AKICILJ: Buying computer stuff

[carbonel]

(for Minneapolis area people; I still don't have my local filter working)

Now that CompUSA has gone the way of the dodo, is there any place locally to buy computer stuff closer to me than MicroCenter?

I'm in Richfield, and I need a parallel-to-USB converter.

Comments

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

There's a Best Buy at 494 an Lyndale, though they may not have as much specialized equipment as MicroCenter.

You might try Accessory Computer Service Center:
http://home.att.net/~jcecere/Final/index.html

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

That was my idea, too.

B

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

MicroCenter is really easy to get to for you, while General Nano is not, though the latter is closer as the crow flies.

K.

[carbonel]

General Nano let me down a couple of weeks ago -- I wanted an external USB DVD recorder and a fax modem, and it didn't have either.

The guy there gave me the impression that he was much more interested in putting systems together than selling parts.

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

Best Buy is certainly closer, and might have that stuff. Else, online (newegg.com, zipzoomfly.com, tigerdirect.com).

For more core bits I'd say General Nano, which is I think closer to you than Micro Center (but Minnehaha K is I think right that it wouldn't actually be easier to get to). For that kind of accessory, though, it's not the easiest place, may not even be a good place (but for disk and optical drives, cases, motherboards, ram, processors, hard drives, and such, they're great, for your general fund of knowledge).

si

[lsanderson.livejournal.com]

35W N to 94 E to Huron N to University E. Not that I ever go there or nothin.

Best Buy is much closer and generally more expensive.

[carbonel]

Well, General Nano didn't have what I wanted when I was there recently -- it's right next to the Textile Center, and I was there for a spinning group.

Sounds like it's MicroCenter for the win -- their website says they have what I need in stock at the St. Louis Park Store.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

What about Radio Shack, in the MOA? Don't they sell parts?

(I'd call before going, of course.)

B

[carbonel]

You win. There's a Radio Shack at 66th and Nicollet, and they have it in stock.

I'm heading over now.

[barondave.livejournal.com]

Hmm... I missed suggesting Radio Shack by a few minutes.

If by "parallel-to-USB converter" you mean one of those small green things, I have a bunch of them that came with divers pieces of equipment and you can have a couple.

[carbonel]

I'm not sure what you mean by "small green thing," but I'm pretty sure that wasn't it.

I specifically needed a cord that would be a USB input on one end, and a parallel input on the other, that would let a computer with only a USB port print to a printer with only a parallel port.

Anyway, what I bought works -- and the one at Radio Shack was comparable in price to the one at Micro Center.

[barondave.livejournal.com]

A bunch of mice and such came with something similar: Small green adapters (not cords) into which a USB male plug would fit, with a serial male plug on the other end for use on an old PC. Since my Mac doesn't even have a serial port, I'm looking at two now (on unused mice) and could probably dig up more fairly easily.

Pre-USB, printers (parallel ports) are a different animal than mice (serial ports), so you probably needed the cord. I've never used any of these things, but hate to throw away potentially useful connectors and you're welcome to one should the need arise.

[laurel]

Glad you found it; to me, Micro Center seems really close to you, but I'm weird. Best Buy and Radio Shack were my next picks.

[sevenmpls.livejournal.com]

For future reference there's a FANTASTIC locally owned, new and used parts and whole computers store at roughly lake & hiawatha ...

http://www.quecomputers.com/

i get all my stuff there.

[carbonel]

By the way, what's the story on kittens? Are they getting close to old enough to be weaned?

[sraun]

I second that recommendation!