Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware

In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware / gerry@cmu.edu (Gerry Roston):

[Text deleted]

> Basically, Zeos is over priced, has slimey ads and I will never buy
> from them.
> 
> [Yeah, flame me back Mr Zeos...]

I'm not Mr. Zeos.  But that's okay, this isn't a flame.

I agree with the argument that Zeos boasts ads with low prices, but
that those prices reflect systems that aren't reasonably configured.
(In fact, I think it's against the law in some sections of No. Cal to
sell a 486 system with a 40MB disk or less. :-) ).  I don't think
they should do this.  It's misleading, of course.

But, perusing through notes, I find comments about pricing to be
singular in their arguments: "Too High."  Little attention, in
my opinion, is given to the product itself beyond how many MB
it has, and what the CPU is.  That's not a fair comparision for
many.  I've purchased computers from "good" vendors, and from
"bad" ones.  Generally, the "bad" ones gave me the best prices,
but the product lacked.  Or, the service lacked.  Or, they just
went out of business shortly afterward.  The "good" ones, again,
generally, cost me a bit more.  But, they answer their phones.
Their products arrived as advertised (how may times have you
read gripes on notes about a vendor swapping parts?).  The
products are put together well, the cases are solid, the
PC boards have all the screws holding them in place, the parts
are name brand, the F/W revs are up-to-date.  They throw in
such "niceties" as manuals (written in your native tongue),
keys that fit the locks, and power cords and cables.  They use
fans in their cases (one vendor said they didn't need to put
fans in because there was one in the power supply).  The
colors match.  The PC *works*.  That's a nice touch.  We all
know a quality product when we see or use one.  You can buy a
mouse for $10 if you want, but most spend $100 or so on a Microsoft
mouse.  Quality.

I could go on, but the point is: These "extra" things cost.
Quality costs.  Service & support cost.  Having someone answer
the phone in a coherent, intelligent manner costs.

Zeos (I've dealt with them, and was impressed) provides pretty darn
good support.  And their products are of good quality.  Sure, their
prices don't beat many of the companies advertising in the back of
Computer Shopper.  But, you don't expect them to, do you?  

Price isn't everything when buying a PC.  If it were, quality and the
company behind it wouldn't matter.  But, to a lot of people, they
DO matter.  They probably matter to you too: when you buy a PC, do you
*plan* on it breaking or being incompatible?  Do you *expect* the
vendor to shut down right after you bought it from them, or to hang
up on you when you call?  No.  As with a car, you just don't expect
it to break or be unreliable.  And, you expect the dealer to be around
if you need them.  If you don't expect it to happen, you shouldn't
expect it to come for free.  It isn't fair to belittle a vendor
for charging more when they give more.  And again, "more" shouldn't
be defined solely in terms of chip type and MB.

$soapbox off$


Dean Cashen
-- Boise

--------<disclaimer>----------
HP and I share some views, but
the ones above are all mine...