Ventura County Computers

Information may not be reliable

Why VCC?

Data, data, data. While other computer stores and Internet sites sell sealed boxes of computers, we sell computers configured to your specifications. Your email is set up, messages and addresses imported from your old machine, My Documents folder copied over and ready to use, all Windows Updates performed, full one year anti virus installed (not the typical 90 day trial copy most vendors install), virus definitions up-to-date and we'll even install your favorite programs on the new computer.
Bring a computer in for repair and at the first hint of hard drive problems, we copy your drive to a shop drive just in case your drive is starting to disintegrate. Our first priority is not to hardware, but to your data. You can always buy a new computer, but without your data, you are most likely lost. Sure, you should back up your data (sometimes we can't save the old drive), but we assume you don't have decent backups and try to preserve everything we can. If you do have decent backups so much the better. But if you haven't backed up since you took pictures of the family reunion, we've got you covered.
We also do onsite networking, software support and offer fixed-price maintenance contracts for businesses who need a part-time IT department. Our mail and web server hosts dozens of local businesses who want their own domain (www.mybusiness.com) and we also design web pages for our customers.
Partners Rick Smith (center) and Toby Scott (left) are both Microsoft Certified Professionals and along with Michael Shalkey (right) have a passion for computers. Rick is mainly focused on hardware, while Toby is more interested in software and networking, and Michael is mainly focused on systems, but all three are fascinated by computers, spend most of their spare time playing with them and care deeply about getting them to work correctly.
Toby is a past president of the Channel Islands PC Users Group (CIPCUG) and continues as Technical Advisor. Michael hosts frequent SIG's (Special Interest Groups) after the regular meeting and works the computer during the regular Q&A at the meetings while Toby works the microphone. VCC hosts frequent SIG's for CIPCUG at our offices which are available free of charge to CIPCUG members and VCC customers. Check out the current CIPCUG schedule of SIG's. The Windows Help menu contains notes from several SIG's.

Michael Shalkey was tagged by Rick as "The Cat In The Hat." when he first joined us. Somehow, the name has stuck. Every time someone says, "I wish I had . . ." Michael replies, "I have just the thing in the car."
Our webserver is located at a state-of-the-art facility at ISWest. Visit their site and take a tour of where our server is housed, with constant temperature and humidity controls, 24 hour battery and generator backups, and with direct connections to 10 tier-one backbone providers via a dual sonnet fiber ring with redundant OC-48's at its core. We are an excellent choice for your business web site and email accounts. If you need a website designed for you, we can do that, too. Visit VCC Web Design for samples of our work.
If you need exotic equipment built to order, we'd love to do that for you. Just give your specifications to our CFO (Chief Fido Officer), Roxy (pet her behind the ears while you're at it), or her able assistant, Margaurite. If you are lucky, you might be able to play with Esai and Elijah, Rick's babies.
We are experienced in building multi-processor, rack mount and multi-graphic card systems as well as super-charged gaming workstations. We will make sure you have what you need. And we'll all have fun doing it.
But with all the fun, we'll make sure your data is safe -- and we'll copy it all over to your new system for you. We'll even configure your Internet connections, do all the Microsoft Critical Updates and we always bring your virus definitions up-to-the-minute when we install an anti-virus program. We never leave an install with months out-of-date virus definitions. We have responsible fun.

HomeThe main page and intro to Rick and Toby, plus a map to our location.
SalesOur latest special pricing, information on current systems and information on the servers we sell.

WorkstationsCheck out our latest desktop systems.
Custom SystemsSome descriptions and pictures of custom systems we have built. If you want a unique system, check out some of these.
ServersWe build servers with Intel cases, motherboards, processors and offer three year warrantees on all our servers.

NetworksHow to design a home or small office network, setup a more sophisticed network and maintenance services provided by VCC

BroadbandHow to set up a home or small office network on DSL or cable modem, with suggestions for router settings and procedures.
DesignIf you need a more sophisticated network than just a simple file sharing one, we can design one for you.
MaintenanceVCC offers full maintenance packages for business

Web ServicesHow to point your domain to our servers, our web hosting services, how we design web pages for our customers (with examples of actual sites) and maintaining a web site.

EMail SetupNow to set up your mail program to work with our mail server.
Web HostingHave your web site hosted on our server. Here are the reasons why it is better than doing it yourself.
Web DesignThis link will take you offsite to our design studio where we discuss creating web pages and show samples of our work.

ResourcesOur articles, some web sites we find useful and an introduction to Ventura County's premier User Group.

ArticlesRick's Rants, his monthly column for CIPCUG and Toby's Q&A he does every month for CIPCUG and a few other items.
Help SitesSome sites we find useful, some help articles and a bit more.
User GroupThis will take you offsite to the Channel Islands PC User Group (CIPCUG) web site where you can read about the best resource in the county for learning about computers.