Geek Squads to update their cars....


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Geek squads to upgrade cars that resemble police cruisers

By 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 by cswadner
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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.

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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.

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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.

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"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....

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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.

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Thankfully just good ol' california....

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I guess we both should had read more carefully lol. Thanks for clearing it up.

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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?

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i've never seen a black and white geek car.. even in the commericals they're orange and white.

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Are you sure? I've only seen black and white ones.

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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

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A new paint job is an "upgrade"?!

Gotta love the headline writing at Neowin . . .

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Simply copying the headline from Associated Press

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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 ;)

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No, that's probably newer guys who have yet to get in their full uniform

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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.

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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?

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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

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That's not us. We have no orange/white Geekmobiles.

newgride.jpg

That is the new Cali Geekmobile.

Edited by Double Agent 678
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That Geek Squad car actually looks very good.  I like it over the older ones.

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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. :(

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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:

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I agree that some new decals != an upgrade :rolleyes:

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Again... I am simply titling the article in accordance with what the Associated Press used, but fine i'll alter the title a bit.

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