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Story and photo by Suzanne Nielsen and reprinted with permission of the
Daily Herald.
December 17, 2003
James Wright has opened a computer consultancy business, providing commercial and residential consulting, computer service and repair, and web advertising and design.
Wright came to Saba at the end of July with his Saban partner Kathy Sagers, whom he met in college. Sagers is now career counselor at Saba Comprehensive School. Wright turned his attention immediately to setting himself up in a sole proprietor business and creating a business web presence.
Wright graduated with a degree in Information Systems from Pace University, Pleasantville, NY, and worked for a year in technical support at IBM's Poughkeepsie, NY, operation.
Wright says that his first love has always been computers, and he worked in related businesses throughout high school and college. When he started on a Computer Science degree, however, he realized that his personality needed more social contact than something this purely technical provided. He felt "boxed in" and turned to informational technologies and technical support, which supplied the human interface and hands-on activities that he was seeking.
Wright is currently working out of his home in The Bottom, where he converted a room into an office/repair shop, brought in air-conditioning, and equipped it with other computer friendly protection. He "does house calls" because, he said, many repairs may be done on the spot. This gets many anxious customers up and running quickly. If the computer requires shop treatment, his goal is to satisfy the customer within 48 hours, unless parts need to be ordered. The supplies he carries consist mainly of accessories, common components, parts, cables, software, drives, and expansion cards. At this time, the business will not carry a large inventory of items such as printers, monitors, fax machines, etc., but it will advise the customer on the most appropriate system and manufacturer, and place the order. The customer advantage is a full year service warranty.
His extensive web site, still under construction, has blocked out some innovative features: downloads of the most recent virus fixes, a form for people to sell used computer equipment, a checklist of parts that Wright has in inventory, a schedule for the adult computer education class he teaches, an FAQ section, and a chat room. The multilingual site includes introductions in Dutch, Spanish, and French. Wright has also included copies of his credentials to reassure potential customers that he is well prepared to give reliable service.
Wright says that his experience and education did not totally prepare him for the rigors of Saba's tropical climate. He is currently working on a "dos and don'ts" computer security handbook for customers with electronic appliances. He pointed out, for example, that a surge protector is not enough in a severe Caribbean electrical storm. Many people place their computers in front of a window: understandable with Saba's magnificent views. "This position brings in a lot of moist air," Wright observed. He has seen rusted elements in places he though would be safe from climate stress. He recommends placing the computer against an inside wall.
Wiring is an interesting exercise, he noted, because many of Saba's newer homes have concrete walls. A work around is the newer technology of wireless networking, and he has submitted a proposal to an island government agency to do just that.
Wright looks ahead to a Saba equipped with technologies that provide improved internet service, perhaps over satellite. He has definitely staked out a claim to be part of this future.
Saba Computer Consulting may be reached at 416-3587, info@sabacomputerconsulting.com, or on his web site www.sabacomputerconsulting.com.
Photo:: James Wright of Saba Computer Consulting.
Click here for a larger version of the photo.
 Back to community news page.
Story and photograph © Suzanne Nielsen, 2005.
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