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From Magic City Morning Star R.P. BenDedek
Computer Troubles! Today's news is being published quite late. Let me tell you why. It is late because I didn't get home from the computer repair shop till 7:15 am Magic City Time. Let me first say, that this edition is being published from my own 'now fixed' laptop computer, thanks to 'SuZhou Giga Notebook Repair' . This repair shop is located on the 3rd floor of the big computer store on the corner of West Gan Jiang Road at the intersection of Chang Xu Road. (Chang Xu Road is where the Tall Jasmine Holiday Inn is located). Contact details (updated 2011) are:
My visit there was quite an accident. You may remember that I had written earlier in the year that my computer was damaged on the plane flight from Wuhan to SuZhou, but that it eventually righted itself. Well, 10 days ago my computer screen began to flicker, and then the following day, it just died. Everyone told me just to buy a new computer, as the expense of repairing it would be too great. It annoyed me that it was only the screen that was playing up. I could see that the computer was working, and just make out the details on the screen, so I figured that it ought to be able to be repaired. At any rate, I decided that I may as well just buy a new one because if I tried to get it fixed, I'd only be so overcharge because I'm a foreigner, that it would probably be a waste of money. (I once was getting a new battery for my watch and watched the watchmaker slip a 'used' battery into it.) I admit it! I don't trust the Chinese businessmen - and I have good reason not to trust them. Anyway, today I decided to buy the new computer (I've been publishing from the local internet cafe.) Having already checked out all the computers and prices, I collected all the spare cash I had and set off with a student to buy the computer. That's when we struck a problem. I could only buy the laptop I wanted, if it came with a 'fake' Microsoft English Program. 'No Thanks!' We left the store and went accross the road to buy the desktop computer. I didn't really want the desktop computer, but the price was cheaper and I wanted a genuine English Program. Well the English program was no problem, it would just cost an extra 1000 RMB. Not a problem! I would end up paying the same as the dodgy laptop. That's when we struck another problem. There were no genuine 1000 RMB English Programs in stock to be installed. We decided to head up to Shi Lu, but Gerry decided to go back to the first store and see if any of the suppliers there had the program. We were directed to the 3rd floor, which looks like a street market, and while Gerry was asking around about the program, I went for a wander. That's when I spotted the little workshop with a whole lot of screens from laptops. I raced back to Gerry and told him to come and talk to the proprietor for me, but when we got there, the guy shocked me by speaking really great English. He assured me that if the computer was working, then it would be a simple matter to fix the screen, and after hearing that it would only cost 200-400 RMB, I raced home to get my laptop. When I asked the proprietor when I should come back for the computer, he told me it would take about 90 minutes. Well! Wasn't that a shock!. Life however is never quite so simple, and when I returned I found that there were some other problems that they were trying to fix. One of the hinges was too tight - yep! always have trouble opening the thing. Keys not working right - needs to be cleaned. Yep! That's right! Well, to cut a long story short, instead of being away from the store by 5:30pm my time (5:30 AM your time), I didn't get away till 7PM. I was in such a rush to get home that I actually forgot to shake the man's hand and ask for his name. I feel bad about that. But thanks to that guy, I spent only 400 RMB, not 6000 RMB, and what's more, I can now do all my work with a computer program that I am familiar with - SWX OFFICE. According to his business card, his Chinese name should be Kang Jiahua. Thanks Yongjun, I truly appreciate your work and your kindness.
R.P. BenDedek Related Stories on Computers in Suzhou
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