $500. Now that's more like it! -
Review from Tom L.
Austin, TX
5/19/2009
my laptop's wireless connection wasn't working so i decided to check out mr.notebook since it was the closest. after a few minutes of waiting in the store my internet connection was back. they also fixed a wobbly screw that was making my computer unstable and cleaned the screen, without me asking at all.i was worried about how much it would cost but when i asked how much i owed...the guy said it was FREE. awesome
