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Technology Stocks : COMS & the Ghost of USRX w/ other STUFF -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: David Lawrence who wrote (14896)	4/20/1998 3:31:00 PM
From: jhild	Respond to of 22053

I know that I shouldn't feel good about their difficulties, but I really think this serves them right for their willingness to conduct a pr campaign aimed at tearing down their competition. The technicals don't look that good on ROK still. I would expect lower to go yet.

To: David Lawrence who wrote (14896)	4/20/1998 3:50:00 PM
From: Moonray	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 22053

Web sales generate small fortune USA Today - 04/20/98- Updated 09:37 AM ET Ken West of Arlington, Texas, wasn't driven to the Web by poverty. As head of a 100-agent health insurance business, the 35-year-old was earning more than $200,000 a year. But West was burned out and beaten down by new laws that spelled higher rates and narrower profits. West, a ''gadget nut'' who used 3Com's PalmPilot, began moderating Internet news groups, or chat sessions, on the popular hand-held computer. He realized no Web site or store sold a full line of PalmPilot accessories. So last May, West and a minority partner hired a Web page designer for $1,200 and launched a site (http://www.pilotgear.com/) ''just to make a couple of hundred dollars a month.'' He contacted five suppliers and jammed his insurance office with $4,000 worth of PalmPilots, cases, modems and software. He had 30 days to pay for the stuff and could return what didn't sell. West put notices about his one-stop shop on hand-held computer news groups - an effective way to reach computer-savvy buyers. He also established reciprocal links with hundreds of PalmPilot-related sites. Between insurance chores, he and his secretary updated the site, handled orders via e-mail and boxed products for United Parcel Service pickup. Sales totaled $40,000 the first month. With revenue soaring, West ditched the insurance business last August and enlisted the help of his wife and a college student. Monthly sales recently passed $400,000, and West has exceeded his former income by 50%. He recently invested about $85,000 in a new office and Web site, hired a six-person staff and plans to go public in a year. ''I like this better (than insurance) because you have more control over the products,'' he says. He dislikes the 14-hour days but expects to have enough money to retire in two years. ''I'll go live on a beach somewhere.'' o~~~ O