On Sun, 2004-05-16 at 17:59, John Franklin wrote: > On May 16, 2004, at 3:41 PM, Jeremy Portzer wrote: > > John Franklin wrote: > > > >> I can't tell you the number of times I've wanted to open a computer > >> store called "Top Shelf Computing" just two doors down from Intrex > >> stocked with components that aren't cheap junk. <shrug> > > > There is a store like that, known as "Stay Online" -- they are located > > at > > 55 and Sedwick Rd. near RTP. They used to have several other > > locations in > > the area but couldn't survive due to the necessary higher prices for > > higher quality components. > > > > Look back through the archives of this list and you will see many rants > > about high prices at Stay Online. You can't have it both ways. > > I have patronized SO in the past, where my needs met their products. > I'm not so concerned with their prices, which indeed may not be the > ragged edge of competitive, but rather what they stock being well > beyond my needs. SO carries a lot of industrial level stuff. Take, > for example their non-GigE switches.[1] They have a couple models that > are useful in a home network, but the majority of them are 16 or 24 > port (far more than I need) or include fiber ports or module bays. > They're stuff is probably good, but I've only got a few machines, not a > data center. > > What I'd like is a selection of high quality NICs (3COMs, Intel Pros), > suitable for a "prosumer" hobbyist without having to wade through a > bunch of cheap Taiwanese knock-offs, most of which have known hardware > bugs. > > [1] http://www.stayonline.com/switches/index.asp > jf
Take the plunge! Open up a Fries franchise here. I'm sure it wouldn't take more than a 1/4 million to get started, that's five "family and friends" at $50,000 each. Store space is darn cheap right now and you clearly feel there is a market for it - so go for it! Jon -- TriLUG mailing list : http://www.trilug.org/mailman/listinfo/trilug TriLUG Organizational FAQ : http://trilug.org/faq/ TriLUG Member Services FAQ : http://members.trilug.org/services_faq/ TriLUG PGP Keyring : http://trilug.org/~chrish/trilug.asc
