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Technology Stocks : Applied Materials No-Politics Thread (AMAT) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Proud_Infidel who wrote (8352)	12/18/2003 8:33:19 AM
From: robert b furman	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 25522

Good Morning Brian, Just a little real world story regarding an impending upgrade cycle. At our dealership we've added probably 20-25 computers over several years. This year we created a network - linking them all together vs individual internet lines. Now all of our communication from GM comes via satelleite to a server (they provide).This has saved GM millions in paper,postage and CD distribution. As the number of new applications has multiplied(huge now) a need for a faster and bigger server has occurred. So GM sends us the bigger,better new server. This new server,suddenly doesn't like Windows 98.We looked into upgrading to Windows XP, but by the time we pay for licenses and the cost of someone doing the upgrade - we now think that as the computers no longer perform the desired function we are into a forced computer upgrade. Many of our computers are not state of the art for sure. Main point is there is an upgrade cycle that comes from a enhanced network system upgrades.As our system grows in complexity and applications - forced upgrades come with it. I'm sure many other small businesses encounter this problem. As for these surveys that ask IT people what they plan on spending - heck we didn't plan this.GM sent an upgrade -we felt good cause it didn't cost us anything and now I've got 5-7 Windows 98's that are going to be replaced this year. The plus side of this is 5 of my employees who never had a computer - now do.We had an essay contest for those who wanted a computer.Turns out they went to families that didn't have a computer yet.Really neat to see the growth and developement of these newbies. Those with out a computer now are definitely late adapters.GG Mostly married couples in their 30's with out kids.Kids have ushered in a lot of computers into households. Bob