[SUMMARY] Cheap PCs

[hal@deer-run.com (Hal Pomeranz)]

Rob Kolstad wrote to me and said 

   "Read the newspaper.  Go to used computer stores.  There are no
    nation-wide solutions to this problem."

By and large, this appears to be the correct answer, though there is
some reason for hope (see below).

Several people wrote in to report that most of the big name outfits
(CompUSA, PC Zone, etc.) usually have specials on older systems that
are essentially taking up shelf space.  Also, many online stores have
a "basement" area which sells gear like this.  In particular, Bruce
Hamilton recommends http://www.jemcomputers.com/.  Also check out

   http://www.infoseek.com/Topic/Computer/Buy_a_computer/Buy_computer_hardware

for a reasonable list of on-line stores.

Note that the PCs you find in these "basement" outlets are generally
last year's model.  This means they tend to have less memory, less
disk, no NIC cards, etc.  You'll be most likely be upgrading these
machines once you buy the base unit.

I got several recommendations for high-end rack-mount systems from
Telnet Systems Solutions (www.tesys.com).  If you want rock-solid
systems for open-source Unix and are willing to pay for it, this is
apparently the place to go.  Lots of ISPs apparently get their systems
here.

Several people wrote and asked how I even got to $700 for the machine
that I listed in my original message.  I used www.computershopper.com
and took the lowest component prices I found (I was willing to do my
own assembly).  Since most of the cheap components I found came from
A2Z Computer in Ohio (www.a2zcomp.com) I've asked them to give me a 
quote on a fully-integrated system.  No word yet.

If you're interested in discussing the issues further, or are
interested in hearing the final price from A2Z, I've set up a mailing
list at Deer Run.  Send email to cheap-pcs-request@deer-run.com with
"subscribe" in the body of the message.

Hal Pomeranz, Founder/CEO       Deer Run Associates       hal@deer-run.com
     Network Connectivity and Security, Systems Management, Training

    "Only the naive or the scurrilous believe the Third Wave claim
     that 'information is power'.  Power is power, and information
     is particularly useful to those who are already powerful."
						--Philip Bereano