Gabston-Howell Services

We have altruistically provided services to our community for some number of years now. This has traditionally included electronic, computer and web services, although other resources have been made available on a case-by-case, as-needed, basis. As much as has been possible, certainly in most cases, these services have been provided on a pro-bono basis; yet, this is not sustainable on a family budget over the long-haul; so, we have often not been able to do everything that we have wanted to do for our neighbors.

Without tooting our own horns about it, here is a short-list of the services which we, as a family, provide to the public:

Computer system recycling.

Book recycling.
We are currently in the midst of sorting through the books that our children have, effectively, out-grown. Instead of tossing these books--Utter sacrilege to us!--or dumping them on the doorstep of Goodwill or the Salvation Army; we feel that these could be better used by the local public K-8. Many children on the West-Side of Long Beach live in Low-SES conditions or, in some cases, worse conditions than what "Low-SES" might otherwise imply.

If you have children's books that you have no use for--in good condition--please consider donating them to your local school; or, if your school has no immediate need for them, please consider contacting us to arrange for the books to be given directly to Low-SES students who may have no books at home (a situation that is more common than you might want to allow yourself to imagine).

Zero-cost (or very low-cost) computing equipment provided to the Low-SES residents of our neighborhood.
We have observed that personal computers and Internet access are considered to be an unnecessary luxury on the part of some of the low-income families in our neighborhood, because they are living--essentially--hand to mouth. Whenever our resources permit doing so, we will provide functioning computers to those who cannot afford them. In most cases, this provision will be at zero-cost to the recipients. This is what we consider to be an essential part of our campaign to enhance the literacy of preschool and school-aged children.

Zero-cost (or very low-cost) computing equipment repair/upgrade services for the Low-SES residents of our neighborhood.
Computing equipment is merely an interconnected set of electro-mechanical devices; and, as such, they fail.
Whenever it is possible for us to do so, we utilize donated, recovered or low-cost parts/sub-assemlies to perform repairs for those who would be otherwise forced to dispose of, or relegate to disuse, equipment which could be returned to productive service for their families. Any cost associated with repairs or upgrades will be limited to the exact direct costs we incur to provide such services to our community.

Limited Operating System support assistance for the families of Long Beach.
It's a fact that Microsoft Windows is a security nightmare; and all too few people know what to do when something goes horribly wrong. You may not even realize that you have a virus, worm or trojan on your computer--you just know that the machine isn't running as fast as it used to, and strange things happen now and then. You may have gotten a notice from your Internet Service Provider that you've been identified as having SPAMmed the blazes out of a bunch of very angry folks. Something's up, and you aren't sure what it is.

A certain portion of these cases represent a compromised Operating System, which may be offering your computers resources to be used by other individuals from as far away as the other side of the globe. Some systems are so badly compromised that an Operating System reload is the best solution; but, this is best reserved as the solution of last resort. Unfortunately, when you call the tech support line of your computer vendor, the solution of first-resort is an Operating System reload. Kiss your data good-bye.

In many cases, a less radical solution will fully eradicate the nasties, and keep your data intact. If you are subject to such ailments, and don't want to delete everything you have on your system because you've been trojaned; you may find us to be of assistance in identifying and resolving the situation for you; while showing you how to reduce the chances of system compromises in the future.

As compromised systems are plentiful and our time is limited, we will do what we can for you at zero-cost to you. We accept remediation tasks on a case-by-case basis; with fore-stated priority being accorded to CAliVA.org enrollees and their parents.

You need to network your computers...what the heck does that mean?
In the home, home office (SOHO) or small business setting; it's fairly common to have the need to network your computers to give each one access to that fast line to the Internet, or to save on your printing costs. When this is done incorrectly, you'll often find yourself regretting ever having tried the strategy. Oftentimes, you only need a bit of advice from a certified old-hand at networking, to turn what looks like a dismal failure into the success you wanted from the beginning.

We can offer reasonable network consulting services at zero-cost to the families of Long Beach. This gives you the advantage of knowing which equipment to select, and how everything will fit together to construct a security-enhanced networking environment for every computer in your home. You'll also derive the benefit of learning what pitfalls to avoid before making the (often expensive) mistakes that teach you the lesson of hard-knocks.

SOHO or Small Business Networking/Network Migration Consulting
You operate a for-profit business in your home, home office or at a location away from the home; and the man or woman you have working for you, who is "pretty good" at computers, software and networking, has reached the limit of his or her hands-on skillset. You need somebody from outside your organization to sit down with and assist you in addressing an immediate or near-future need; or in planning for the next five years of growth. Perhaps you've grown tired of the escalating costs of licensing Operating Systems and application suites, and are looking for alternatives which will enhance your productivity, decrease your downtime, and reflect positively on your bottom line.

You may wish to have us analyze your present situation, and make lucid recommendations for your approval and implementation.

Linux Adoption and/or Migration Consulting.
You have heard the praises and horror stories about Linux from a variety of sources. Who do you believe--the MCSEs with their life savings invested in Microsoft stock and a stake in weekly-renewed software subscriptions; or the wild-eyed fanatics who seek the destruction of the free-market system and a return to the stone age? As always, the truth lies somewhere between these two (exaggerated) extremes.

Linux isn't always right for everybody or every organization. Partial adoption is a possibility, as is a full-migration or staying exactly where you are today. It's best to learn the facts about how you can implement Open Source software in a variety of ways in your business, without ever having to move from Microsoft Windows. It's also best to learn how disruptive a migration from Microsoft software might be for you; as well as the cost advantages--in terms of reduced licensing fees, increased uptime and productivity, and enhanced data security--you may derive from a migration from what some call the definitive security and licensing nightmare.

Change is best when it is accomplished within the right time-frame for you and your organization. We stand ready to assist you in making that determination for yourself.

Web Services
From time-to-time, we have provided graphic arts and web site crafting services to members of the Long Beach community, and beyond. We offer zero and limited/low-cost assistance to those wishing to establish an Internet presence for their commercial ventures and personal interests. Each case is evaluated on an individual basis.

Low-Cost Domain Registry and Web Hosting
To Be Announced (This will be a demand-driven service offering.)

If you have been the beneficiary of our service offerings in the past or present, please consider assisting us in our efforts to help others by donating through one of the links provided at the bottom of every page on this site.