OcUK Networking Range - Opinions?

ihatelag said:
Well yeah that's correct, my point being that majority of lines are getting faster
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That still doesn't demand ADSL2+ support, and any decent router will readily do up to full rate ADSL :p

I don't disagree on the general point (though doing your own research rather than going on what's written on a single shop page is the best idea), just your reasoning.

As has already been mentioned by this thread's other incarnation in NIC (here), I'd suggest having the Linksys WRT54GL, but other than that I don't look in there enough to pass comment either way. You don't sell Cisco, and I can't see that changing.
 
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tolien said:
That still doesn't demand ADSL2+ support, and any decent router will readily do up to full rate ADSL :p
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No one's demanding it, it's s selling point! And a big one at that.

I don't disagree on the general point (though doing your own research rather than going on what's written on a single shop page is the best idea), just your reasoning.
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Thanks Tolien :)

As has already been mentioned by this thread's other incarnation in NIC (here), I'd suggest having the Linksys WRT54GL, but other than that I don't look in there enough to pass comment either way. You don't sell Cisco, and I can't see that changing.
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Cisco isn't really that popular in the UK compared to other brands. I don't see that changing any time soon.

The Linksys GL is excellent and stable for Linux. It's on my other machine - although I prefer my Netgear and Speedtouch for my windows setup.
 
Raymond Lin said:
Can actually get that for £80 + a free Netgear RangeMax WPN111 Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter worth about £40 with it with free P&P.
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Networking manufacturers tend to do bundles for different resellers at different times. We have had similar bundles in the past and they end for a time. We then get a newer bundle and so on such as these here: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Wireless_Bundle_Deals.html

If everyone had the same bundles it would be pretty dull so we aim to get you new bundles rather than copy others.
 
I would love to see more Cisco range of routers because more people now know about Cisco and how powerful they are as a networking device. They are pretty expensive but worth every single penny.

The current range is nice, a good range of prices and specs.
 
adwhitworth said:
What do you think to the current networking range that we have and how do you think our current pricing is against other competitors?

Remember there is to be no linking to competitors.

Many Thanks. :)
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As a major retailer of computer comonants I believe your networking section is good but needs updating for today's needs. Such products may include a roll of patch cable which is becomming increasingly popular for new networking enthusiasts. Furthermore, small additions to the product range such as patch panels, network face plates and even RJ45 connectors would be gold not to mention crimping tools and punch down tools to accompany them.

The current range of routers, switches and hubs are good but i'd love to see a wider range as when I am buying such products for clients I often tend to look elsewhere for their needs as OcUK don't stock what they want.

One last one before I finish would be servers. Selling pre-built low end servers could be advantageous as people on here usually ask for servers and specs.

If you need more info, e-mail in trust. :)

Edit: I totally back the Cisco range of products. Selling routers, catalyst switches, add in cards. These are VERY popular on the boards as i've seen a lot of people ask for them.
 
adwhitworth said:
How about the 831 & 837 routers?
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Obsolescent. It would have to be at least the 8(5/7)(1/7), I'd have thought.

No one's demanding it, it's s selling point! And a big one at that.
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I didn't say they were. I said "the majority of lines getting faster" didn't need ADSL2+.

Maybe if BTw started doing ADSL2+, or the LLUers pulled their fingers out it might be more worthwhile. Personally, hiding some of the stats should encourage people to do some work (or at least ask in a forum like this one) - so it can only be a good thing (but probably not for the shop).
 
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You have to remember that although there is plenty of room for expansion, filling our website full of Cisco products isn't going to help as the majority of our customers aren't going to be buying them.

However, there is no reason why we can't stock a few of their more popular lines.

I don't really follow Cisco products at all so if people want to suggest a couple of lines I will get them on the website ASAP. Tolien - I'd probably say the 851 & 857 would be best for our customer base.:)
 
Remove Belkin - always had problems with them. The amount of people who have bought elsewhere and got us to install them is getting silly. Nearly all are replaced by something else.

Take a look at Zyxel products. We have started to sell them ourselves and found them great for home and small-medium business use. AFAIK there is only one disty selling them in the UK itself though.
 
We've done ZyXel and Draytek in the past and the products haven't been anything spectacular and aren't really that cheap either so they probably won't be back at OcUK for a little while unless they come out with something revolutionary.
 
I have to say i got belkin adsl wifi router and had various wireless cards in various pcs and not had problem, must be something you boys are doing ;)
 
adwhitworth said:
We've done ZyXel and Draytek in the past and the products haven't been anything spectacular and aren't really that cheap either so they probably won't be back at OcUK for a little while unless they come out with something revolutionary.
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Similarly don't expect miricles with Cisco products.
 
ihatelag said:
Similarly don't expect miricles with Cisco products.
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The difference between Cisco and those two brands is actually quite big though. ZyXel home networking stuff is extremely dull and not that cheap plus it has no extra functions generally that stand out and say "buy me".

Cisco on the other hand has many extra features people may want and are willing to pay for.
 
Belkin seem to be good for cables and power protection, but notoriously bad for anything involving firmware (i.e. routers).

I'm a Draytek fan myself, despite their occasional slip-ups with firmware, but they are really targeted at the small business sector, so probably not a good fit for OcUK (although if you're now considering Cisco, anything's possible :))
 
adwhitworth said:
The difference between Cisco and those two brands is actually quite big though. ZyXel home networking stuff is extremely dull and not that cheap plus it has no extra functions generally that stand out and say "buy me".

Cisco on the other hand has many extra features people may want and are willing to pay for.
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Come to www.adslguide.org and check out what hardware is hot and what is not. If you want to gauge the enthusiasts response to products, that website is the best place to start. Forget the USA sites and their perspective, we're OcUK and we're dealing with mainly the UK enthusiasts who use UK exchanges. They would rather buy routers which work well with the kit in the exchanges rather than branding which pays no net dividends.

If you're looking at targeting business customers, then draytek and Cisco will do well. I wouldn't advise shifting the stock bias to Cisco if I were you.

Enthusiasts look at Speedtouch first, then belkin and netgear and finally the rest. Judge it for yourself from the website above.
 
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