Cheap hardware (was: Re: crappy pm3's)

Stephen Fisher (lithium@cia-g.com)
Mon, 5 May 1997 15:00:04 -0600 (MDT)

Over time, I've learned not to even try to make cheap stuff work. I don't
trust it at all. I can't stand using anything but very high quality,
already proven (especially for me) hardware. Best priced is usually not
the best performance.

Cisco Catalyst 1900 ethernet switch - ~$1900
(12 ports + 1 100mbps port)

This is a pretty good deal and a very high quality switch. The ethernet
switch is the "Core" which everything hangs off of - don't try to go
cheap, it's not worth it.

And remember, a big part of our jobs is to convince the [stupid?]
[non-technical?] boss(es) that just because you can buy it for $400
doesn't mean you should do that instead of getting one for $2000. Tell
him/her if he/she wants to drive a $500 car around instead of a $15,000
one - especially if it is a vital part of the business/network like your
ethernet switch.=20

</Off topic rant>

On Mon, 5 May 1997, Al Hopper wrote:

> > =A6> more competitive. There is NOW a T1 router with a built-in CSU/DSU=
for
> > =A6> under $1000 !!! Call Tech Data about it. Cant remember the brand.

> > Best priced solution I have seen for this is a 1250i
> > from compatible systems.

> Has anyone on the list any experience with these Lantronix El-Cheapo
> switches. I suppose, sooner or later, that as the level of integration
> goes up, the cost per port has got to go way down - especially if a
> switch is implemented with widely available commodity ICs. But like
> everything else in this business, there's usually no free lunch. Has
> the bottom dropped out of the unmanaged switch market - or is this one
> of those deals where "there must be a catch"?=20