New business startup help/suggestions/info needed

[Justin]

Hi I saw your posting about the cyber cafe. If you are interested my company
just recently purchased 40 computers that were intended to be thin clients
with linux embeded into a 16MB flash disk , well we ended up needing more
than thin client could offer so we put full hard drives into them so we now
have 40 IDE flashdisks that have Linux with netscape and networking
capabilities embeded into them that we are not using. If you are interested
in purchasing them from us please let me know.
We are asking $10 per flash disk.

-Justin Wilson
Lab Express Inc.
justin@labxpress.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Hawke" <proudhawk19021@home.com>
To: "plug-discuss" <plug-discuss@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us>
Sent: Saturday, August 26, 2000 5:10 AM
Subject: New business startup help/suggestions/info needed


> Guys,
> I've been putting this thing off long enough.
>
> I now need some help.
>
> I'd like to start a business that involves the use of computers
> in a small location that serves the public (A cybercafe').
>
> I would appreciate any additional input here 9especially from
> those who are either owners or major contributing partners
> in their respective organizations).
>
> I am also in need of funding sources (if you guys know of any
> where grants may be issued, etc, please let me know)
>
> I am looking at 2 alternatives so far as the hardware is concerned:
> 1. 25 workstations (diskless)
>     specifications (workstations):
>         memory: 256 megabytes
>         video; 8 megabytes or more
>         embedded linux os for loading Xwindows (or windows if need be)
>             on an ethernet backbone to a main server (100baseT).
>         Large monitors (17 inch or greater)
>         CPU: athelon 550 Mhz or higher
>         (on some machines I will include "special access technology"
>             for the visually impaired)
>
> Alternative 2:
>     25 workstations (permanently mounted laptops)
>         built in HDD's (restricted access)
>         100BaseT ethernet with embedded linux OS
>         CPU: Athelon 550 Mhz or higher
>
> Server:
>     CPU:Athelon 700 Mhz or greater
>     Memory: 512 megabytes or greater
>     HDD: Multiple 30 gigbye drives/RAID/SCSI
>     Standard vid adaptor (this is also the admin station)
>     OS: linux/BSD/SCO Unix/SUN Solaris/winNT
>        (any of these, but prefer *nix)
>     2 Ethernet adaptors (100BaseT or fiber interface)
>
> other equipment: 50 way switch (100BaseT)
>                           Routing panel
>                           card reader
>
> It has been suggested to me that I issue cards of prepaid time
> (such as 30 minute, 60 minute, up to 1000 minutes) for various prices.
> The cost is computed on a per-minute basis and the larger cards
> would reflect a discount).
>
> As always, location is important. since there are already 3 such
> places around ASU, I plan to look elsewhere (such as central
> Phoenix, downtown Phoenix, Downtown glendale and north glendale)
>
> I am looking at possible bidquotes for both alternatives listed above
> from local providers 9such as technology partners, pc-club, and others).
>
> I am also looking at who would offer the best backbone service
> (or should I go with more than one with an in-house peering
> arrangement?), such as Cox, AT&T, QWEST, Sprint, MCI.
>
> Let me know if I need to add anything to this.
> I am trying to get this idea going as quickly as possible.
>
> Thank you.
>
>
>
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