| Rockford Register Star |
| Published: May 21, 2007
Face of Business: Jeff Garcea Who is he? Jeff Garcea of Rockford is a recent college graduate who started a home-based business fixing computers, Garcea Computers. What do you do? I provide on-site information technology services, such as network set-up, computer hardware and software repair, Web development, custom computers, and consulting to business and home users. What’s new at Garcea Computers? We opened a new division in October offering custom Web development. Each site is unique and designed by James Todd. We don't use a standard template at all, making us different from other Web developers. Who could do your job? To do my job, a person has to have good problem-solving skills, a lot of patience, and experience in training and technology. Having people skills is another plus. What do you make? That depends on the number of jobs you do per month. Some months are very profitable, some are not, so a person in this type of job needs to have the ability to budget and plan ahead. How could someone learn more about a career such as yours? You can check out my Web site, www.garceacomputers.com, or start working with people in the field who will let you gain hands-on experience. I started fixing computers when they hired me part time at my former high school. Other than this job, what was your favorite job and why? I enjoyed working at Rockford Lutheran High School fixing computers. The people were great and I learned a lot about computers and customer service. Without that experience, I would not be able to do the job I'm doing today. What do you like best about this job? I enjoy my customers. Talking with and helping such a variety of people makes my job worthwhile. I have the greatest customers. Any business owner would feel lucky to serve these fine individuals. Most reliable computer brand in your experience? Every brand has positives and negatives. What is best depends on the user's needs. In my opinion, custom computers are an excellent option for everyone as they are tailor-made for their users. What are the best and worst aspects of running your own business? The best part is my customers and flexible schedule. The worst part is having to do most things myself because I don't have a lot of employees to help me. There just aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done. You would never find me leaving this career to ... Be a fashion designer or hair stylist. I greatly admire people who can do such jobs because I have very little sense of flair or style. Having me at a salon or department store would be a nightmare for everyone involved. The ideal workday for you would be ... Ideally, I like to spend the first few hours of the day in my office, then go on a call, then get a chance to catch up on paperwork at the end of the day. A business needed in the region? A business that would help me out would be a major technology distributor in the city. When I need computer parts, I have to send for them and it takes at least a day to be shipped. The best way to unwind after work is ... Taking a motorcycle ride on a warm, sunny day. Staff writer Kathi Edwards may be reached at 815-987-1364 or kedwards@rrstar.com. |
| Rockford Register Star |
| Published: March 3, 2007
Earlier date for springing forward may lead to "mini Y2K" By Rowena Vergara ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR It’s been compared to a “mini Y2K” — some electronic devices will be confused by the new date for daylight-saving time. Although it’s more of a nuisance than a catastrophe in the making, older computers, PDAs and DVRs may not automatically update their times when daylight-saving comes three weeks early this year — on March 11. The date change was established by the federal Energy Policy Act of 2005, which was passed to get Americans to cut energy consumption. The thinking is that less energy will be used toward the end of the day if the sun’s out later. For years, most of the nation has set clocks ahead on the first Sunday of April. Few computer experts think the new date will make a big difference. “It’s been the set way for a long time now. And all the computers and devices had it programmed in so they were already set for it. It knew that. It just happened and it was a very seamless change,” said Larry Glusman, a computer consultant and owner of Computer Resources in Rockford. Consumers can prepare for the change by using a rule of thumb: If a computer or device is a bit older, it may not correct the time automatically. Any Microsoft operating system older than Windows XP may not recognize the new time change come March 11, says Jeffrey Garcea, a computer consultant and owner of Garcea Computers in 2000, Windows Me, Windows 98 and Windows 95. For more information, customers can visit http://support.microsoft.com/gp/cp_dst. Older personal digital assistants or digital video recorders, for example, may not adjust and you might have to set those manually, Garcea predicted. Customers should consult the manufacturers of their devices for instructions. For the everyday computer user, the effects won’t be evident. “I’m not really positive what could happen. But I don’t think it will be that big of a problem,” he said. Those with newer devices and operating systems need not worry; most should update automatically, Glusman said. But the change could trip up computer calendar programs such as Microsoft Outlook. Experts suggest that users print their meetings and appointments a day before March 11 just in case. Users could also type in the actual time of a meeting or appointment into the description of a calendar entry, a suggestion from en-terpret.co, a technology firm in Chicago. Insight Communications customers with DVRs won’t miss any recorded programming. The recorders should pick up the new time automatically, said Joe Browning, Insight’s technical operations manager. “It all depends on how people made your timepiece. If they didn’t put in the ability to switch daylight-saving time, it’s going to be wrong,” Glusman said. Daylight-saving time will end Nov. 4 instead of the usual last Sunday of October. Glusman says once computer updates or “patches” are installed for this daylight-saving time, users shouldn’t have a problem come November. Those with older systems and devices, however, are likely to experience glitches again. According to the Energy Policy Act, Congress has the right to revert to the former daylight-saving schedule if the new method is unpopular or doesn’t prove to save energy. The Department of Energy will conduct a study on its effectiveness. Staff writer Rowena Vergara may be reached at 815-987-1341 or rvergara@rrstar.com. |
| Press Release |
| Garcea Computers
3435 Shelburne Dr. Rockford, IL 61109 gcs@garceacomputers.com 8-11-2006 Owner Jeff Garcea Garcea Computers, a local small business owned by Jeff Garcea, has opened a new division - Web Development, a service that creates custom Web sites for business and individuals. The Web sites are designed and maintained by James Todd, a professional developer who has built the sites of such companies as American Trademark Pictures. Besides Web Development, Garcea Computers offers computer repair, in-home of any kind of computer problem from the most basic to the most complex. The company also offers networking, cable modem set-up, consulting, and custom-built computers. Garcea Computers started in the year 2000 under the name Garcea Computer Service with the goal of providing low-cost, face-to-face computer service tailored to the unique needs of customers. Jeff Garcea has been working in the field of computer service and repair for 7 years. For more information or to contact Garcea Computers, e-mail gcs@garceacomputers.com or visit our website at www.garceacomputers.com. |
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