pstguide
03-07-1999, 11:01 AM
In the battle for supremacy, your technical advantage has always been the biggest factor. But- that's a very short-lived advantage, and it is losing importance. As machines get faster, the net speed gained is diminishing in value.
Replacing a 500mhz machine with a 1,000mhz will be meaningless when the performance at 500 already far exceeds anything your aps and functions require. I have customers who used to replace all their equipment as soon as a new processor was available. Not any more. One of those is still running 8- 200mhz pentiums that are 5 years old- because they have nothing to gain by buying faster equipment for their application.
Fortunately, the CPU field is not a Gates-type monopoly, there is serious competition. Amazingly many businesses are blind to the long-term factors of customer relations as a competitive tool, and eventually pay the price. Wal-mart did not overpower it's established competition with price, selection, store design and so on- it did it with SERVICE. As other factors become closer to equal, the choice of what to buy in computers will increasingly be made on that basis.
While I think AMD sucks at the moment- Intel doesn't exactly shine either. I think the first people who become service minded and fully support their products are going to win.
I also realize that service for Gateway, Dell and so on probably shines like a dime... and small vars and assemblers are a pain in the neck. But check the wind. People aren't buying those $2500 machines anymore, and they are discovering that I can build a "clone" that is just as good- (often better)for a whole lot less, and a live person actually answers the phone when they need help.
For those of us in the small business side of it, service and reputation are all we have; there is no such thing as a huge price advantage. Using products from any source that won't provide service is stupid and short sighted- and puts us out of business.
[This message has been edited by pstguide (edited 03-07-99).]
[This message has been edited by pstguide (edited 03-07-99).]
Replacing a 500mhz machine with a 1,000mhz will be meaningless when the performance at 500 already far exceeds anything your aps and functions require. I have customers who used to replace all their equipment as soon as a new processor was available. Not any more. One of those is still running 8- 200mhz pentiums that are 5 years old- because they have nothing to gain by buying faster equipment for their application.
Fortunately, the CPU field is not a Gates-type monopoly, there is serious competition. Amazingly many businesses are blind to the long-term factors of customer relations as a competitive tool, and eventually pay the price. Wal-mart did not overpower it's established competition with price, selection, store design and so on- it did it with SERVICE. As other factors become closer to equal, the choice of what to buy in computers will increasingly be made on that basis.
While I think AMD sucks at the moment- Intel doesn't exactly shine either. I think the first people who become service minded and fully support their products are going to win.
I also realize that service for Gateway, Dell and so on probably shines like a dime... and small vars and assemblers are a pain in the neck. But check the wind. People aren't buying those $2500 machines anymore, and they are discovering that I can build a "clone" that is just as good- (often better)for a whole lot less, and a live person actually answers the phone when they need help.
For those of us in the small business side of it, service and reputation are all we have; there is no such thing as a huge price advantage. Using products from any source that won't provide service is stupid and short sighted- and puts us out of business.
[This message has been edited by pstguide (edited 03-07-99).]
[This message has been edited by pstguide (edited 03-07-99).]