Someone can come and pick up those stacks of CDs and load every track onto an iPod -- and answer any questions about how to work it. The technician repairing your home computer may take some time to help you set up your personal digital assistant.
If you ask nicely, some techs might even take a look at that VCR.
"I've driven over an hour and turned on somebody's monitor," said Marty Stranges, who owns In Home PC, a repair service based in Peters. "I made them happy, but I wish I hadn't driven two hours."
It happens. Stranges and his employees take those opportunities to educate the computer user on how the system works. They'll tell their customers how to protect the computer from viruses and other harmful programs, what not to download, and of course, where to find the "on" switch.
This year, people will spend about $4.5 billion on personal computers and laptops, according to Gartner, a technology research company. But because the home repair business is relative new and made up of many small, independent firms, industry figures are not available.
Once the domain of a trusted family member or perhaps a neighbor, the geek business also is going corporate, as chains such as Best Buy, Circuit City and CompUSA are all starting to offer in-home services. Additionally, some business-minded techies are starting their own shops or opening a franchised business.
Costs for services vary. Best Buy's Geek Squad offers a flat fee starting at $129.
The Geek Squad sends out Double Agents -- clad in white shirt-sleeves and clip-on black ties -- with some background on stereo systems and other electronics, so after examining a computer, they can stick around to give advice on setting up a home theater system.
"If they do ask, we are capable of fixing what they ask," said Michael Figliolia, an agent at the Best Buy in North Fayette.
Jay Armstrong, who owns Sewickley-based Computer House Call, said his technicians try to avoid fixing anything digital other than a computer, but not always.
"It may be fax machine we'll handle, a copy machine -- we'll take a look," he said. "We were, like, the audio-video geeks in high school."
House-call service for loading music on iPods, provided by a Florida outfit called LoadPod, is primarily a time-saver. LoadPod's local representative, Ben Rister, a computer-science doctoral student by day, said he hasn't yet met anyone who can't work an iPod. But he'll answer questions if a user asks.
House-call techs aren't averse to equipping the average user with more knowledge of the electronics they're using. But when it comes to difficult repairs, they'll definitely recommend using a professional.
"If I had a tumor in my head," Armstrong said, "I wouldn't do my own brain surgery."
-- The Chicago Tribune contributed to this report
Derek J. Fuchs can be reached at dfuchs@tribweb.com or (412) 320-7987.