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Personal Tech Support for Your Computer & More
Need help solving your computer problems, setting up a printer or syncing your smartphone with your computer? Or maybe you serve as tech support to assorted friends and family? There are reliable online professional support services that will do the work for you.
These services use an application to connect to your computer remotely, so all you need to do is sit back and watch. And if your tech expert needs your input, he or she will hold your hand through the process.
None of these comes cheap, so it may be best to wait until you need it to sign up.
NortonLive Ultimate Help Desk
Get 24/7 unlimited help from U.S. and Canadian-based experts for issues relating to your Mac or Windows computer, network and peripherals, including syncing between your camera, mp3 player or smartphone and your computer. The NortonLive Ultimate Help Desk also includes tune-ups to help your computer run faster and setting up smartphones and tablets.
Price for one computer: One-time $49.99 set-up fee, plus $199.99 per year or $19.99 per month
Price for three computers: One-time $69.99 set-up fee, plus $299.99 per year or $29.99 per month
McAfee TechMaster Concierge Gold and Platinum Support
With McAfee Concierge Gold, you’ll get 24/7 support for operating system issues, hardware and software conflicts, network issues and problems with any peripherals you may attach to your Mac or Windows computer. They’ll also help you reinstall your operating system or upgrade, which could be useful with Windows 8 coming this fall.
When you step up to Platinum, you get all the feature of Gold Concierge plus your tech support experts will be North American-based and you’ll get McAfee’s Total Protection, Mobile Security or All Access included for one computer.
Price for Concierge Gold: $179.95 for one year
Price for Concierge Platinum with McAfee Total Protection: $299.95 for one year
Price for Concierge Platinum with McAfee Mobile Security: $299.95 for one year
Price for Concierge Platinum with McAfee All Access: $349.95 for one year
Support.com
For Windows PCs and their peripherals (no Macs), smartphones and tablets, Support.com offers unlimited 24/7 help from U.S. and Canada-based tech experts. In addition to troubleshooting, you can receiving training on how to use your computer, computer tune-ups and help with your network (including a security check).
Price for one computer: One-time $40.00 set-up fee, plus $199.99 per year or $19.99 per month
Price for three computers: One-time $80.00 set-up fee, plus 399.99 per year or $39.99 per month
Discussion 
I’ve had to use phone support in the past and absolutely despise having to deal with cue card readers and people who know less than I do about a problem. I’ve called Dell, Kodak, HP (spent 5 HOURS on the phone with various people only to be told what I already knew - hard drive crash upon boot) and been condescended to when I’ve asked a question; have explained the steps already gone through and had to complete again because the “tech” can’t go from the end point, and have been transferred so many times I’ve lost track of the person with whom I’m speaking. I’m a little above average user and can do a lot of maintenance myself - have yet to have tech support give me any help without having to take my computer in and having a real person fix whatever is wrong.
I have been paying 19.99 a month to NortonLive UHD Personal Plan (Monthly) out of my checking account since 12/04/2013. i needed help yesterday 4/14/2014 and they cannot find my account. I showed them my bank statement where it is being deducted and sent to them, but I had to cancel that and buy again. I still do not know where my money was going and who got it.I have the receipt showing I purchased the service. Now what to do?
Hi Karen. Sorry to hear you had trouble with your Norton UHD Personal Plan. I’ve reached out to Symantec regarding your situation and will hopefully get a response soon.
From Mary Lisa Gara on March 29, 2012 :: 11:41 am
I WAS GIFTED WITH MUCH COMMON SENSE AND AM ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SPONGED UP MOSTLY EVERYTHING AND HAVE LEARNED A 100 YEAR OLD LIFETIME OF INFORMATION AT HALF THAT AGE. I AM HERE FOR YOU IF YOU NEED ME TO ANSWER ANYTHING. THANK YOU. MARY LISA:)
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