Computer business inspired by 'geeks' in Calif. workplace

Image by Photo by Edward Fennell Miles West explains his Managed Services Program from the home office of A Geek To Go!

As printed Thursday, January 7 2010 in Post and Courier:

photo

The Post and Courier

Miles West says he can get the bugs out of your computer and keep them away, but does that make him a geek?

West, 41, owns AGeekToGo Internet-security and data-recovery service, which he founded five years ago and operates out of his James Island home.
His Weimaraner, Blue, is always by his side in his home office and sometimes accompanies the business owner on house calls.
Photo by Edward Fennell
The Post and Courier
Miles West created AGeekToGo computer Internet-security and data-recovery service and safeguards about 50 clients' home computers from Internet worms, viruses and malware.
But before launching a career in the subject dearest to him — computers — West held jobs in the film industry in Los Angeles, at an Internet startup service in Santa Barbara and even a Charleston-area coffee shop.
"After 11 years out in crazy L.A., I got burned out," said West, adding that he missed Southern living, so he returned to the Lowcountry. After a succession of odd jobs, he knew what he wanted to do.
"I always liked anything to do with the computer," he said.
Hailing from Murrells Inlet, West graduated from Socastee High School in Myrtle Beach and earned a media arts degree in 1992 at the University of South Carolina. He headed to California for work when the Internet field was a fledgling enterprise.
While with a firm helping customers to get online, West "hung out with the real geeks — the guys that looked like they were from 'Revenge of the Nerds' with the pocket protectors and the tape on their glasses," he said.
"These guys could not get a date, and I did OK with the dating scene. I told them, 'If you'll teach me your computer skills, I'll tell you what girls like to hear,' " he said.
West said his computer knowledge grew by gigabytes, but he's not sure if the information exchange benefited the computer guys.
"I don't know how much they learned, but they haven't called back," he added.
West put out some fliers advertising tech support for computer owners, and while he was well-versed in PCs (personal computers), the first call he got was from the owner of the rival home computer, the Mac.
He said he told the caller "sure" he could help, though he knew nothing about the Mac, and then rushed out and bought "Mac for Dummies."
He said he made good money with computer services but decided to head back to South Carolina. In between some odd jobs, he was hired to shoot video at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.
West said the knowledge and dedication to their tasks that he saw in the guys he once worked with inspired the AGeekToGo name he chose for his new firm. But West is confident he's not really a geek himself.
From the beginning, West's computer business faced considerable competition. Local electronics stores field their own teams of experts that help residential and business customers set up and maintain their computers. West said he decided to carve out a niche for himself by focusing on Internet security.
"I knew I had to diversify. My motto is: If you keep on doing the same thing, you're going to get the same results," he said.
West said many computer users are finding that viruses and trojan malware are getting tougher to block and remove. Youths who do a lot of downloading inadvertently let in these computer infections, which, he said, are persistent at finding ways around or through the common household computer protection programs.
West said he developed plans for keeping his customers' PCs free of data destroying and operating-system-crippling infections. "I've worked with a lot of good security programs and bundled them together," he said.
West said the protection program he devised "runs automatically and independently," but should a bug slip by, he makes house calls.
West said he has about 50 clients now, about 90 percent of them residential.
"I do work with some businesses, but my niche is the residential market," he said.
For information, see ageektogo.net.

 

West, 41, owns A Geek To Go! Internet-security and data-recovery service, which he founded five years ago and operates out of his James Island home. His Weimaraner, Blue, is always by his side in his home office and sometimes accompanies the business owner on house calls.

Miles West created AGeekToGo computer Internet-security and data-recovery service and safeguards about 70 clients' home and business computers from Internet worms, viruses and malware using his subscription-based Managed Services Program. But before launching a career in the subject dearest to him — computers — West held jobs in the film industry in Los Angeles, at an Internet startup service in Santa Barbara and even a Charleston-area coffee shop.

"After five years out in crazy California, I got burned out," said West, adding that he missed Southern living, so he returned to the Lowcountry.

"I always liked anything to do with the computer," he said.

Hailing from Murrells Inlet, West graduated from Socastee High School in Myrtle Beach and earned a Media Arts degree in 1992 at the University of South Carolina. He headed to California for work when the Internet field was a fledgling enterprise.
While with a firm helping customers to get online, West "hung out with the real geeks — the guys that looked like they were from 'Revenge of the Nerds' with the pocket protectors and the tape on their glasses," he said.
"These guys could not get a date, and I did OK with the dating scene. I told them, 'If you'll teach me your computer skills, I'll tell you what girls like to hear,' " he said.
West said his computer knowledge grew by gigabytes, but he's not sure if the information exchange benefited the computer guys.
"I don't know how much they learned, but they haven't called back," he added.
West put out some fliers advertising tech support for computer owners, and while he was well-versed in PCs (personal computers), the first call he got was from the owner of the rival home computer, the Mac.
He said he told the caller "sure" he could help, though he knew nothing about the Mac, and then rushed out and bought "Mac for Dummies."
He said he made good money with computer services but decided to head back to South Carolina.

West said the knowledge and dedication to their tasks that he saw in the guys he once worked with inspired the A Geek To Go! name he chose for his new firm. But West is confident he's not really a geek himself.
From the beginning, West's computer business faced considerable competition. Local electronics stores field their own teams of experts that help residential and business customers set up and maintain their computers. West said he decided to carve out a niche for himself by focusing on Internet security.
"I knew I had to diversify. My motto is: If you keep on doing the same thing, you're going to get the same results," he said.
West said many computer users are finding that viruses and trojan malware are getting tougher to block and remove. Youths who do a lot of downloading inadvertently let in these computer infections, which, he said, are persistent at finding ways around or through the common household computer protection programs.
West said he developed plans for keeping his customers' PCs free of data destroying and operating-system-crippling infections. "I've worked with a lot of good security programs and bundled them together," he said.
West said the protection program he devised "runs automatically and independently," but should a bug slip by, he makes unlimited house calls as well as phone and remote support, all included in the subscription.
West said he has about 70 clients now, about 90 percent of them residential.

"I do work with some businesses, but my niche is the residential market," he said.

For information, see www.ageektogo.net.

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