May 2001

May 8, 2001

• Can the Web Remain Free?
  Do you think the Web can remain free?

  "No. No, I don’t think so. Not if it’s to achieve or realize its ultimate destiny as the global interactive marketplace that it can be," said AOL’s Time-Warner’s Richard Parsons, Co-Chief Operating Officer.

• Rolling Blackouts Continue in California
  According to our electricity provider, we may loose power in a rolling blackout today. Power is expected to be out for 1 hour. Our websites should stay available for your use. It will be our warehouse and office facilities that will be effected.

  Last time we took our turn, we lost telephone service at a different time because our telephone company is on a different power grid.

  We apologize for any inconvenience. Drop us a note or give us a call if you have any questions.

• Boxed Pentium 4 processor 1.7 GHz No RDRAM bundled
  Intel bundles 2 pieces of 64MB RDRAM or 128MB RDRAM with Boxed Pentium 4 processors. Most motherboards have 4 slots, and you have to add RDRAM in pairs. If you want to add more than 256MB to your Pentium 4 processor based system, what do you do?

  But the processor only! Intel part number BX80528JK170G is the Pentium 4 processor 1.7GHz (Boxed).

  Last week Intel released a Boxed Pentium 4 processor 1.7GHz without memory — just like their Boxed processors usually are.

  Behind the scenes, though, it took a while to confirm that these processors were actually part of the Intel Product Dealer program or if they were just tray processors. The part numbers in the system said BX80528JK170G. However, a rumor spread that the warehouse said it was just a tray processor. Apparently, a couple of the sales people at Intel distribution warehouses were confused. We accepted their confusion, ordered anyway, and are happy to report that the processors are indeed Boxed processors and not just tray. We received our shipment this morning.

  Why does this rumor matter to you? As consumers, we realize that the same or similar products are frequently packaged and marked in multiple ways. Intel’s Boxed versus tray is just one of the subtle marketing differences you have to face. We recognize that it takes a little time to sort out differences between products, so if you have questions, ask us! We’d be glad to help you. Just click on the "Ask for assistance" or "Talk to ESC" buttons at the top of the page.

• Cooler Master ATC101 Available
  Cooler Master’s ATC101 mid-tower case is now available for purchase online at www.escdirect.com.

May 7, 2001

• Lower Iiyama LCD monitor prices
  We lowered your costs on Iiyama LCD monitors from now till the end of May.

  IIyama is offering us a $20 to $50 rebate on select monitors for May. In turn, we’re passing the savings on to you. Order online. Iiyama monitors ship from mutiple locations across the US. Delivery cost on our online system may be adjusted to offer you even greater savings.

• Iiyama Monitor Inventory Update
  Here is an update on Iiyama Monitor availability:

15" CRT

S500M1: Discontinued

17" CRT

S700J1: Available
I70A: Available
A702HT: Available
MF701U: Available

19" CRT

S900MT1: Available
A902MT: Available
I90A: Discontinued
I91A: Available
MF901U: Available

21" CRT

S104MT: ETA 2nd week of MAY
MS101D: Available

22" CRT

A201HT: Available
I20A: Limited inventory

15.0 LCD

TXA3813MT: Available
AX3815U:SPECIAL ORDER
TXA3823MT: Available
TXA3834MT: Available
TXA3841J: Special Order
TXA3842J: Special Order
TXA3851J: Special Order

15.4 LCD

AS3921U: Not available

15.7 LCD

AS4021U: Not available

17.0 LCD

AS4311U: Not available

17.4 LCD

AS4431D: Available

18.1 LCD

TSA4634JT: Available
AS4635U: Available

May 6, 2001

• ESCStore.com has moved
  Yes, ESCStore.com has joined ESCDirect.com on the new shopping site. If you had any pages bookmarked, please update them now.

May 4, 2001

• Sound cards added to ESCDirect.com
  Creative Labs Sound cards are now available for purchase on ESCDirect.com.
• Missing products
  If you see products that ESC usually carries and isn’t on ESCDirect.com, let us know. webmaster@esc-tech.com.

  We’re adding products as quickly as possible. Coming this weekend are products by Iiyama, AOC, Sony, Samsung and more.

• AMD Athlon 1333 MHz processors still backordered
  AMD Athlon 1333 MHz processors operating at 266 MHz FSB are still backordered. Yes, the price decreased on Monday, and our orders were placed on backorder. Production is at demand level, so a couple of days delay is expected. However, now it looks as if we need to add even a few days to our projections.
• Epox EP-8K7A Motherboard is Available
  Looking for the new Epox EP-8K7A? We have some in stock. Order online or by telephone. Supplies are limited.

May 3, 2001

• Earth to DirectPC Satellite, Earth to ….
  EarthLink (ELNK: news, msgs, alerts) began offering high-speed Net access service via DirectPC’s satellite service to east coast users Tuesday. The company said will have the service available nationally by the end of the month.
• Ball Trees
  Have you ever heard of a Ball Tree? A.J. has. He thinks we planted them last spring, just for him. If you ask him, he thinks they’re great for a puppy. The tree starts out small, then grows tall — just like him.

  The balls you ask, what are they? Yes, they start out green, then turn bright red.

  What does A.J. like most about these little red balls? Their aerodynamics. He gently nips one off the tree, then tosses it in the air. Sometimes he catches it in his mouth. Other times, he whips his head around with his mouth open till the ball flies away and the search for it begins.

  Almost all summer long, A.J. will be playing with balls from his ball tree. He doesn’t understand why people tell him "no" when he picks these wonderful balls. Afterall, his people pick them and eat them. Someone threatened a scarecrow, but he didn’t know what that meant — it sounded bad enough that his ears started to droop.

  The names are "Early Girl", "Better Boy", "Celebrity" — with names like this how could a dog not play with them?

  This year the ball trees have a small fence around them. A.J. knows he can step over the fence and he even chases the tortoise away when she gets near it. Will A.J. be able to stay away from the ball trees this year? We’ll have to wait and see.

  Have you planted your tomatoes yet? If you haven’t check with your local garden shop to see when the conditions are right for your garden. Don’t have a little plot of land for your own vegetable garden? Try container gardening!

May 2, 2001

• Linux Updates
  You may want to follow the progress of Linux on www.linuxtests.org. Interesting team approach to reviewing Linux related developments and products.
• Siemens Expects Spending Increases in US
  Siemens announced a strategy Tuesday to boost its North American computer services and consulting business as part of a broader initiative to help secure a larger presence on U.S. soil. They expect steady increases in spending by larger clients over the next two to three years.
• Citigroup-Microsoft Net Payment Service
  Citigroup on Tuesday joined forces with Microsoft to extend its Net payment service to a larger audience.
• Online Sales Grow
  Online retail sales are expected to reach $65 billion in North America this year. That’s a lot of money to real people, AJ says.
• Clippy’s Demise
  Clippy, the Microsoft helper, is out of a job. Is this little character moving on to bigger and better things? Or is it Clippy’s demise?

  See Clippy’s future at a Microsoft Office XP launch event in your area. Plus pick up a $100 US Office XP rebate coupon, a preview copy of Microsoft Windows XP, and other free software.

  Microsoft Office XP, retail versions, will be available after May 31st. If you’re ordering a computer system, we can install the new Office XP OEM version.

• Extra Motherboards In Inventory
  We have the extra inventory on the following motherboards:

EPoX EP-8KTA3 motherboard

ASUS CUSL2 motherboard

We have extra inventory on the following video cards:

Matrox Millinneum G450 32MB, AGP, white box (Would need to call to order this item, since we have not added video cards to the ESCDirect.com website yet.)

May 1, 2001

• Pentium 4 Processor Availability Update
  Pentium 4 processors 1.7GHz (part numbers ending in G, GR, and GR2) are backordered, at this time.
  Pentium 4 processors 1.5 GHz packaged with 2 pieces of 128MB RDRAM are backordered, at this time.

  Once you place an order with us for the 1.7 GHz GR or the 1.5GHz GR2, there will be a delay of a few days before our backorder is shipped to us.

• Wall Mount and Touch Screen Monitors
  Iiyama’s Wall Mount and Touch Screen Monitors have increased in availability. There is a light leadtime for the product, however, it is no longer 2 months! Call to place a special order.
• Micron Completes Purchase of KMT
  MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC., COMPLETES THE PURCHASE OF KMT SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED

  Boise, Idaho, May 1, 2001 — Micron Technology, Inc., announced today that it has completed the purchase of all of Kobe Steel, Ltd.’s equity interest in KMT Semiconductor Limited together with the land where the KMT facility is located, for $25 million (3 billion yen). As a result of this transaction, KMT is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Micron.
  Continue Reading Press Release

• Micron Electronics Agrees to Sell PC Business to G
  Micron Electronics Agrees to Sell PC Business to Gores Technology Group
  Paves Way for Faster Path to Profitability for Growing Web Hosting Business

  Nampa, Idaho, May 1, 2001–Micron Electronics, Inc. (Nasdaq: MUEI), today announced that Gores Technology Group will acquire the assets and liabilities of its PC business, in a transaction that may provide upside potential in the event of future sale of the business by Gores, and saves Micron Electronics’ shareholders further losses on its PC business.
  Continue Reading Press Release

• More products added to ESCDirect.com
  We’ve added more products for purchase to ESCDirect.com. CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, CD-RW, Floppy, Zip, hard drives and more.