CHANNEL SLEUTH

1-800-SURPRISE

Buying a PC with NEXTSTEP preinstalled on the hard drive should be as simple as calling an 800 number and placing an order. But in the channel, as your sleuth discovered, PC vendors are just getting up to speed.

Although NEC's sleek Versa notebook and Express desktops were hits at NeXTWORLD Expo, the company had yet to determine final pricing and configurations. The operator offered to put me on a mailing list and recommended faxing NEC's fax-back system for latest information.

Data General and Epson were ready to sell fully configured systems but with mixed results. Epson's order-taker said that the company's Progression PCs include a "beta demo" of NEXTSTEP, referring me to Ingram-Micro for the real thing. In fact, the Progression is not Epson's current NEXTSTEP box and NEXT-STEP comes preloaded. DG's competent salesperson outlined a wide range of NEXTSTEP options from entry-level desktops to server-class systems.

In keeping with the company's reputation for direct marketing excellence, the Dell salesperson was well informed, prepared to answer any question, and ready to deal. Unfortunately, Dell is not yet putting NEXTSTEP on its hard drives. you must purchase a CD-ROM drive in order to install it.

Each month, the Channel Sleuth will look at a different aspect of NEXTSTEP distribution.

NEC : 800/632-4636; 800/366-0476 (fax-back);

Epson: 800/922-8911;

Dell: 800/289-3355;

DG Direct: 800/343-8842.