Systemax Inc. catalog arm is doing Lindows
by KEN SCHACHTER

TigerDirect Inc., a unit of Port Washington-based Systemax Inc., has begun marketing a low-cost line of computers that defy the dominance of Microsoft Corp.

The PC product line of TigerDirect, a Miami-based mail order and Internet retailer, not surprisingly, is heavily skewed toward the dominant Windows operating system of Microsoft Corp.

But a new computer, priced at $229 comes loaded with an operating system known as Lindows that is based on open-source Linux code.

Lonny Paul, director of e-commerce at TigerDirect, said his company was seeking to counter a line of Linux-based computers sold by retail giant Wal-Mart for similar price points. Wal-Mart started selling Lindows machines in June.

Paul said that the Halloween kick-off of the new computer marketed by TigerDirect showed strong demand. In response, he said, two more Lindows models from the manufacturer, Wintergreen Systems of Elkhart Ind., would be added to the TigerDirect line.

In a statement, Gilbert Fiorentino, chief executive of TigerDirect, said the Lindows machines fill a need when consumers seek a low-cost second computer for the home.

Lindows puts a point-and-click interface over the Linux operating system and runs some basic Windows programs.

Future Tech is No. 1, says CRN
Of all the technology solutions providers in the country, one stood out, says CRN magazine.

That's how Future Tech Enterprises, based in Holbrook, landed on top of the listings of the trade magazine's listing of 25 Rising Stars.

The ranking was based in part on Future Tech's revenue trajectory, going from $2.1 million in 1999, to $18.6 million in 2001, as well as the company's use of innovative technology.

What lessons can Future Tech teach executives?

Chief Executive Bob Venero said the company's growth has been based in part on its balanced approach to markets.

"Diversity is very important to us," Venero said. "We stay in the government market and we stay in the corporate market. When the government is down, the corporate is up and when the corporate is up, the government is down."

Venero said he also takes a cautious approach to growth.

"Future Tech doesn't put the horses before the cart," he said. "We keep the numbers of our personnel down. When we win a program, we staff up."

And one more thing: Keep your eyes focused on the customer. That customer focus resulted in a huge recent win with Future Tech, in partnership with Northrop Grumman, supplying computers and technology to Peace Corps workers.

"We call ourselves the chameleon of the industry," Venero said. "When the Peace Corps came, we said: 'What do you need? We'll build the procedures around it.' That's what made us successful. It meets the customer's needs. That's been very powerful for us."

Another recent project had Future Tech creating a wireless network for the New York Philharmonic.

Venero said he expects Future Tech's revenues to ramp up to $30 million this year. That kind of growth would be music to anyone's ears.

CorrectNet launches site for Women in Hedge Funds
Hauppauge-based CorrectNet has donated services and technology to launch a Web site for 100 Women in Hedge Funds.

100 Women in Hedge Funds is a not-for-profit association dedicated to help women advance their professional activities.

CorrectNet has offered electronic publishing and secure Web site services to hedge funds since 1996.

Globecomm accord cuts its bandwidth obligations
Satellite communications provider Globecomm Systems Inc. has negotiated an agreement to pay a $3.6 million fee to be released from contracts under which it bought satellite bandwidth.

Under the contracts, Globecomm would have had to pay $31.6 million for the satellite bandwidth. The company provides satellite systems for services such as Internet access and video, but its contractual obligations to buy bandwidth has been outstripping its ability to sell its service.
Globecomm CEO, David Hershberg, said the agreement "significantly addressed the issue of unused satellite capacity that has plagued our performance for a number of years."

The contracts will be reassigned to the unnamed satellite provider.