There isn't very much surprising about this, to me. It seems like the ultimate consequence of the PC becoming a commodity. National brands of every other kind of commodity are sold beside store brands, so why not PCs as well?
I'm not surprised that they're using decent components, because after all it's their techs who'll get swamped and their warrantees that'll get soaked if they don't.
I also find it funny that their PCs might well be better choices just because they won't come burdened with all those mysterious little programs that infest Compaqs and HPs and make everything even less stable, more baffling and slower to boot.
<strong>CompUSA is doing the same thing. <img src="graemlins/surprised.gif" border="0" alt="[Surprised]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>
Way back when Charlotte got their first CompUSA, they made their own computers called Compudyne. I guess it was around 1992 or 93. You configured it right in the store and picked it up later that week. It was a pretty good concept at the time. Now, I don't know how they'll compete with Dell. It's really the juggernaut of BTO computers. (They still suck, but...)
Amorph, I don't know. Generic products work for things like medicine, food, drinks, and other consumables, but an entire PC? I don't think Best Buy is going to keep selling its own computers for too long...
<strong>Amorph, I don't know. Generic products work for things like medicine, food, drinks, and other consumables, but an entire PC? I don't think Best Buy is going to keep selling its own computers for too long...</strong><hr></blockquote>
It's a nominal distinction, considering that Best Buy is only doing what most of the boxmakers have been doing for years anyway. They're just eliminating the middleman (and a lot of ill-conceived cruft).
If Best Buy were engineering their own motherboards, I'd be worried. But they aren't. All the real work that goes into building a PC is done for them; they just do final assembly. It's not something you can do blind, but it's the next closest thing. They have a vested interest in doing it at least competently, because it's their techs and their warrantees that'll get overwhelmed if they don't.
The Best Buy machines might not be quite as slick, but then store brand products usually aren't. They might not be totally reliable, but it's not like the big brands are. PC owners already have defeated expectations about how well a computer should perform.
ATi, nVidia, VIA, AMD, yes. The rest of the parts maker just gussy up other people's components without really changing too much from reference designs. Antec's cases are just very slightly modified Uneec cases. Lian-Li and CoolerMaster cases are pretty, but not innovative.
[quote]The rest of the parts maker just gussy up other people's components without really changing too much from reference designs. Antec's cases are just very slightly modified Uneec cases. Lian-Li and CoolerMaster cases are pretty, but not innovative.<hr></blockquote>
A lot of these places make other stuff besides video cards and motherboards. Shuttle's SV24 for example?a cube case for the PC with its own mobo and everything. Very nice. Shuttle also put 4 DIMM slots on it's AK31 design...very very rare. And ALi makes chipsets, what reference design would they follow? The newer chipsets coming out of them look really cool...supporting PC133 and DDR on the same mobo is quite a feat. I probably should have added SiS to the list as well.
The Lian Li and CoolerMaster cases are not just pretty...they're aluminium!
Haha. Personally, I can only see this really hurting them in the long run. Look at Dell, Emachines, HP, all companies that are struggling. (Oh, did I mention Compaq or the now dead Packard Bell?) I think that the more competition that is introduced in the Wintel market, the worse each company will do. The smart thing for best buy at least would be to release the computers with a price tag of over 3-400 dollars over competitors' machjines with matching specs. Best Buy can say they are quality machines, people will buy them, and they will still make a profit. Dell and everyone else has pushed their prices down so much, that people have gotten used to paying such low prices.. I can only see this move adding to the confusion, and send more flak against the Wintel side.
Packard Bell is not dead. Packard Bell was absorbed by NEC and exited the North American market. They still make computers for every other market though.
Dell may have extremely low profit-margins on its computers, but it's not struggling. It's the healthiest PC manufacturer out there.
I wonder ... if any DOJ rulings start to give Compaq and friends more leeway in adding stuff and modifying the Windows experience...Microsoft might start giving preferencial treatment and prices to the generics of the the world like Best Buy or other outlets who will just put Microsoft first. If Sony starts to value add to their PC's so much that people think of the computer as a Sony, not a Wintel, then that isn't good for MS and MS may have to start making boxes or getting K-Mart to make and sell them. This may begin a new phase in PC marketing.
That I think is part of the hi-tech slow-down, the lack of competition and innovation (aside from Apple). At some point a new company will emerge with a better business model and invigorate things .... or maybe Apple will finally take off again ... but right now we are in a wait and see time.
Note: Also in the word "Willamette" the second syllible is stressed.... wi LA met, like pi JA maz.
Comments
I'm not surprised that they're using decent components, because after all it's their techs who'll get swamped and their warrantees that'll get soaked if they don't.
I also find it funny that their PCs might well be better choices just because they won't come burdened with all those mysterious little programs that infest Compaqs and HPs and make everything even less stable, more baffling and slower to boot.
<strong>CompUSA is doing the same thing. <img src="graemlins/surprised.gif" border="0" alt="[Surprised]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>
Way back when Charlotte got their first CompUSA, they made their own computers called Compudyne. I guess it was around 1992 or 93. You configured it right in the store and picked it up later that week. It was a pretty good concept at the time. Now, I don't know how they'll compete with Dell. It's really the juggernaut of BTO computers. (They still suck, but...)
<strong>Amorph, I don't know. Generic products work for things like medicine, food, drinks, and other consumables, but an entire PC? I don't think Best Buy is going to keep selling its own computers for too long...</strong><hr></blockquote>
It's a nominal distinction, considering that Best Buy is only doing what most of the boxmakers have been doing for years anyway. They're just eliminating the middleman (and a lot of ill-conceived cruft).
If Best Buy were engineering their own motherboards, I'd be worried. But they aren't. All the real work that goes into building a PC is done for them; they just do final assembly. It's not something you can do blind, but it's the next closest thing. They have a vested interest in doing it at least competently, because it's their techs and their warrantees that'll get overwhelmed if they don't.
The Best Buy machines might not be quite as slick, but then store brand products usually aren't. They might not be totally reliable, but it's not like the big brands are. PC owners already have defeated expectations about how well a computer should perform.
[ 02-05-2002: Message edited by: Amorph ]</p>
If the only ones doing any "innovation" were Microsoft and Intel.
Wow, what a dismal thought.
Ok, throw in Dell as a third, non retail option, still doesn't change much.
I wish more computer making companies had more to do with what their computers actually do.
Don't forget about nVidia, ATi, AMD, Asus, Abit, Shuttle, MSI, Via, ALi, EPoX, Lian-Li, Antec, CoolerMaster, etc.
<strong>
Don't forget about nVidia, ATi, AMD, Asus, Abit, Shuttle, MSI, Via, ALi, EPoX, Lian-Li, Antec, CoolerMaster, etc.</strong><hr></blockquote>
ATi, nVidia, VIA, AMD, yes. The rest of the parts maker just gussy up other people's components without really changing too much from reference designs. Antec's cases are just very slightly modified Uneec cases. Lian-Li and CoolerMaster cases are pretty, but not innovative.
A lot of these places make other stuff besides video cards and motherboards. Shuttle's SV24 for example?a cube case for the PC with its own mobo and everything. Very nice. Shuttle also put 4 DIMM slots on it's AK31 design...very very rare. And ALi makes chipsets, what reference design would they follow? The newer chipsets coming out of them look really cool...supporting PC133 and DDR on the same mobo is quite a feat. I probably should have added SiS to the list as well.
The Lian Li and CoolerMaster cases are not just pretty...they're aluminium!
<strong>2GHz Williamatte,</strong><hr></blockquote>
By the way, I'm bored, so I'm going to pick on this.
It is spelled Willamette, after the Willamette Valley and the Willamette River in Oregon.
Just thought I'd let you know.
Dell may have extremely low profit-margins on its computers, but it's not struggling. It's the healthiest PC manufacturer out there.
That I think is part of the hi-tech slow-down, the lack of competition and innovation (aside from Apple). At some point a new company will emerge with a better business model and invigorate things .... or maybe Apple will finally take off again ... but right now we are in a wait and see time.
Note: Also in the word "Willamette" the second syllible is stressed.... wi LA met, like pi JA maz.