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To: edamo who wrote (118786)4/19/1999 2:11:00 PM
From: Dave B  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 176387
 
edamo,

I'd have to guess that it's all over the map right now. I'd guess that the experienced users (and I'd include myself in this group) probably spend time evaluating different PC options and features (USB or not? Rewriteable CD-ROM or DVD-ROM? Processor speed? Wait for Rambus or get SDRAM now? et cetera). And I'd include intangibles like support, service, and customer satisfaction ratings in my analysis.

On the other hand, I'd bet the novice user (in which group I'd include my father who bought a Microcenter $499 computer last year) thinks that they're all the same and that any PC is as good as any other, and will shop for the best deal. This is where the significant unit growth (but not profit) in the industry probably is right now. However, it's a good thing to get more people in the market. Overall market penetration in the U.S. is still under 50% (unlike the auto market) so there's plenty of room to grow.

I asked my father a couple of weeks ago (with all the hoopla about the low-end systems) if he'd buy the same system again. He said no, that he'd buy one that wasn't as slow. I asked him if he'd buy the same brand. He said probably not (he had to take it in 4 or 5 times for support within the warranty period, though he caused a lot of the problems). So I think that when he upgrades he'll probably buy one of the brand name systems, and probably buy a more powerful system.

JMO,

Dave