Aroostook Computer Tutor gets new Main Street home

Houlton Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
TAKING A CLOSER LOOK — Fred Griffith of Aroostook Computer Tutor takes a closer look at a machine he is fixing at his new location on Main Street in the Fishman Mall.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — When it comes to helping people understand the “ins” and “outs” of their computer, look no further than the Aroostook Computer Tutor.
    Fred Griffith has been running a computer business for seven years. At first, he worked part-time from his home, while doing other jobs. Since 2007, Griffith has been working  full-time on computers and moved his business to the Fishman Mall, alongside the Courtyard Café.
    His business name says it all.
     “I started out wanting to focus on computer education,” Griffith explained. “I wanted to help people learn how to use their computers better and more effectively, while helping people use computers to do more things in their lives.”
    What Griffith discovered was that many people had minor hardware problems that were obstructing them.
     “I knew how to fix those,” he said. “And then I ran into some things I didn’t know. So I researched and took additional courses in the hardware side of things, adding repair into it also.”
    In 2001, the Griffiths moved to Houlton from central Maine where he took a job teaching business technology at Houlton High School.
    “Everything was looking great so we went ahead and bought a house in 2003,” Griffith explained. “The day after the first mortgage payment, the superintendent called me in and let me know the district was eliminating the program completely.” Griffith then moved to Region II where he taught drafting and AutoCAD since he had experience with those programs, as well. But, without enough students signing up for the program, it was eliminated with two other vocational classes.
    Griffith holds a degree in geography and was certified as a Social Studies teacher. While in college, he had a background in business so he was able to be certified to teach Business courses as well.
    “I was taking additional computer courses to help me know more about them, so I got the full computer teaching certification,” he said. “But, I haven’t been able to get back into the schools in this area to teach Computer Technology and I really don’t feel like moving.”
    Not knowing what he would find, Griffith struck out to find something to help make ends meet.
     “I worked during the day and then worked on computers mostly evenings and weekends,” he said. “It grew into what it is now.”
    Though his business started out slowly, he worked doing field repair work under warranty for Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Emachines. Griffith is also Microsoft certified on repair issues.
    “They sent me as far north as Fort Kent and as far south as Calais,” Griffith said. “I worked on everything from computers to printers to copiers. I have even been sent to Staples to repair some of their equipment for binding and cutting.”
    Griffith still provides field support under warranty though it now applies to almost anything that uses circuit boards, like LCD and plasma TVs.
    Griffith has worn many hats while building his business.
    “In addition to repair and tutoring, a major part of my work is doing flash animation for websites,” he added. “I have had a lot more repair work since PC Sales and Service closed. When they closed there was nowhere around where people could go to get parts. I sensed, as did others, that this was a perfect time to try to expand the business to provide better services.”
    Though it took six months, with assistance from the Southern Aroostook Development Corporation, Griffith opened his downtown shop in June.
    “We were able to purchase inventory, so we would have items people expect to find when they go to a regular computer store,” said Griffith. “We still don’t sell computers yet. But, we have cables, monitors, video cards, sound cards, along with hard drives, adapters, other hardware and RAM; (which is currently on sale). We have most of the components that would be needed.”
    Rather than invest in items that only a few people may want, Griffith has opted to stock what people specifically need.
     “When we don’t carry something in stock, whatever we pay for it is what the customer pays for it,” Griffith said. “We try to make sure that any parts we are selling are going to cost them less here than they would pay somewhere else. If we can’t sell something for less than they can get it elsewhere, there is really no point in our carrying it except as an emergency item.”
     Aroostook Computer Tutor isn’t in business to overcharge, but “just to make a living,”  Griffith pointed out. “In  tough times like this, people need to work together to survive.”
    When a customer brings a machine into the Aroostook Computer Tutor, Griffith explains what happened to the machine, what was fixed and how to avoid further problems.
    “Since my first focus was on education, I think fixing something is only the first step,” he said. “I want to help people learn how to avoid getting viruses, how to tell when something is going wrong with the hardware so they can address it before it gets worse.”
    Though it’s a technological world, some people are still leery of computers.
    “A lot of people feel intimidated by them,” Griffith said. “They don’t need to be. They are intimidated because it is not something they are familiar with. The “digital natives” are growing up with it and have had it every day of their lives, it’s second nature to them. But, for those of us, who grew up in an analog world, nothing we learned as kids works the same anymore. So, it’s learning how to transfer those skills to the digital world and then build on those skills.”
    The most important aspect of Aroostook Computer Tutor is providing customer service within the home.
     “One thing we have done from day one is to try and help people the best we can in their home,” said Griffith. “For people trying to learn computer skills, it is much better to work with them where they are comfortable using the computer they are using all the time. We are trying to provide the best service that we can to people in the way it is going to be the most meaningful and most helpful to them.”
    Aroostook Computer Tutor tries to fix the machine in a person’s home, but if it turns out that the computer needs scans that will take hours or it has to be scanned from another computer, he doesn’t attempt a fix on site.
    “Rather than charge people hours’ worth of time while we sit there babysitting a scan, it is better to do that here in the shop,” he added. “We don’t have to bill for the time that the computer is sitting there getting scanned.”
    Aroostook Computer Tutor charges a flat rate of $20 for diagnostics, no matter how long it takes them to find the problem and then $40 an hour labor to work on the machine, with a half-hour minimum.
    “Most of the time, in fact, I am not aware of any time, that someone has found a place where they could get the service and learn what was needed and get it fixed for less money than we can do it for,” said Griffith.
  Aroostook Computer Tutor can be reached by e-mail at computer tutor@ mfx.net or visit their websites at www.aroostookcomputertutor.com or www.aroostookcomputer.com. On the websites there is a direct link to reputable sources, according to Griffith, to install free security software from antivirus to anti-spyware and anti-malware.
    One of the newest types of virus is called a Rogue virus, which are prevalent on freebie sites, game, music and social sites to name a few. Griffith said they have even been found on the U.S. Department of Treasury website. These Trojan viruses hide out and attack when a person leasts expects it. Some target just Microsoft products, while others attack Internet connections or built in security systems and others just randomly delete files.
    “They are called “rogue” because the first thing that happens when they hit your computer is they instantly block your antivirus from seeing it,” explained Griffith.
    “Right now, there is still not a single antivirus out there that can stop rogues from getting on your computer. The best we can do is get rid of them after they arrive. The programs we link to from our website can do that, without costing clients a cent.
    As part of their “Grand Opening” celebration in their new location, Aroostook Computer Tutor has a drawing every day they are open until July 15.
    “We also have a daily door prize drawing,” Griffith added for a gift ranging in value between $8 to $10. “People can choose the prize they want.”
     On July 16, the grand prize of a 21.5 inch LCD monitor will be drawn.
    “Later this month, we are also having a LOL contest,” Griffith said. “We have a set of poetry magnets that uses the kind of text people use when doing chat, IMs (instant messages) or texting. People will come in and use the magnets to create their own sayings and then we will take pictures of them and put them up on Facebook and people on Facebook can vote for the ones they like the best. We will have a prize at the end of the contest.”
     The Aroostook Computer Tutor is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call the shop at  694-0423.