| Reply To Message: |
| Posted By |
oldmuttonhead on 12/16/2007 10:31:26 PM |
| Subject: |
RE: Introductions and request |
| Message: |
Hi, Steve!
My name is Rick Brown and my wife and I run PC-ER, Inc. in Pendleton, IN. We are a very small company, but we have big dreams. ;)
PC-ER primarily serves small businesses and a handful of home users leftover from another company I used to own. I'd like to answer your questions you asked in your post:
Q: What do we do that has no value to you?
A: I would hesitate to say that anything that Microsoft does has no value to me. My issue with Microsoft has more to do with not being able to utilize what is available to a small business like myself. I am currently trying to take advantage of the free "Web Developer" package that Microsoft is offering to Action Pack subscribers and I even got a shipment notification at one point, but I've never received a package and now can't even find the order when I click on the shipment notification email I received. I also don't completely understand what I need to do to move up the "partner ladder" at Microsoft.
Q: What should we do to add value to your company?
A: As I mentioned in the last answer, I think Microsoft has excellent programs for partners, but it should be clearer how to gain access and utilize them.
Q: What do we do that hurts you and why? What or how should we do it differently.
A: As a system integrator, it still baffles me why the larger OEMs don't have to play by the same rules as the smaller companies, but the Vista OEM agreement takes a couple of steps towards a remedy. With ImageX, now at least we can give our clients an image of machines we build for them. However, when Microsoft mandated that we had to purchase Office OPKs in order to preinstall Office, it made selling Office with a new machine not profitable and a huge pain. I know these are issues that would only effect a smaller company, but it's hard for my smaller company to become a larger company when the deck is stacked against us.
Q: Are there any programs that we used to provide that you desire to return?
A: Microsoft used to provide OEM versions of software with the Action Pack. These no longer seem to be included. It was nice to have those CDs and give my clients unopened software with their new systems. I always thought it looked more professional. Again, Vista solved some of this problem with being able to make my own images to install, so this is pretty much a non-issue at this point.
Thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings!! By the way, my opinion of Microsoft as a whole is very positive. The questions you asked were all from a negative point of view, so my answers my seem like I'm very unhappy with the company when nothing could be further from the truth. I think Microsoft does a great job as large of a company as it is.
Thanks again!
Rick Brown
PC-ER, Inc. |
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