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The LA Fox Developer Newsletter
October 1995
Dell Computer .
A PC Odyssey
by Barry R. Lee

“It all started off innocently enough.”

That seems to be my favorite opening line whenever I’m reviewing hardware or software goods and services. Well, it did start off innocently enough this time!

My company had just moved into new offices and I needed to get still another PC. (I currently have a 386 notebook, two 486/66 mHz desktops, and a
486/100 mHz machine.) Since my home office machines are linked together on a network, I had to face the reality of obtaining a new machine to network with the other ones going into the new office. The requirements were fairly simple and straight forward: the new machine had to be pentium-class with lotsa RAM, at least one 1.2 Gig drive, a 4X CDROM, tape back-up (which I was going to add myself, for reasons I’ll explain later), 17” monitor, etc.

Up until now, I had made a habit of building and rebuilding my machines to their present states. As a result, a certain “standardization” had evolved over the years I have always used Maxtor hard drives, because they’re very reliable and I can now change the master-slave jumpers in my sleep; Teac floppies, also very reliable (my oldest is at least 3-1/2 years old and hasn’t so much as hiccupped); and Conner TapeStor tape backup units, also very reliable and quite a bit less noisy than the more popular brands. I even have a “recycling” program going on, so that when I outgrow one hard drive, I simply pull it, add a larger one, make it a slave, and make the original HD a slave in one of my other boxes. It’s easy to do when they’re all the same. But this time, I decided I didn’t want to do that. Why not have somebody else build it for me? That way I wouldn’t have to worry about all those pesky lRQs, etc., and I could save some billable hours.

Here’s where the fun begins. I’ve always advised my clients that if they want to buy PCs, avoid mail order houses and opt instead for a source closer to their place of business. When the source is carefully selected, the reasons are obvious: better, more personal service; less turn-around time for repairs;
the building of stronger business relationships, etc. So, following my own advice, I set out.

First stop, MicroCenter, in Santa Ana. None of their off-the-shelf machines met my criteria, so I asked them to build me one. I was promptly informed that they didn’t have 1.2 Gig Maxtors, and why on earth would I want one to begin with. Not to worry, I’d try someplace else.

Next stop, CompUSA, Fountain Valley. It took approximately 36 seconds to walk in the front door, walk past the Acers, Packard Bells, etc., and walk back out again. Not to worry, I’d try someplace else.

Next stop, Fry’s, Fountain Valley. That venerable megamarket of electronics. Why hadn’t I thought of this before? After all, haven’t I purchased thousands of dollars of components from these people in the past? Well, the salesperson said he would be glad to help me if I would just walk around the store, jotting all the individual part numbers down on a piece of paper which he would then enter into a terminal which would then produce a quote for me. Wait a second I don’t think he realizes that I’m about to spend a few thousand dollars more if he will just walk around, gather the part numbers, and produce the quote for me. I ask him again, stating my intentions, and again I get the same answer. “Well then”, I say, “Can’t I just stand here, give you a description of the parts, i.e., Maxtor 1.2 Gig EIDE Hard Drive, you enter that in, get the part number and the price?” No, I’m told, I would have to walk around the store you know the rest. “Well, what happens when I get all the part numbers?” He answers, “You then take the quote to the service department for their assembly quote.” I’m starting to worry. I may have to consider mail order.

I come back to my new office and start looking through my latest copy of PC Magazine. “Let’s see, Dell has one of the best mail order reputations in the business I think I’ll give them a call.” I call the number, get connected with the order desk, and place the order - a Pentium system with a 15” monitor (I think I’ll save a few bucks and trade with one of my 17’s at home.). They tell me they’ll ship it to me at the office and it’ll be there in 10 days. Boy, oh boy! Is this painless, or what? But I can’t have my Maxtor HD or Teac floppy, I’m limited to what they have in stock. Oh well, I’m so beat down at this
(Con’t, page 6)
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