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Tech Superpowers
Categories: Shopping Computers Local Services IT Services & Computer Repair Event Planning & Services Venues & Event Spaces Computers, IT Services & Computer Repair, Venues & Event Spaces [Edit]
252 Newbury St1st Fl
(between Fairfield St & Gloucester St)
Boston, MA 02116
Neighborhood: Back Bay
(617) 267-9716
- Nearest Transit:
-
Boylston St Opp Gloucester St (170, 193, 39, 55)
Ring Rd @ Boylston St (9)
Dalton St @ Boylston St (39, 55)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 9 am - 7 pm
Sat-Sun 11 am - 4 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
19 reviews for Tech Superpowers
Review Highlights
"...always been afraid to stop in and use their internet cafe."
(in 3 reviews)
"Sure, a visit to the Apple Store makes a nice trip and a..."
(in 4 reviews)
"...them to anyone who's having trouble with their laptop."
(in 6 reviews)
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19 reviews in English
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Review from Ewart K.
Boston, MA
9/13/2011
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 :( -
Review from Eliza E.
Cambridge, MA
12/5/2011
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.Comment from Michael O. of Tech Superpowers 12/8/2011
Hello Eliza, We're sorry to hear that you were disappointed… More » -
Review from Wangui O.
Somerville, MA
2/7/2012
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. -
Review from rebecca g.
Boston, MA
12/23/2011
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. -
Review from Erik M.
Medford, MA
7/22/2011
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! -
Review from sassy d.
Boston, MA
9/27/2011
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! -
Review from Peter G.
Boston, MA
4/2/2009
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 (http://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. -
Review from Ligaya T.
San Francisco, CA
5/11/2007 1 photo
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. -
Review from cherie c.
6/16/2009
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... -
Review from Viv C.
San Francisco, CA
8/16/2007
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.Listed in: Bawstin: Wicked Ah-some
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Review from Josie G.
Boston, MA
12/8/2008
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. -
Review from aja m.
Somerville, MA
9/24/2011
Extremely helpful and very knowledgeable staff, lovely place. Would definitely recommend to anyone, and will definitely come here in the future!
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Review from Theresa T.
San Francisco, CA
8/4/2008
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!! -
Review from Tom M.
Chicago, IL
9/2/2007
I travel lite - no laptops in my life, so when I go out of town, I rely on cyber-cafes for my internet access.
This place rocks!
1) great location on Newburry Street
2) super helpful staff
3) comfy, quiet space
4) they offer Apple sales and service
5) they have soda, but no coffees, eats - the only downside I can think of!
6) they have about 8-10 blazin' fast Macs ready to use
7) cheap - never cost me more than $5 per visit -
Review from John L.
11/15/2008
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. -
Review from Gary D.
Arlington, MA
9/8/2010
TSP upgraded my laptop for about 1/3 the consistent range of quotes that I'd gotten over a period of weeks at AppleStore locations. The Superpower work was finished right on time as promised. I drove there which is not the best idea at least after 11AM, but especially for anybody who spends time on Newbury St, it's good for just dropping in. It's also well worth the special trip (I'd recommend getting there by T if your item isn't too big) for anything like a repair.
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Review from Cordelia C.
Boston, MA
1/13/2011
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. -
Review from danielle m.
Seattle, WA
1/25/2006
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...
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Review from Anne G.
Somerville, MA
Updated - 5/27/2010
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.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/19/2010
Buyer beware: Make sure to clarify the pricing at every point of your transaction and get written… Read more »
Comment from Michael O. of Tech Superpowers 5/28/2010
I'm so sorry about your initial poor experience. We take all… More » -
