Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!gatech!hao!oddjob!gargoyle!ihnp4!cbosgd!osu-eddie!mdf From: mdf@osu-eddie.UUCP (Mark D. Freeman) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc Subject: Re: New PC Retail store. Message-ID: <3787@osu-eddie.UUCP> Date: Fri, 10-Jul-87 14:23:05 EDT Article-I.D.: osu-eddi.3787 Posted: Fri Jul 10 14:23:05 1987 Date-Received: Sun, 12-Jul-87 13:21:00 EDT References: <452@osupyr.UUCP> Reply-To: mdf@osu-eddie.UUCP (Mark D. Freeman) Organization: StrongPoint Systems, Inc.; Columbus, OH. (guest of Ohio State U.) Lines: 94 In <452@osupyr.UUCP> glazer@osupyr.UUCP (Jon Glazer) writes: >A new computer store has just opened in the OSU area. I have discussed computers extensively with the folks at this store. They are about as uninformed about computers as your average computer store salesperson. They have one or two programmers there, but they have almost no knowledge of the industry, trends, competing products, or even of many products they sell and are using themselves. They are running their business on Kimtron's K-net. Their prices are OK, but YOU had better KNOW WHAT YOU NEED before you go there. Their advice seemed to me to be based on very little information, although well-intentioned. And you get to buy from a little hole in the wall shop which may not be around in 6 months. Now, as for the pot calling the kettle black. We sell computers, software, consulting and custom programming and we don't even have a hole in the wall to work out of. We work out of a spare bedroom in my house. If people feel uncomfortable about that, we do the consulting and send them elsewhere for the hardware. People come to us becuase we know what we are talking about. We have been doing this since before micros existed (although not for this company). >Stop is and check out the good deals. Mention this notice. As far as I am concerned, this is a prohibited commercial use of the net. You must be looking for some personal gain by posting this, as you want your notice mentioned when folks go into this place. We will be a net site within 60 days (on a 386 box running SCO XENIX). When we announce our presence, it will not be an advertisement for our services as that would be wildly inappropriate. *** I'm just tired of people telling me what a great deal they got at Computrade or Micro Center, etc.. They got a good price, but on what? Their systems have no relationship to what they need to do with it; they just bought what was on sale. Then, six months later, they come to us to have us try to bail them out. One example: Find me an AT clone at these stores that can handle a 1.2M floppy, a 360K floppy (to reliably transfer information with XTs) and a tape backup unit -- internally. I doubt you will find one. We have them. They can also handle two half height hard disks along with the above, have 12 slots and a 238W power supply! Yes, their boxes are cheaper. But if they won't handle what you need, who cares? They are great boxes, but not for serious business use due to lack of expandability. (My opinion.) If you need multiuser, do you buy XENIX or 3COM or NOVELL? They don't sell XENIX because they don't understand it. They sell whichever of Novell or 3COM they can get in the grey market cheaper. They generally don't have a clue as to how these networks work. We just helped a client who bought a system with 3COM on it from a major chain in town. It was an AT server with XT stations, which the store claimed would run as fast as ATs because of the AT server! Further, they were sold Novell versions of the word processing software! Further, they were sold full network copies for each station (Each of these copies license 3 workstations)! Further, they were sold an Intel AboveBoard to add 128K to their server to bring it to 384K. That was all they wanted, 128K. So they were sold a $600 board! My point is that this client got great prices on everything he bought. But what he bought was totally off the wall. It was all on the advice of a salesperson who could barely load DOS onto a PC. We see this sort of thing at least once a month, and we do NO ADVERTISING. Imagine how many folks are in this boat. Your job may depend on getting a system running well in your office. Think of who you are asking for advice. Just because someone is behind the counter at a computer store does not mean they are qualified to do more than write up a sales ticket. My suggested moral: Talk to a consultant for a couple of hours ($100-200) before going into a place like Micro Gallery. The extra money spent will keep you from making very expensive mistakes. I hope this doesn't sound too much like an advertisement for our firm, as that is not the intent. It is an advertisement for seeking professional advice before you spend your (or your bosses) money on a 'great deal'. -- < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < <> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Mark D. Freeman mdf@osu-eddie.uucp StrongPoint Systems, Inc. mdf@Ohio-State.arpa 2440 Medary Avenue ...!cbosgd!osu-eddie!mdf Columbus, OH 43202 Guest account at The Ohio State University (614) 262-3703 < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < <> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >