[SLL] Who builds Linux systems locally?

[Paul Franz]

On Wed, April 8, 2009 11:28 am, Paul Allen wrote:
> On Wed, 2009-04-08 at 08:12 -0700, David Hamilton wrote:

> Anyone remember Bear Computer, or Cutting
> Edge Computer, both in Bellevue?  I've used Computer Stop (just
> across Northup from where Cutting Edge used to be)

Bear Computer is still there, roughly across Northup Way on the north side of the
street from their last location. Computer Stop is now part of the same business as
Hard Drives Northwest. Same owner.

For many years I was a reseller too. We manufactured and sold workstation PC's and
servers mostly to support Engineering offices. Then, the sales practices of a plethora
of dealers were concentrated on low priced Taiwanese parts and low margin. Hence, not
agreat deal of technical knowledge was available. Those kinds of places should not be
compared to the likes of Pogo, who supplies parts, components and systems with quality
and tested functionality. Pogo has been a contributor to Linux Fest and each of my
contacts with them has revealed the characteristics of a quality reseller/consultant
that is not what you get from those selling based primarily on price competition.

Even if you have all of what it takes to assemble a computer from parts, the process
for one or even a few is very time consuming especially if you have to swap out a bad
component or two via RMA. All the risk of functionality by a time schedule is assumed
by a quality reseller and a good one like Pogo giving you an expectation of getting
something that works and works well and that your selection of components is driven by
continuous research and testing of currently available components and technologies.
So, picking one of these kinds of resellers is a far different thing than using Bear
and far easier than doing it yourself.

-- 
Paul Franz
425.440.9505 (O)
425.241.1618 (C)