Tuesday Night Clinic: We Can Help

Need a Fix?

We all love our Macs. They can do so many great things. And they last a long time. So when it breaks, the local Mac repair store may not want to deal with it. Where can you turn? There are individuals and companies listed in the phone book or in computer magazines like the Washington Apple Pi Journal that provide one possible answer.

Another is Washington Apple Pi's dedicated group of member volunteers who are available most Tuesday Nights at our Rockville, Maryland office from 7 pm to ? to help (check our calendar for dates). We are not an authorized Apple service provider, nor can we do warranty or AppleCare work of any kind. But if you have nowhere else to go, we can help get your Macintosh back in shape. All we ask for in return is a donation and a smile.

Beyond repairs, if you have purchased a replacement hard drive, memory or software package that you are not comfortable installing yourself, we can help provide you with the guidance to ensure a successful installation. Our volunteers have a wide range of experience on Macs from the earliest machines up to the latest G5s, Intel iMacs, PowerBook G4s and iBooks running Mac OS X.

What Should I Bring?

The answer to that question is: It all depends. But at the most basic, you only need to bring your computer -- the "box" that is your Mac. We have cables, keyboards and monitors (some Macs have integrated monitors).

Of course, if you want to install software, memory or a hard drive, please bring that with you. If you want us to check your email or Internet service using a modem, be sure to bring the modem you use (if it is an external model). We do not have the ability to check cable or DSL modems.

If you are unsure what to bring, call the office ahead of time and leave a message as our office is not staffed on a daily basis.  Someone should get back to you to give you some suggestions. We also have replacement parts and batteries that you can purchase if they are needed.

Is There A Charge?

The Tuesday Night Clinic is staffed by volunteers who are users just like you. Because we are offering our assistance, we request a donation to the Pi based on the amount of time we spend working on your machine.

When you arrive, we will ask you to fill out a form that asks for a little information about yourself and what you think is wrong with your computer. The form also explains what it means to have your Mac examined and if necessary, repaired or upgraded by a volunteer. There is no warranty for our work.

Download Tuesday Night Clinic brochure (Adobe Acrobat), with maps.

Map to Pi office.

Tour of Tuesday Night Clinic (circa 1997)

Why Repair Old Macs?

Here's what a longtime Pi member says about why it makes sense to repair old Macs:

"Macintosh Computers are unique in the computing world in that they just keep working long after a PC has been replaced. Older Macs can do so many useful things. They can be an electronic typewriter, act as a server on a network or surf the Internet. If you've been turned down for a repair, Apple no longer wants to acknowledge you, your machine is out of warranty and you have no where else to turn, the Tuesday Night Clinic may be your answer."

Washington Apple Pi: members helping members.