Pegasus picks up PC stock

By PAUL BRISLEN

Eight months after New Zealand's largest PC assembler went under, the PC Company is back from the dead, albeit temporarily.

Colin Brown, founder of the PC Company, has bought the remainder of the old company's stock from the receiver and is selling it through his original company Pegasus Electronics.

Brown has also bought the PC Company customer database and is contacting users to see if there is enough interest in the formation of a PC Company support network.

"I've spoken to a number of resellers who are keen to be involved and from the responses we've had so far there are a number of customers who are very positive about it all."

The network would provide ongoing support and assistance to owners of PC Company equipment whose warranties will run out in October.

Although one-year warranties are covered by the Computer Manufacturers' Association warranty programme for failed local assemblers, users who took out extended warranties for more than a year are out of pocket.

Brown hopes an informal collection of users will be able to solve most PC-related problems and has offered to fix any hardware problems without charging labour costs.

After nearly three decades in the industry, Brown is also contemplating writing a book about his experiences. "After 30 years as a successful businessman I've learned a number of lessons the hard way and I'd like to share that with people coming up through the ranks.

"It's a case of , 'if I knew then what I know now' sort of thing."

Brown said he was considering an electronic, online book that would be given away to PC Company club members.

He was unsure what the future held for the PC Company and Pegasus Electronics once the last of the PC Company stock had been sold, but said he was interested in new opportunities in the IT market.