Jason,
I'm new to posting here (taken by a 1 month trial), but I've been reading this thread for at least 4 digits now. There is a subject that's never been discussed, that I believe is relevant: channel, not manufacturing.
Dell is a channel for computers to Corporate customers, that happens to do some final assembly. That channel happens to be VERY direct - you call / post to Dell, and they fill the order.
Compaq, with Tandem and DEC, is several channels. VERY direct (Compaq web site), traditional direct (sales people / account reps), traditional 2 tier indirect (to superstore retail and to Corporate customers), traditional 1 tier indirect (via Radio Shack).
Compaq's product mix aside, it seems to me that the BRANDS "Compaq", "Tandem" and "DEC" mean very specific things to very specific customers - Compaq to consumers, Tandem to serious / significant system builders, DEC to the more usual Corporate customer.
Given this line up of channels, with the proper product mix in each - even if they're the same guts / different labels - it looks to me like Compaq can not only service all 4 of the major channel takers, but they have the chance to slight the 2 tier indirect - where the inventory really lives.
But hey, I'm new here.
rr |
