Hardware Supply
From Entrepedia: The Entrepreneurship Wiki
Purchasing the hardware that is absolutely essential to running a successful business can be quite costly, so in the startup phase you may want to look into some cheaper supplier options. Also, remember that getting the hardware is only half of the battle: you still need the software and online services to be able to use it most efficiently, and that can cost even more if you don't research the cheaper – sometimes even free – options available to you
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Computers
There are several online services that will allow you to compare PC and laptop prices, so that you can ensure you are getting a reliable and efficient machine at the lowest possible price. Some examples include:
- Insight UK
- PriceRunner UK
- PriceRunner is not specific to PC's or laptops, but it does offer price comparison on computing hardware
- ComputerPrices UK
- DooYoo UK
- DooYoo claims to offer more than simple price comparison
- PriceOK UK
- PriceOK has gathered price information on a variety of hardware beyond complete PCs or laptops
Printers
Just as for PCs and laptops, there are some price compare websites that offer price comparison on printers as well. For example:
- Kelkoo UK offers price comparison from the best known UK online shops for a variety of printer brands
- DooYoo also offers price comparison on printers
- ITReviews UK not only offers a price comparison service, they also offer reviews of different printers, which can help you make the wisest and cheapest purchase
Print cartridges
You can find cheap print cartridges or printer toner available online at sites such as:
Of course, there are also a variety of print cartridge specific stores as well, and you should also compare the prices in these stores to the cost of ordering online – don't forget about postage!
Gadgets and Gizmos
- Projectors
- Mini Pocket Projectors: 3M Pro110
- Projectors to buy or hire: ProjectorPoint UK
There are a lot of gadgets and gizmos out there that, apart from being generally pretty neat, can help improve your business operations. It would be well worth some online and in-store research into the cost of some of these gadgets, to see if they are a worthwhile expense:
- Mobile Broadband Internet
- Most UK phone and internet providers are now offering mobile broadband internet dongles, which allow you easy access to the internet from wherever you are, without worrying about wires or whether there is an available wireless connection. The packages often charge according to data usage, and some providers might offer different packages for existing customers or small businesses specifically
- USB Data Sticks
- It's unlikely that you don't already have one, or more than one, but USB data sticks are becoming cheaper and cheaper, while at the same time offering larger and larger capacities. They are very useful for pitches, presentations, or meetings where you want to minimise the amount of time spent setting up your equipment.
