New system for shop

[alreadygone]

Know next to nothing of all the parts involved in constructing a computer system, but am relatively sure I need something specific for my auto repair shop. Not just to go to Walmart or Best Buy and get a prepackaged system.

While it will need to be web capable to access suppliers inventories and place orders(maybe even peek in on BITOG occasionally), main function will be my inventory controll, items in, out. Cash register,credit card scanner, barcode reader will also be needed.

Know there are a lot of wolves out there, and because of my ignorance I'm feeling particularly sheepish.

I'm pasting a copy of a offer from a custom tire shop software supplier for complete system and I like to have opinions about what they're offering;


Vostro 200 Mini Tower $976.00
Dual Core 1.60GHz Processor
2 GB RAM @ 667 MHz (2x1 GB)
Windows XP Professional
80 GB Serial ATA Hard Drive @ 7200 RPM’s
48X CD-RW/DVD Rom combo drive
USB Keyboard
USB Optical Mouse
17” Flat Panel Display
All-In-One Printer 966


SPL Cash Drawer $350.00

Shipping $30.00

Does this seem sufficient? Overkill? Underkill? Priced right?

Any input will be appreciated, some of you might like to make offer?

Thanks,

Bob

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

I know you can buy register systems that are compatible with PCs.

$350 seems cheap enough.

 

[XS650]

Bob, You can get that computer combo you listed direct from Dell for under $600.
http://www.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/hot_offers_dt?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd

You will need to use their website to add the printer price to what shows on the link I gave you.

I think Dell is reasonable quality, buying locally would be worth some extra money if you knew he would support you right away when your system goes down. But $400 better??? Show him the Dell price and ask him what he can do.

How do other tire store owners like the software?

A few $$ for a bigger monitor would be money well spent.

What's your data back-up plan? It could be as simple as making a daily CD of your data and storing it off site, that way a crash wouldn't eat more than a days data. You could reconstruct a days data from paper copies.

 

[alreadygone]

Price above does include proprietary business software package. Don't know cost of software only for computer purchased elsewhere. This company isn't local so on site support isn't available.

Have never used computer at work, still all paper (pretty poorly kept) so this is all one BIG step. Have no backup plan, what would be feasible other than daily disc?


Haven't asked for references, don't know others view of this product.

Thanks,

Bob

 

[The_Jeff]

USB jump drives are good for backing up as well. Verify the contents once in a while.

Keep dust and junk out of the fans. Consider rigging up a furnace filter or ??? in front of the power supply air intake. Nothing too restrictive. ATX cases pull air in through the power supply and blow it out all the cracks and crevasses in the case.

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: alreadygone
Price above does include proprietary business software package. Don't know cost of software only for computer purchased elsewhere. This company isn't local so on site support isn't available.

Have never used computer at work, still all paper (pretty poorly kept) so this is all one BIG step. Have no backup plan, what would be feasible other than daily disc?


Haven't asked for references, don't know others view of this product.

Thanks,

Bob


Proprietary business software usually isn't cheap. In that case the price looks reasonable. References would be very good to have. Your software will have more impact on your operation of the system than the hardware.

The single most important thing about backups is that you do them on a regular basis. How you do them is a lot less important.

Someone mentioned a USB thumb drive. That would work as would CDs. Keep at least 2 backups. If you are using a thumb drive, alternate between two of them so if your latest backup fails you have a 2 day old backup to backup the backup. Keep your backups in a location outside your shop when the shop is closed in case you get burglarized, have fire, etc.

 

[alreadygone]

Appreciate input! Any more will be welcome also.

Thanks,

Bob

 

[SrDriver]

Before I retired we always kept 3 backups including one off site just in case something mentioned above happened.

 

[WishIhadatruck]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
ATX cases pull air in through the power supply and blow it out all the cracks and crevasses in the case.


My experience has been that powersupplies pull air in from the inside of the case and blow it out the back of the power supply to the outside air, the opposite of what you posted.

Now many cases have another fan on the back that will blow air out as well to increase cooling capacity. My current case/power supply has a 120mm fan in the power supply blowing out the back, a separate 120mm fan blowing out the back as well, and a 120mm fan pulling air in the front through a coarse filter pushing air across the HDD's. There is also a cooling port/tube that air comes in over the processor fan so it gets cool air (no filter). There is an additional opening on the case side as well where air will com in (no filter). That makes 3 openings plus all the cracks to deal with. You almost need to just put in in a filtered box with its own fans. If you forget to change your filters you can overheat the whole thing however which is worse than the dust getting in your system.