What we actually put in a $175 new-computer setup
A new laptop out of the box isn't ready to work on. Here's the actual walkthrough of what happens before we hand it back.
Why the sticker price and the working price aren't the same thing
A new computer straight out of the box has none of your files, none of your logins, none of your printer, and a list of Windows or macOS updates that can take an hour on its own before anything else can happen. "New computer setup from $175" is the work that turns a sealed box into a machine someone can actually sit down and use — the part that doesn't show up on the receipt from the store.
What actually happens
We start with updates — OS, firmware, drivers — before touching anything else, because installing software on top of an unpatched system just means redoing it. Then data transfer from the old machine: files, browser bookmarks and saved logins where the browser supports it, and email account setup so mail is there on first login, not something the new owner has to hunt down.
From there it's peripheral and printer setup (the thing that eats the most unplanned time on a self-managed setup), removing manufacturer bloatware and trial software nobody asked for, and a final walkthrough so whoever's using it knows where things landed — not just handed back and hoped for the best.
What moves the price
The $175 figure is the floor: a straightforward one-machine setup with a normal amount of data to move. What changes it is volume of data, how many accounts and pieces of software need reconfiguring, and whether the old machine is cooperating — a healthy old drive versus one that's failing changes how long data transfer actually takes. We quote it in writing before starting, same as everything else on this site.
Thirty minutes, no obligation.