Paul, what do you consider to be an area that is free of "lurking thieves"?
If you were familiar with our location you would understand the chuckle I
got when reading it. Our store is located in Vancouver, BC, Canada. It is on
a very busy intersection in a good demographic area, less than a mile from
some of the most expensive homes in Vancouver. Our store is located on the
ground floor of an apartment building where the 'cheapest' unit sells for
more than 300k. You really can't find many areas in a North American city
that would be considered better, in this respect.
I've spent many years, not only in the cybercaf� business but in managing
retail store programs and theft is always a concern, regardless of where you
are located.
David mentioned security tags and sensors. We have those installed across
our front doors, primarily to protect or software retail area. All they
really do is cause thieves to open software packages and remove the jewel
case, leaving the package and sensor tag behind. The people who do this on a
regular basis know how to get around these systems, and they all have weak
points that can be easily exploited.
It would be great to live in a world were everyone is as honest as we view
ourselves to be, but that is not reality - at least not in any of the parts
of the world that I've traveled through. Although most people are generally
honest, it only takes one or two to cost you big bucks and inconvenience
your customers.
RonH
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Paul Balles
> Sent: Friday, December 08, 2000 7:24 AM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: RE: [cc] Keyboard, Video, Mouse, Audio
>
>
> The idea's right, the lesson's wrong.
>
> The idea: learn from experience.
>
> The lesson: learn not to conduct business where you've got to bolt
> everything down because of lurking thieves.
>
> Paul B
>
> At 05:41 AM 12/08/2000 -0800, yRon wrote:
> >Hi all,
> >
> >Some might consider it "paranoia" but I consider it "learning."
> >
> >All of our computers, except one, are enclosed in antitheft
> enclosures or in
> >cabinets. This was done initially, not because of a fear of customer
> >tampering, but because of a fear of break-ins at night. A
> computer store one
> >block from us was broken into 3 times in a two month period.
> With our high
> >profile and huge amounts of glass we felt that it might be an
> invitation to
> >have the computers to easily accessible.
> >
> >On our system, managed by Digital Access of course, the customers do not
> >have direct physical access to the floppy disk drives. One computer is
> >available for direct access and it has a floppy drive and Zip drive. This
> >station is our File Transfer Station. A customer can import or
> export files
> >through this station and they are automatically transferred to
> and from any
> >station that they sign onto. From the customer perspective, it's simply a
> >remote drive.
> >
> >This is the one computer, that I mentioned earlier, that is not enclosed.
> >Now for the "learning" part... One day last year, one of our patrons
> >unhooked all of its cables and walked off with the computer. The computer
> >that we replaced it with is now bolted down with a steel cable.
> >
> >This stolen computer is not isolated either. A couple of years ago we had
> >someone walk off with our fax machine.
> >
> >In a smaller operation this is less of an issue, but in a location were
> >staff can be drawn away from an area of the store, it's not difficult for
> >someone to walk away with your equipment - it only takes a few seconds.
> >
> >Ron H
> >=================================
> >Digital U Cybercaf�, Vancouver BC, Canada
> >Home of Digital Access
> >=================================
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > > Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2000 8:44 AM
> > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > > Subject: [cc] Keyboard, Video, Mouse, Audio
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi Guys,
> > >
> > > I was just in London for Thanksgiving, and had the opportunity to
> > > check out
> > > how easyEverything manages the security of their equipment. They
> > > obviously
> > > have the same level of distrust in human nature that I have,
> because they
> > > have constructed special desks which house 4 CPUs tipped up on
> > > their backs.
> > > All the customer has access to is the Keyboard, Flatscreen
> > > Monitor, and the
> > > Mouse (audio jack available on dashboard). When a technician
> needs access
> > > to the machine, the front of the table folds down (the flat screen is
> > > positioned to miss the keyboard shelf) For a picture click on
> > > http://www.easyeverything.com/photos/images/650%20pixels/p650.jpg
> > >
> > > Is anyone as paranoid about their equipment as I? Instead of custom
> > > building a similar table/cage system, does anyone have any
> ideas of how to
> > > inexpensively separate man from machine? I was thinking about
> > > rackmounting
> > > all user's machines, and just having 15 ft cables for Keyboard, Video,
> > > Mouse, and audio leading to a circular type banquet table.
> These 15 foot
> > > cables cost about $60 a pop (retail)! Can anyone think of a
> > > better system?
> > >
> > > Thanks!
> > >
> > > Matt
> > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> > > > Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2000 7:01 PM
> > > > To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]'
> > > > Subject: S Corp or LLC?
> > > >
> > > > Hi Guys,
> > > >
> > > > Does anyone have any recommendation as to what business
> entity is best
> > > suited for cybercafes? Specifically, I am considering either
> an "S" Corp
> > > (i.e. Inc.) or a Limited Liability Company (i.e. LLC).
> > > >
> > > > It is my understanding that both an S Corp and an LLC limits your
> > > liability as an officer or director. And both an S Corp and
> an LLC avoids
> > > "Doube Taxation" by allowing owners to treat income as
> "partners." The
> > > income from the cybercafe passes directly to the owner, and
> is reported on
> > > the owner's tax returns.
> > > >
> > > > Does anyone feel one way or the other, or have other ideas? Oh
> > > ya, and if
> > > anyone has had an experience incorporating online, I would be
> > > interested to
> > > hear what service they used.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks!
> > > >
> > > > Matt Sisson, MCSE
> > > >
> > > > The LLC combines many of the advantages of a corporation
> such as limited
> > > personal liability and the tax advantages of a partnership.
> An LLC offers
> > > limited personal liability protection to all of its owners (termed
> > > "Members"). It is treated like a partnership or S Corporation for tax
> > > purposes, allowing income or losses to be reported on the Members'
> > > individual tax returns, thereby avoiding double taxation.
> > > Business entities
> > > and individuals can be owners of an LLC.
> > > >
> > > > An S Corporation or Limited Liability Company are great tax planning
> > > tools, but they require professional guidance. We suggest
> that you discuss
> > > the tax considerations with your lawyer, accountant or tax
> advisor. Then,
> > > should you decide that an S Corporation is right for your company
> > >
> > >
> > >
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> Adliya, Bahrain
> (973)714828 / fax: (973) 771847
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