| CHRISTMAS COMPUTERS by Scott Jackson Published December 1996 (Index of Other Articles) |
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With the holidays upon us and Christmas shopping notions competing for our attention there will no doubt be many who take the big dive and buy a computer system. If so, it is probably not to early to conduct some homework ahead of time in order to identify the right system and components. And if you are interested in having it by Christmas you stand a better chance of avoiding out-of-stock situations by getting started now (and if you want to take the tax advantage of buying the equipment for a business time is running out for making the claim for your 1996 return.
If you are buying your first computer there is a fundamental decision to be made. Go with local merchant or purchase via discount house/mail order. I have had experience both ways. While ordering a name brand directly over the phone is convenient and the sales staff is so very eager and helpful you may do yourself a great favor by calling their technical support line to see how long it takes for you to find a technician. It appears to be a maxim of sorts that the technical support line will be no more than half a responsive as the sales line (which probably foretells their cash flow position). You don’t want to be a newbie with a new computer and have to wait endlessly over the phone listening to the droning of piped-in music that you simply abhor. And then attempt to work mechanical and software adjustments over the phone. While it can be done.....after about 2-3 hours of this the benefit of buying locally becomes more evident.
Local merchants are more apt to see you through all of the technical challenges that invariably surface as you explore your computer’s capabilities Local merchants have a vested interest in your business and repeat business and can personally guide you through the technical hoops. By the same token you have to be careful not to be lured by tremendous prices on systems and components from those working from no-overhead positions. This is the "hacker" who orders parts, assembles them in his home and then sells the system to you. These home shops may be running on a shoe-string and maybe staffed too thin (i.e. one) to cover the customer base adequately as I recently found out. I was lured by prices and duped on delivery (a one month delivery). Thank goodness Computer Systems Technology helped me out with some technical assistance.
If you are a more experienced user or you know somebody that can assist with the technical challenges than you may feel more comfortable with a direct order. The local merchants that are chamber members ready to serve you are Computer Systems Technology (has donated computer to chamber staff for the chamber’s Internet connection), ETS Computers, Brandon Smith Computers, Universal Computer Center, EZ PC Computer Services, and KASCO Computer Services.
No doubt there will be many more people connected to the Internet come January. And if you are upgrading a computer system and don’t know how to get rid of your old system or know what it’s market value is give serious consideration to donating it to a school or library. There can be some tax benefits to donating to schools as certain foundations and tax status changes are in place to allow the claiming as charitable donations.
This article was published in the December 1996 issue of Coastlines, a publication for the Fort Walton Beach (FL) Chamber of Commerce courtesy of the Daily News