Mac, Apple, Macintosh Repair Technicians

Just because you have a Mac, it does not mean you are not without help in Costa Rica

Yes, I know Mac is better, but not quite true in Costa Rica, that is if you have problems.  Always check your warranty before you bring your Mac (or any other computer for that reason) to Costa Rica, regardless if you bought the extended warranty package. Most Warranty Agreements DO NOT cover the computer outside the US. If work has to be done, expect to pay 2-3 times the amount and expect a wait. A new power cord and/or hard drive can take the guru or store weeks for the part.

Below are some of the Mac Gurus and Service Centers that will probably be able to help you or know were you can get help if your Mac has problems. The best thing to do is email or call first to make sure they are still in business. Most computer gurus are around $30/hr and plus travel time. So if you live in Jaco and your guy is coming from San Jose, expect to pay about 3/hrs for travel. Also, remember you are on Tico Time … mañana or ‘tomorrow’ really means sometime during the week 😉 . If you can,  always take your computer to the person/store and it will save you a lot of time and grief.

APPLE / MACINTOSH REPAIR TECHNICIANS
Mac Repair Guy – Jorge”George” Calvo (394-3296; JorgeCalvo (at) mac.com. He’s $30/hour plus gas money.  He was VERY patient with  NON-techno self/talk!

Expect to pay 2-3 times more for any computer repair in Costa Rica26 (221-8709 / 257-4820-p/fax; 376-8901; JThomas (at)racsa.co.cr;

John Thomas Chavarria – Laboratoria de Electronica; JTE_LdE(at)hotmail.com.  He has a shop in San Jose though he will come to you in an extreme emergency. He’s one of the few people that can repair iPods. He also have used Macs for sale. HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 7am-5:30pm. $36/hr for labor.

Roberto Mora – RM (at) BlueSkyCR.com; 2899-5159 –  He used to work at ICON MultiPlaza-West but now he’s doing some repair (he comes to you) plus real estate in Jaco. He’s in Jaco during the week & the Central Valley on the weekends. He comes to you and speaks GREAT English. Rates start around $40/hr.

David Zeledon (2853-2451; david (at) terramundis.net.
He’s located in Escazu but he mainly comes to you. RATES: $30 (includes his time to get there) & $20 thereafter. He works on PC’s as well. David’s a Tico that speaks GREAT English.

Marvin Bermudez – 2886-9711; 2292-6216; techniapple (at)ice.co.cr.
He lives in San Antonio de Coronado and you can go to him or he can come to you. He DOES speak some English.

Kevin Norman – 2819-2085;  Kevin24 (at)gmail.com.
He’s located near Carrieri Mall but he usually comes to you. Rates – $40/hour, $30 thereafter. Also works on Network Security, Cicso, Windows servers, Windows, most IT issues. From States so great English plus fluent in Spanish.

Kenyon Zahner – 2286-5821 or 2838-0812;  tlyn2003 (at)hotmail.com.
He speaks English and lots of Spanish. He can come to you or you go to him at his place in San Sebastian (about 3 miles North of Downtown SJ). Starts at AROUND $25/hour if he comes to you (case-by-case basis). He’ll come to you wherever (for the right price). He says he can help with anything from iMacs, PowerBooks and iBooks to G3/G4/G5 Desktops. Troubleshooting, Upgrades and Installations. Operating Systems OS X (Jaguar/Panther/Tiger), OS 9. Software: Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite 2 (Photoshop, Illustrator etc.) iLife ‘05, Final Cut Studio: Final Cut Pro 5, Motion 2, Soundtrack Pro, DVD Studio Pro 4/ Final Cut Pro and Express, DVD Studio Pro, After Effects, QuickTime Pro, Acrobat, Toast Titanium, Quark Express, Utilites, Adobe Font Library, Web Design, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Flash, Virex, Audio.

“Dr. Mac” Diego Rivera – 2381-1283 or  2222-5850 or 2223-4159
San Jose

Oliver Duex – 8333-2729; 2694 4459 CorrectingTime(at)fastmail.fm. He comes to you in Lake Arenal area or you go to him (in Nuevo Arenal). Repairs Macs and PCs. He also gives lessons on MS Office/OpenOffice, Spreadsheet, PowerPoint Presentations, Adobe Suites and does Web Designing. Rates start at $18/hour. Oliver speaks English, Spanish and German

STORES
NOTE:  Stores often take MUCH longer and can be a lot more expensive

Second Call Computer Store in Escazu ventas.escazu (at) SecondCall.com. San Rafael – across from McDonalds on the main road. Next door to the video store & KFC [Kentucky Fried Chicken] – 2289-8000
Email or call first, Sometimes they have people that can work on Mac’s.

PC Doctor – Stores are located in Plaza Real Carrieri – 2293-3798 – Terra Mall – in front of Scotia Bank 518-1693, however, they have a website but when I checked it it was down.

OFFICIAL MAC DEALERS
Official dealers” are more.  Rate can be up to $60US. Don’t assume that they will have everything, and if the part has to be ordered, expect weeks or even months for it to arrive.

ReproColor – Tibas (2236-6067)
New, used Macs & PC and repairs. Jorge speaks some English. LOCATION: Burger King 100 East, 300 south. HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8am-6pm.

Official Macintosh Computer and Repair – ICON
STORES: Escazu – MultiPlaza-West – 2201-5025 / 2201-5026  HOURS: 10am-8pm
Zapote – MultiPlaza-East 2280-1590 / 2280-1556 / 2280-1548. HOURS: 10am-8pm
San Pedro – Mall of SP – 2234-5834 / 234-5835. HOURS: 10am-8pm
Heredia – Paseo de las Flores – 261-7454 / 2261-7872. HOURS: 10am-8pm
SERVICE/OFFICE – Curridabat (de la Pops de Curridabat, 300 m sur, 100 m Este): OFFICE – 2234-2076 / SERVICE – 2225-3002 HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8am-6pm
Diagnosis – takes 2+ days $25.
The people at ICON are good and are helpful and in some cases they will not charge you if the problem is a simple fix – if this is the case, make sure you tip the Costa Rican,  $10-$20.

Dr.Mac S.A drmacsa (at) racsa.co.cr
“Costado Suroeste De La Iglesia Las Animas Ave.10, 100mts. Norte Casa De Frente, Verde De Dos Pisos #2080” San Jose, Costa Rica: 2690-1005
Telephone: 506-2222-5850: Y 506-2223-4159: Fax:    506-2223-4159

Special thanks to Living in CR

Calypso Cruises