chmsant Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 (edited) Geek squads to upgrade cars that resemble police cruisersBy JUSTIN M. NORTON, Associated Press Writer Last Updated 7:48 pm PDT Thursday, August 25, 2005 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Agents of the computer fixing "Geek Squad" wear badges and uniforms and drive black and white cars - a look the California Highway Patrol fears too closely resembles actual police officers. The Volkswagen Beetles, emblazoned with a "Geek Squad" logo and painted black-and-white, are driven by men and women in white shirts and snap-on ties whose mission, for a fee, is to bring help to customers' homes, repairing and installing computers and entertainment systems. Best Buy Co. Inc. is now repainting its "Geek Squad" Beetles throughout California to comply with the highway patrol's request that the vehicles not look so much like their patrol cars, the company said Thursday. "If a new driver or an older driver sees this black and white vehicle they might think it's the police - they've got uniforms on and they've got badges on and could be mistaken for an officer," CHP spokesman Mike Herman said Thursday. The decision to repaint cars stemmed from a traffic stop in Walnut Creek, Calif., in June when a Geek Squad member was charged with breaking a California law that says, "No person shall own or operate a motor vehicle painted ... to resemble a motor vehicle used by a peace officer or traffic officer on duty." Best Buy then worked with the highway patrol to eliminate similarities. Vehicle doors on "Geekmobiles" will now be painted be all black. Police said they don't know of any law enforcement divisions that use Beetles but wanted to avoid any cases of mistaken identity. Company spokesman Kevin Cockett said most of the California vehicles have already been repainted. The Geek Squad, which repairs computers around the clock, strives for an official look. Their Web site asks customers to locate a "geek squad precinct" near their homes and notes that agents wear badges to "prevent impostors." "We wanted our uniforms and our geekmobiles to reflect a task force that helps people with technology woes," Cockett said, adding that no changes are being made in other states. Best Buy, based in Minneapolis, previously announced it would open 20-to-50 Geek Squad technology support stores in urban areas within the next two years. The heck they look like police cars. Since when do I want my beatle getting repainted [/vent] So yeah.... no more black and white... simply black. Edited August 28, 2005 by cswadner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahfunaki Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 thats stupid... at least it's just in CA not in ever other state... the Bug at our store shall stay the same Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangbang023 Veteran Posted August 26, 2005 Veteran Share Posted August 26, 2005 The heck they look like police cars. Since when do I want my beatle getting repainted [/vent] So yeah.... no more black and white... simply black. 586434973[/snapback] From the article, I believe only the doors will be repainted and not the whole car meaning there will be white on the automobile. I wonder if this change will be done country wide or just in that market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chmsant Posted August 26, 2005 Author Share Posted August 26, 2005 From the article, I believe only the doors will be repainted and not the whole car meaning there will be white on the automobile. I wonder if this change will be done country wide or just in that market. 586434990[/snapback] "We wanted our uniforms and our geekmobiles to reflect a task force that helps people with technology woes," Cockett said, adding that no changes are being made in other states. Thankfully just good ol' california.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macrosslover Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 same color or not who would confuse a beetle for a police cruiser come on now that's just retarded. that's like confusing taxi's that used to be former police cars as police cars. you initially might make the mistake but once you look closer you realize they are not real. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangbang023 Veteran Posted August 26, 2005 Veteran Share Posted August 26, 2005 Thankfully just good ol' california.... 586435006[/snapback] I guess we both should had read more carefully lol. Thanks for clearing it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daviesbad04 Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 Correct me if Im wrong, but didnt people on Neowin help the Geek Squad with theyre logo?. I am almost certain a while back someone made a post with the logo and asked for someone on here to change the words font or something of the sort. Anybody else remember this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laptop Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 (edited) Pics? Edited August 26, 2005 by Laptop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spartan_X Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 ever since the LAPD drives VW beattles? :laugh: I mean, hello! the car shape is totally different... :p LAPD car Geek Squad car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kombolcha Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 i've never seen a black and white geek car.. even in the commericals they're orange and white. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMilner Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 i've never seen a black and white geek car.. even in the commericals they're orange and white. 586436302[/snapback] Are you sure? I've only seen black and white ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fighter-X Posted August 27, 2005 Share Posted August 27, 2005 I live in California and I don't understand how a beatle would look like a police car. Its just stupid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chmsant Posted August 27, 2005 Author Share Posted August 27, 2005 See the other upsetting thing, is that a GS agent was pulled over for having a vehicle that resembles a cop car.. There are sooo many other crimes going on, and things that the officers could be doing, but no, they have to pull over a harmless double agent going about his buisness. ARRGHH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L3thal Veteran Posted August 27, 2005 Veteran Share Posted August 27, 2005 Is this why the Geek Squad agents at my store are starting to wear black Geek Squad polos? I guess I will have to find out tomorrow ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raekwon Posted August 27, 2005 Share Posted August 27, 2005 A new paint job is an "upgrade"?! Gotta love the headline writing at Neowin . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chmsant Posted August 27, 2005 Author Share Posted August 27, 2005 A new paint job is an "upgrade"?!Gotta love the headline writing at Neowin . . . 586439082[/snapback] Simply copying the headline from Associated Press Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangbang023 Veteran Posted August 27, 2005 Veteran Share Posted August 27, 2005 Is this why the Geek Squad agents at my store are starting to wear black Geek Squad polos? I guess I will have to find out tomorrow ;) 586437918[/snapback] No, that's probably newer guys who have yet to get in their full uniform Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xpablo Posted August 27, 2005 Share Posted August 27, 2005 Even in Canada they're Black & White Beetles, then there's a similar company in Canada called Nerds on Site they drive Red Beetles. (nerdsonsite.ca) so you must be a Geek or a Nerd to drive a new VW Beetle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieF Posted August 27, 2005 Share Posted August 27, 2005 The geek squads use orange and white bugs here o_O Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Statikk Posted August 27, 2005 Share Posted August 27, 2005 (edited) Actually they aren't being "repainted" because they were never painted in the first place. All the Geekmobiles started out as being plain black New Beetles. Everything you see on them other than black is high quality decals. They simply have to change the door decals and add white ones to the litte running board area under the door. The incredibly stupid thing about it is the cars still look as much like highway patrol as they always did if you're in front of/behind someone. My Geekmobile is still in the shop, so I was driving my partner's last night (he's on vacation) and when I pulled behind people on the freeway they still moved out of the way just like they always have. You can tell when people are moving because they just wanted to change lanes vs thinking you are CHP. If you drive down the center lane at night and you get a "parting of the Red Sea" type effect then you know they thought you were a CHP. Thankfully, by being in the shop I missed having my decals changed. I'm sure I only delayed it though. :( Correct me if Im wrong, but didnt people on Neowin help the Geek Squad with theyre logo?. I am almost certain a while back someone made a post with the logo and asked for someone on here to change the words font or something of the sort. Anybody else remember this? 586435107[/snapback] The logo has been around since the mid nineties. The company was started in 1994 in Minneapolis, MN. It was NOT designed by a Neowinian. :p The geek squads use orange and white bugs here o_O 586439659[/snapback] That's not us. We have no orange/white Geekmobiles. That is the new Cali Geekmobile. Edited August 27, 2005 by Double Agent 678 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L3thal Veteran Posted August 27, 2005 Veteran Share Posted August 27, 2005 That Geek Squad car actually looks very good. I like it over the older ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daviesbad04 Posted August 27, 2005 Share Posted August 27, 2005 The title should be changed because if a new decal job to the geek mobiles is an upgrade, than so is a sticker on my PC case :no: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Statikk Posted August 28, 2005 Share Posted August 28, 2005 That Geek Squad car actually looks very good. I like it over the older ones. 586440663[/snapback] Yea, I've been driving my partners car all day and I've got used to it a little more. It just sucks not being the same as the other 49 states + Canada. Maybe they'll throw a Cali bug in one of the new commercials later this year. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chmsant Posted August 28, 2005 Author Share Posted August 28, 2005 The title should be changed because if a new decal job to the geek mobiles is an upgrade, than so is a sticker on my PC case :no: 586440679[/snapback] I agree that some new decals != an upgrade :rolleyes: 586441662[/snapback] Again... I am simply titling the article in accordance with what the Associated Press used, but fine i'll alter the title a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turkishdelight Posted August 28, 2005 Share Posted August 28, 2005 I agree that some new decals != an upgrade :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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