Talk me out of starting my computer company

eflat

Platinum Member
Feb 27, 2000
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As luck would have it, our school has out of the blue decided to hold one of the countries biggest univeristy/town funded business contests EVER.

I have been waiting my whole life for an opportunity like this. And here it is. And I know I could win it.

I hate business. I hate computers even more. I hate mold and rain and this town is a cesspool. But then again I am a neurotic perfectionist and hate everything. It's a completely unrealistic goal. But you only live once, right?
 

eflat

Platinum Member
Feb 27, 2000
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Originally posted by: Crazyfool
How are you gonna compete with a HP laptop from Walmart for $398?

:beer:

We're going to sell all our computers and components at cost and make all our profit teaching classes ;)

Apple just sold me a Power Mac that is probably about as powerful as that computer for $2000. It can be done.

Plus we are apparently the last town in the United States without a Walmart or any major electronic retailer for that matter. Unless you count Radioshack or Staples. Our town hates big business and we could play into that phobia.
 

etalns

Diamond Member
Dec 20, 2001
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Business contests call for innovation. I don't beleive venturing into one of the most saturated markets in existence would qualify.
 

eflat

Platinum Member
Feb 27, 2000
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Originally posted by: Qosis
Business contests call for innovation. I don't beleive venturing into one of the most saturated markets in existence would qualify.

Well it's the most saturated for a reason. It's where folks are spending their money. It is the most difficult market to innvoate in, but also the most potentially lucrative market to do so. To suggest that there is no room for innovation in the field of computers and technology is absurd.

The computer industry will not look anything like it does ten years from now. Five years ago nobody even heard of Google and Apple was about finished. I think the same will hold true ten years from now.

You are right, though. I could always enter The One Hit Wonder. Now that is innovative. One store, one product. I do not think it has ever been done. And it could work. And it would be fun. But it could never have the potential that an innovate computer company could have.

 

YoshiSato

Banned
Jul 31, 2005
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Your better off doing PC repair then selling computers.

If you ever checked what Geek Squad Charged ($130 just to stick in a piece of ram. That does not include the cost of RAM) There is alot of money to be made. And of course you can make some money on parts as needed, but the true cash is in the labor(Just like a car repair man or plumber)

In fact i'm in the process of starting up my own part time repair service. An extra 200 - 500 bucks a week will be nice. :cool:

I just need to workout some legal issues first.
 

etalns

Diamond Member
Dec 20, 2001
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Originally posted by: CitizenDoug
Originally posted by: Qosis
Business contests call for innovation. I don't beleive venturing into one of the most saturated markets in existence would qualify.

Well it's the most saturated for a reason. It's where folks are spending their money. It is the most difficult market to innvoate in, but also the most potentially lucrative market to do so. To suggest that there is no room for innovation in the field of computers and technology is absurd.

The computer industry will not look anything like it does ten years from now. Five years ago nobody even heard of Google and Apple was about finished. I think the same will hold true ten years from now.

You are right, though. I could always enter The One Hit Wonder. Now that is innovative. One store, one product. I do not think it has ever been done. And it could work. And it would be fun. But it could never have the potential that an innovate computer company could have.

Apparently you don't know what a saturated market is.
 

Nocturnal

Lifer
Jan 8, 2002
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Originally posted by: YoshiSato
Your better off doing PC repair then selling computers.

If you ever checked what Geek Squad Charged ($130 just to stick in a piece of ram. That does not include the cost of RAM) There is alot of money to be made. And of course you can make some money on parts as needed, but the true cash is in the labor(Just like a car repair man or plumber)

In fact i'm in the process of starting up my own part time repair service. An extra 200 - 500 bucks a week will be nice. :cool:

I just need to workout some legal issues first.

You have to add in the fact that you will deal with irate clients more than likely. You'll be blamed when their computer dies a few months down the line because you fixed it last. All kinds of messed up stuff is bound to happen.
 

YoshiSato

Banned
Jul 31, 2005
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Originally posted by: Nocturnal
Originally posted by: YoshiSato
Your better off doing PC repair then selling computers.

If you ever checked what Geek Squad Charged ($130 just to stick in a piece of ram. That does not include the cost of RAM) There is alot of money to be made. And of course you can make some money on parts as needed, but the true cash is in the labor(Just like a car repair man or plumber)

In fact i'm in the process of starting up my own part time repair service. An extra 200 - 500 bucks a week will be nice. :cool:

I just need to workout some legal issues first.

You have to add in the fact that you will deal with irate clients more than likely. You'll be blamed when their computer dies a few months down the line because you fixed it last. All kinds of messed up stuff is bound to happen.

That's why I need to have some fine print.

What I'm more worried about is data loss. I don't know of any repair company that is responsible for this. I need to get a few CompUSA forms and see what they say about this.

I need a very good indemnifcation clause.(how ever you spell it)

I will also need some business insurnace incase anyone tries to use me. That why my legal expenses would be covered.
 

eflat

Platinum Member
Feb 27, 2000
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Originally posted by: Qosis
Originally posted by: CitizenDoug
Originally posted by: Qosis
Business contests call for innovation. I don't beleive venturing into one of the most saturated markets in existence would qualify.

Well it's the most saturated for a reason. It's where folks are spending their money. It is the most difficult market to innvoate in, but also the most potentially lucrative market to do so. To suggest that there is no room for innovation in the field of computers and technology is absurd.

The computer industry will not look anything like it does ten years from now. Five years ago nobody even heard of Google and Apple was about finished. I think the same will hold true ten years from now.

You are right, though. I could always enter The One Hit Wonder. Now that is innovative. One store, one product. I do not think it has ever been done. And it could work. And it would be fun. But it could never have the potential that an innovate computer company could have.

Apparently you don't know what a saturated market is.

You're right, of course. Although this is Humboldt, so the local market is not so saturated. And ultimately the goal of this particular contest is more to make a contribution to the local market and fill a local nitch, so much as it is to come up with a totally innovate idea.

If it were the latter this would be aimed straight at MBA students. This contest is unique in that it is open to all students, regardless of whether you are a business major. Heck not requiring that you hold a degree is really pretty unusual.

My talent is in marketing though, not computers, so I have two months to change my mind. It is really going to depend upon what other students can bring to the table. Maybe I have underestimated this school, but this contest came about so quickly and with so little warning that I think any idea presented properly will have a good chance of winning.

They want this to be local. And to be local in a small community frankly does not allow for a terribly innovative idea. There would be no market without leaving the area. Which above all is what they do not want to happen.

It still seems to me like there is such a gulf between the younger and older generation in computer know how. To have a company offering classes in basic computer knowledge (real basic stuff like basic internet searching, digital photograph manipulation, starting your own webpage) would be both easy to teach and would be of a lot of interest to older folks (who ultimately have the money to spend - especially in this town).

Continuing education is getting bigger and bigger. And the older you get, the less it matters whether or not you are getting a degree. Indeed I think it's the aprehension of having to be graded and put in a competitive environment that keeps a lot of older folks from going back to school.

To be schooled in a subject that you will use everday - I think retired baby boomers are going to go for that. And rich, curious, retired but active folks is one of the few things this town does not have a shortage of.
 

etalns

Diamond Member
Dec 20, 2001
6,513
1
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Originally posted by: CitizenDoug
Originally posted by: Qosis
Originally posted by: CitizenDoug
Originally posted by: Qosis
Business contests call for innovation. I don't beleive venturing into one of the most saturated markets in existence would qualify.

Well it's the most saturated for a reason. It's where folks are spending their money. It is the most difficult market to innvoate in, but also the most potentially lucrative market to do so. To suggest that there is no room for innovation in the field of computers and technology is absurd.

The computer industry will not look anything like it does ten years from now. Five years ago nobody even heard of Google and Apple was about finished. I think the same will hold true ten years from now.

You are right, though. I could always enter The One Hit Wonder. Now that is innovative. One store, one product. I do not think it has ever been done. And it could work. And it would be fun. But it could never have the potential that an innovate computer company could have.

Apparently you don't know what a saturated market is.

You're right, of course. Although this is Humboldt, so the local market is not so saturated. And ultimately the goal of this particular contest is more to make a contribution to the local market and fill a local nitch, so much as it is to come up with a totally innovate idea.

If it were the latter this would be aimed straight at MBA students. This contest is unique in that it is open to all students, regardless of whether you are a business major. Heck not requiring that you hold a degree is really pretty unusual.

My talent is in marketing though, not computers, so I have two months to change my mind. It is really going to depend upon what other students can bring to the table. Maybe I have underestimated this school, but this contest came about so quickly and with so little warning that I think any idea presented properly will have a good chance of winning.

They want this to be local. And to be local in a small community frankly does not allow for a terribly innovative idea. There would be no market without leaving the area. Which above all is what they do not want to happen.

It still seems to me like there is such a gulf between the younger and older generation in computer know how. To have a company offering classes in basic computer knowledge (real basic stuff like basic internet searching, digital photograph manipulation, starting your own webpage) would be both easy to teach and would be of a lot of interest to older folks (who ultimately have the money to spend - especially in this town).

Continuing education is getting bigger and bigger. And the older you get, the less it matters whether or not you are getting a degree. Indeed I think it's the aprehension of having to be graded and put in a competitive environment that keeps a lot of older folks from going back to school.

To be schooled in a subject that you will use everday - I think retired baby boomers are going to go for that. And rich, curious, retired but active folks is one of the few things this town does not have a shortage of.

While I applaud your enthusiasm, you have over-estimated yourself and your creative abilities.
 

YoshiSato

Banned
Jul 31, 2005
1,012
0
0
Originally posted by: chiwawa626
It's unoriginal :) Plus how are you going to compete with geeksquad?

Right now just word of mouth advertizing and business cards.

I'm only going to do this part time for some extra play money. My full time job pays the bills.