On Mon, 31 Oct 2005 07:26:59 GMT, Damien McBain
<news1@themadbomber.net> wrote:

>The Real Andy committed to the eternal aether...:
>
>> On Sun, 30 Oct 2005 14:03:00 GMT, Damien McBain
>> <news1@themadbomber.net> wrote:
>>
>>>The Real Andy committed to the eternal aether...:
>>>
>>>> On Sun, 30 Oct 2005 10:01:10 +1100, "Sam" <sam_man@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>I am interested in getting views on a proposed office network. I have taken
>>>>>some advice from a boffin but have no way of checking whether that advice is
>>>>>good or bad. I am hoping that the collective brains trust in these groups
>>>>>might shed some light on the subject. Please bear in mind that I am not far
>>>>>advanced from computer illiterate. If these questions are incomprehensible
>>>>>then that might be the explanation.
>>>>>
>>>>>We have 4 staff, each with their own stand alone computers. I am going to
>>>>>acquire four new computers. Those in my office tell me that I need to change
>>>>>the current arrangement to an office network.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> What is wrong with what you have now? Why would you want to change
>>>> what you have? Does what you have work? Would you prefer more
>>>> peformance? If so, how would you like an increase in performance? How
>>>> will buying 4 new PC's help your business perform better? How would
>>>> you like your business to peform better?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>The use will be e-mail, web searching and small accounting system.
>>>>
>>>> How do you currently use email? Does everyone have a modem? Do you use
>>>> a centralised server for distributing email?
>>>>
>>>> What about web serching? IS that done via individual dial up accounts
>>>> too?
>>>>
>>>> What accounting system do you use?
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>The questions I would like to answer for the new office network are
>>>>>
>>>>>1. is a server as well as the 4 desk tops a good idea. ie what would a
>>>>>server add? Is it just the ability to view/access others files? What are the
>>>>>relative advantages and disadvantages of adding a server eg accessibility
>>>>>and cost effectiveness?
>>>>
>>>> How long is a piece of string? If my string was longer, could i do
>>>> more? If the string was shorter, would i save more money? Perhaps
>>>> several peices of string would distribute the load better?
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>2. Is Celeron or AMD preferable vis-a-vis pentium 4.
>>>>
>>>> I prefer the short string.
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>3. Are there any issues bout these being accessible and cost effective?
>>>>
>>>> I dont think you really know what you want here, that is the big
>>>> issue. Buying 4 new computers just becuase your staff want them may
>>>> not be the right thing to do. You need to tell us your problems rather
>>>> than asking for advice on something that no one here can answer. What
>>>> has prompted you to investigate buying new PC's?
>>>>
>>>> IT is my life now, and one thing i can assure you is that 95% of my
>>>> customers do not know, nor understand what they want. You need to
>>>> analyse your business before you ask questions. Have a good solid
>>>> think about where your problems are, then use that as a grounding to
>>>> ask questions. Think aboout how you can increase performance, and this
>>>> may lay in buying PC's that dont crash or a faster.
>>>>
>>>> You boffin may be trying to sell you his business. You need to focus
>>>> on your business.
>>>
>>>I'd be amazed if anyone would actually buy anything from a pretentious
>>>smart arse like you m8.
>>
>>
>> Funny that, i usually find that business like it when i ask them what
>> they need and force them to question what they really need. I used to
>> outsell the sales guys in my last job, and guess who always landed the
>> big contracts?
>
>That's fair enough even if it's true, but in your previous post you were
>insinuating that the fella is a complete dope who knows nothing about his
>business, or has not already analysed his business. You don't know anything
>about his process to date, you just assume it's flawed. Pretentious.

Hang on a tick, let me quote the OP.

"I am interested in getting views on a proposed office network. I have
taken some advice from a boffin but have no way of checking whether
that advice is good or bad."

"Please bear in mind that I am not far advanced from computer
illiterate. If these questions are incomprehensible then that might be
the explanation."

I was not assuming he did not know his business. I was assuming that
based on the comments that he did not understand how the computers or
data requirements affected his business.