Conference 7.286::digital

> Couldn't help but notice yesterdays P.C. sale at Lechemere's in
> the Pheasent Lane Mall, most of the P.C. manufacturers had sale staff
> trying their best to hawk their equipment. Our Starion was sitting
> there all alone at the end of the aisle. Noticed many people looking at 
> it then walking away after no one approached. The place was mobbed.

  Remember, we're not in "that business" any more.

                                   Atlant

    I went to CompUSA in Framingham MA. to look at the Starion. There were none
    in the store. I asked if they carried the Digital Starion & the
    salesperson said they used to but they were having to wait 2 months to
    get them, so they dropped them.

    Lechmere was advertising the 166MHz Starion.
    
    			Steve

    I went into CompUSA in Mesa AZ last week in search of Starion, as well
    - no Digital gear of any kind on any shelf in the store.  Incredible
    Universe, a general electronics store (like Circuit City, etc.) has
    quite a number of the Starions, as does my local Sam's Club.  The IU
    prices are not that terrific, a little high compared to some others.  
    
    At Sam's Club, the Starions don't look like too bad a buy, when you start
    comparing them with the IBM, Compaq and PB choices.  Wish I had the
    cash...I just checked the sale ads from this weekend, and Starions are
    featured in the ads for both Circuit City and Incredible Universe, but
    the prices aren't that fabulous.  Incredible Universe has the 942 at
    $2497.  IU is cagey, and never tells you what software or how much you
    are getting free, they just say "Lots of pre-installed and CD-ROM
    software!" on everything, so you have to go to the store to make a
    really fair comparison.  The 942 is shown right next to an ACER of 
    lesser performance - 90MHz Acer with 8MB RAM, 1.08GB HD, and 14.4
    FAX/Modem, vs. the Starion's with 133MHz, 16MB RAM and 1.6GB HD,
    28.8 FAX/Modem/Duplex Speakerphone/Answering System.  
    
    Circuit City has the 100MHz 919 at $2179 and just 13 software titles.  
    It is shown next to a 100MHz PB, with twice the RAM, a bigger hard drive, 
    lesser modem, and the full duplex speakerphone, etc., plus a total of 
    32 software titles and the free printer at $2,199.97.  They are
    advertising a free color inkjet (no names mentioned) with any computer
    & monitor purchase for this weekend.  
    
    Looking at the ads, I can see why we are no longer positioning
    ourselves in that market -- we can't get to a competitive price point,
    As a consumer, I want the best buy for the lowest price and that isn't
    ever likely to be Digital.  As a Digital employee, I *prefer* to buy 
    Digital, for the the better engineering (or so I hope!).  In the end, I
    will probably have to sacrifice the features I want (120MHz or better, 
    28.8bps, great sound, etc.) for a price I can afford!
    
    The good news, however, is that the last of a great breed is finally
    getting the ad space it deserves.
    
    M.
    

    To the base noter...
    
    I also was at the Pheasant Lane Lechmere on Sunday.  I saw the Digital
    system running at the end of the counter.  It was running a CD promo..
    
    At the opposite end of the same counter in a separate/stand alone setup
    a young guy with redish hair was demoing a Starion model.  He was
    wearing a blue shirt, but I could not tell if he was a DEC emploee.
    
    He sure seemed to know a lot about the Digital system.

    Re: .4
    
    If you're a Digital employee, you should get the price through the EPP
    which will be much lower than what the stores sell the systems for,
    
    				Steve

	Exactly how discontinued is the Starion? I ask because I saw a Starion
ad on Headline news Network last night about 7:15. I didn't hear the audio
because I had the sound muted on the tv but the text said something about 
imagining the sounds coming from your kids room WERE on the Digital Starion JBL 
speakers. Seems like a home pc ad to me.

    
    I don't think he was a Digital Employee, I think that was a Lechemere
    employee but at least they had a demo going.....I just hate to see
    everyone mingling over the "other" P.C.'s but that's the nature of the
    beast I guess.

    .6
    
    Check the EPP prices and compare to Circuit City. I have found the best
    is usuually at the retailer. When asked why, it was explained that we
    (digital) give a larger discount in quantity to the reseller. Since
    they purchase for must less they can resell at a much lower price than the 
    EPP. In addition Circuit City often offers 12 mos interest free loan. 

    The Starions are discontinued for the future, meaning no new models
    will be introduced.  We are still making and selling the latest 950 and
    960 models.  I was at Lechmere in Nashua today, there was a woman
    demonstrating the 960 and I saw people buying Starions.
    
    					Steve

    I PURCHASED A STARION 150MHZ AT PC'S COMPLEAT WITH A 17" MAGNAVOX
    MONITOR FOR 2,700.00.  THE EPP PRICES ARE PRETTY GOOD, ALMOST 400.00
    LESS THAN MOST OF THE COMPETITION

    
    	If you're in the market for a PC, then price the Venturis and
    Celebris models out at the Digital PC Service Center located in Wesboro
    MA.  They're all new, class B, PCs and they're all offered with a 5-yr
    warranty to Digital employees. They will ship via UPS for $20.00 . The
    Service Center Plus is open 7 days a week and can be contacted at
    508-870-1971 for latest models and prices.
    
    //John

    I'd love to, but I daresay the cost of the flight to MA would eliminate
    any perceived savings in buying from Digital! -:)
    
    It's a long way to Massachusetts.... (sung to the tune of "Long Way to
    Tipperary"!)
    
    M.
    

    As was said, they ship.
    
    			Steve

    
    
    	Well, one more person who stopped at Lechmere.  My wife and I
    	on Monday.  I talked to the person working the Starion booth
    	and in front of a customer complained to me that she couldn't
    	get the music CD to play music at the same time she was
    	playing Microsoft golf.  The CD would keep interrupting
    	during the game.  The customer was offering reasonable
    	explainations for this occuring which I thought was very
    	nice of him!  I'm not sure how much memory was in the system.
    	I've never tried playing a CD and golf on my own system as
    	Golf has sound associated with it.  

    		Epp???? Hasen't this program gone away? I called and was
    given 2 choices, 1-800-COM-PUSA AND PC-COMPLEAT. How is everyone else
    getting through to EPP for pricing?
    			Randy

The EPP that I'm aware of is the PCs Compleat discount (generally it's 20% off 
the price listings in their DEC PCs catalog).

    IMHO, Digital doesn't understand the consumer market or the Employee
    purchase potential, which is very unfortunate for all of us.
    
    I wouldn't buy a Digital(DEC) PC if my life depended on it.
    

MPGS::TONGEL wrote:

>    I wouldn't buy a Digital(DEC) PC if my life depended on it.

That's a pretty strong statement.  Let's hope it never does.

-Andy

Re: .12

Is EPP (20%) applicable to the items purchased at the Service Center as well ?

/Jong

> Is EPP (20%) applicable to the items purchased at the Service Center as well 

Not in Denver. They give us an addtitional 5%. It almost coveres the sales 
tax...

tim m.

    RE:20
    
    	The Service Center products are models no longer offered through
    the EPP which is why they are considered class B models. The majority
    of these PCs are priced 50% less than the original list price.
    
    For example:
    
    In the May 1995 Digital PC catalog the following PC was listed:
    
    FR-821AA-WC Celebris 466, 8-MB RAM, 540-MB HDD w/ no monitor was listed
    at $2,149.00 .  This same PC at the Service Center Plus WITH a 15"
    monitor is $999.00 .
    
    You can contact the Service Center at 508-870-1971 and request that a
    current list of models and pricing be sent to you via FAX.
    
    //John

    If they have any old 486-based DECpc XL's available, it might be
    a cheap way to build up an Alpha system... the system should cost
    way less than the $2k EV45 Alpha replacement daughtercard.  Add
    memory, a supported video, and you're all set.  No VMS or Unix
    tho; just NT and/or Linux (I think Linux works there; maybe not).
    .02 Kratz

    Are the Service Center PC's available to the general public, or just
    employees??  
    If available to the public, what's the warranty??

>    Are the Service Center PC's available to the general public, or just
>    employees??  
>    If available to the public, what's the warranty??

All systems are available to the general public. The center here in Denver
gives a 5% discount to employees. Warranty out here is a year of carry in 
service. I thought I saw another center offering 5 years to employees. It
looks like it might be up to the individual center.

enjoy,
tim m.

    RE .24
    
    	The PC Service Center Plus in Wesboro MA does offer a 3 year
    (Carry-In to any Digital Service Center) warranty to the general
    public.  The same warranty applies to Digital employees and former
    employees, however, it's extended to 5 years. Hope this clarifies
    things.
    
    //john

    >     The Service Center products are models no longer offered through
    >    the EPP which is why they are considered class B models.
    
    FYI, "Class B" refers to a specific level of radio interference that an
    electronic device emits. It's referred to as 'FCC Class B' certified.
    But, I can never remember if Class A or Class B is the one that emits
    the least interference. :-)
    
    Harry
    

> But, I can never remember if Class A or Class B is the one that emits
> the least interference. :-)

  "B is Better."  At least if better=quieter.

                                   Atlant

    There is a service center in Charlotte too, phone is 1-800-704-2301 and
    is also open to the customer.  There are other servicenters that are
    participating in this "sale" in the Carolinas/Virginia District
    (Raleigh and Richmond) and from the flyer I have the prices look pretty
    good.  They also have some NON-Digital stuff, like Soundblaster
    Multimedia stuff and HP printers.  This flyer doesn't indicated
    anything but a 30 day, return to the servicenter warranty.  They also
    advertise "Custom Built Systems configured to meet users
    specifications" which I found very interesting.  The "PROGRAM" is
    referred to  as the "Factory Outlet Program".
    
    Maybe this can help some of you NOT in MA...		
    
    Toodles.....JPs
    

        Are the Service Center PC's available for internal Digital
        purchase (as an alternative to IEG or DIAL)?

        (That $999 Celebris system comes just under the capital
        limit, and we need PCs.)

        Bob

The PC ServiceCenter Plus in Westborough, MA is located at 276 Boston Turnpike 
(Route 9 East). Their phone number is 508.870.1971, fax# is 508.870.0105. They 
accept DCU loans, MasterCard & Visa. There is no limit on how many PCs a 
Digital employee can buy. Their current list received via fax a few minutes 
ago has about 13 different systems ranging from a Celebris 486-66 (part# 
821AA-WC) for $999.00 to Celebris/Venturis & Prioris pentium systems that top 
out at $1,799. They also offer memory, sound options, optional larger hard 
drives & modems. Warranty is 5 years for Digital employees. They also said 
that local Digital Servicecenters around the country will honor the warranty, 
since it is carry-in (or mail-in if you want to ship it back to Mass).

I am in no way affiliated with the Servicecenter, but am constantly asked by 
friends and relatives if I can get them a "deal" on a PC.

regards,

Jim