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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'.

-- 
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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
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