To: Aki Ohshima <Yoshiaki.Ohshima@SPEECH1.CS.CMU.EDU>
cc: bovik@CS.CMU.EDU
Subject: Re: mail order companies for printers
In-reply-to: Your message of Mon, 09 Jul 90 16:38:14 -0400.
             <3771.647555894@SPEECH1.CS.CMU.EDU> 
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 90 18:33:10 EDT
Message-ID: <5387.648167590@ZOG.CS.CMU.EDU>
From: Tom.Lane@ZOG.CS.CMU.EDU

Here's the upshot on my dealings with computer mail order companies.
I didn't get any responses from my bboard post, so I guess no one else
in CS has done this recently.  For the record, I was looking for an HP
LaserJet III with PostScript and AppleTalk accessories.  At this time
this is a very new product and much in demand, so much so that the
CMU computer store has been unable to get it for months.

Printer Connection, Lorton, VA (also known as ICN; 800-622-7060) had
the LJ III in stock at a fair price, $1590 + $30 shipping.  (Some New
York City firms advertise as low as $1499, but they don't actually have
any printers.  The range of "real" prices seems to be $1575 to $1700.
The computer store expects to sell it for $1350, if they ever get any,
which I bet they won't until the demand abates.)  More importantly,
Printer Connection shipped when they said they would & the printer
arrived in good condition; they also told the truth about not having
the accessories in stock.  Unless they screw up the credit card
billing, I can recommend them without reservation.

Ditto for Computer Clipboard, also of Lorton, VA (800-777-4932).  They
sold me a PostScript cartridge for $545 + 1% credit card surcharge + $7
shipping.  Again, they shipped on time with no problems, and told the
truth about what they had in stock and what they didn't.  (Other folks
claim to be offering the PS card for $499 or so -- the computer store
claims $495 -- but this is the lowest price among those who actually
had one.)

I cannot recommend Printers Plus of Chantilly, VA (800-877-4683).  I
placed an order for an LJ III with them Monday afternoon; they promised
to ship Tuesday or call me if they couldn't.  When I called Wednesday
to check on things, they had not shipped, and gave me a story about
their last printer having been stolen off their truck.  ("Oh, didn't my
manager call you to tell you?")  It's possible that this was actually
true, but I don't believe it.  They did tell the truth about not having
the accessories in stock, so they get a few brownie points for that.

The AppleTalk interface is a brand new product and is scarcer than
hen's teeth.  Even HP's direct sales division hasn't got any.  They
said to try your local dealer, so I tried MicroAge downtown, who
claimed to have some at their central (out-of-town) warehouse &
promised they would have one here on Friday.  When I called Friday to
check, they didn't have it and said it was back ordered at least two
weeks.  No brownie points for them either.  Today I put in an order
with BusinessLand Direct, who claim to have it in stock and will ship
tomorrow by UPS 2nd day.  BusinessLand is charging $220 + $7.50
shipping, which is cheaper than the computer store's price after you
factor in the PA sales tax.  We'll see whether it actually arrives.
Every other mail-order place I called said they had AppleTalk back
ordered and were expecting some in two or more weeks.

Another accessory you need to run this configuration is extra printer
memory.  Do not buy memory from HP --- they charge an arm and a leg.
I bought a 2 megabyte expandable board from South Coast Electronics
(213-208-3260) for $269, a fair price.  This company was recommended to
me by another CMU person who is also happy with their product and
service.

-- 
				tom lane
Internet: tgl@cs.cmu.edu
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