Before deciding on a custom built computer for your company you've got to make sure that an understanding of why your buying custom built workstations is recognized and approved by the management of your company.  Nothing is worse than making that decision and then being over-ridden once the program is in place.

Huge benefits can be gotten from using custom built workstations instead of off-the-shelf systems.  Many large corporations have seen the benefit of using WHITE-BOX or custom built computer systems instead of off-the-shelf system, and that benefit is primarily big-buck savings in time and overall hardware / software  and support cost over the lifetime of the systems purchased. 

Selecting a custom built computer manufacturer, should be based on additional value-added-services that make custom built systems so valuable.  Just picking a vendor based on price and not taking advantage of the software customization services is a big mistake.

Custom built systems is more than just configuring the hardware a certain way. It means truly creating a custom system that can save you and your company big money over the lifetime of the systems.

Look for a  FULL-SERVICE Custom Built Computer company that will;

• build a demo-system for you and your management team to evaluate
• Provide a demo-system free-of-charge for at least 10-days 
• meet all of your custom needs. Don't be shy this can cost you in the long run. 
• be flexible enough to configure a system using the parts your specify?
• be familiar with the Network environment you have, Novell, Microsoft, Unix etc
• configure the demo system exactly to your specifications  
• update operating system, BIOS, and software that is on custom list automatically with each system produced
• Will stock and ship systems on an as needed basis
• provides detailed document on how system is to be produced
• provide a Ghosted image of the master hard drive so workstations can easily be corrected should problems arrive.
• provide at least 1-year warranty with cross-ship of parts standard
• provides custom cartons for each system, so they can be shipped to multiple locations quickly and without damage to the systems
• provide custom branding (labels, keyboard skins etc)

By demanding a lot from your custom built computer vendor you'll find out very quickly how good they really are.  Oh, and just in passing do they return phone calls quickly?

By purchasing a custom built computer from a full service builder you gain these advantages;

• Immediate delivery when you need your systems, since vendor will stock them
• Documentation on exactly how the system is configured
• System Hardware is configured exactly as needed.
• System Software is loaded per your specifications
• Application Software is loaded with the applications and setup as required
• System Logins are setup as needed
• Reduced System / Software / Support over the lifetime of systems 
• Eliminate un-needed software 
• Eliminate updating operating system when the system is received
• Eliminate licensing problems with software that may come with the system but expires after 10-90 days.
• Eliminate end-user tampering with operating system setup
• Eliminate having just a master CD which includes all the software and operating system that is setup in only one particular un-needed configuration
• Ghosted images are available for system corrections should they be required
• Using a custom branded system eliminate PC ENVY among employees

The biggest responsibilities you have when working with a vendor are;

• Get your exact needs down on paper and submit them as gospel when finished
• Pay your bills on time and within terms 

Our favorite custom built computer company;SOS2000 COMPUTER SYSTEMS "http://www.sos2000.com"