Purchasing Considerations for Business

By Joshua Erdman
Digital Foundation, inc.

Cost vs. Reliability

In the computer world cost and reliability are directly proportional. It is going to cost twice as much to have a server that is doubly redundant (dual power supplies, hard drive mirrors, dual fans, etc). Since we are considering purchases for business you should expect to pay more.

In business it is automation, reliability, labor hours saved, the warranty provided, and longevity that matter and add to a business' bottom line. Businesses shouldn't care about how well a PC can play the latest Game Simulation, or how stylish the computer looks.

Places to Buy

There is a HUGE difference between buying a PC at large consumer stores (Best Buy, Circuit City, etc.) and from a computer only store or vendor, that difference is in support.

As a business owner I find myself most concerned about warranties and good product support. Even though Digital Foundation (the parent company of NetworkClue) is a Dell reseller, I decided to get a Toshiba laptop at BestBuy (See article 'the ultimate laptop'). Just to be safe, I paid the extra $300 for an extended 3-year support plan.

With the extended plan from Best Buy I am guaranteed to have a working laptop for the next 3 years but they get to choose HOW to support the product each time it breaks. When my Toshiba Laptop fried, BestBuy sent me home the same day with an HP.

This was RARE, the next time my laptop failed (the power plug in the back became unsoldered from the mother board) it took over a month before I got my laptop back. As a consumer this might be acceptable, but as a business owner this is horrible when you are trying to run a business smoothly.

Dell can get a technician delivering the part and making the replacement within a day.

We have written three articles from a business perspective that lay out important considerations for purchasing Servers, Workstations, and Laptops.

Article last reviewed: 12/27/2005

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Created by: Digital Foundation, inc.

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