Anyone want a free 30-day eval of a cisco desktop switch???

[EPCrew]

Cisco offers a FREE 30-day evaluation of the premier switch in the Catalyst® 3500 series XL family, the Catalyst 3524-PWR series XL desktop switch.

 

[Manb]

I got one of those e-mails too... Gonna test it out at local lan parties for a month ;-) WOOT... gotta get a big one together to test it tho

Manb

 

[coloumb]

Are you sure this is free?

"In order to test drive a switch, you must provide to Cisco?s program administrator, Sunset Direct, a credit card OR a Purchase Order as a security deposit. You can choose to purchase or return the switch after the 30-day evaluation period. If you choose not to purchase the switch, you must return it to Sunset Direct within five (5) days of the expiration of the evaluation period or you will be charged the full list price of $3995 plus a $1000 handling fee."

 

[dude]

$1000 handling fee?

Man, what union are they in???

 

[VinY]

It basically says "We let you borrow this switch, you only need to place a credit card on file with us. If it is not returned by the time stated, you will be charged."

 

[RagManX]

Cisco has a **VERY** high rate of non-returns on eval equipment, so they've had to start penalizing eval sites that don't return the equipment. I know about this, because I worked at a site where my predecessor kept $25,000 in one month eval equipment a little over 2 years. Also kept about $250,000 in Cabletron three month eval equipment for 18 months before Cabletron just gave in and let him keep the stuff (resale value by the time he decided to send it back was <$15,000 so they just took it as a write-off). In fact, he did this to Fore, 3Com, and a couple other networking companies. Anyway, they've all started cracking down on people like this because they were taking huge losses before.

Not that anyone wanted all that info. Just be careful getting in on this. Cisco makes returns easy, but you'd kill yourself if you forgot and went a day over.

RagManX

 

[kombatmud]

These switches are awesome, we had a bunch of them at my last job, the best part about them was hooking them up with gigabit fiber . I don't trust myself to return it in time, otherwise I'd definately take one for 30 days.