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I've been going to Microcenter in cambridge MA for years. They've got a decent selection (If you need it they'll likely have something that fits the bill) and

I've been going to Microcenter in cambridge MA for years. They've got a decent selection (If you need it they'll likely have something that fits the bill) and decent prices. They're always changing though: they had a console video game section for a while, now thats hobby computers (rasbery pi and co). They had a camera section, but thats gone. Computer books, gone. So they seem to be paying attention and a few years back they finaly went to a one line checkout (still takes too long, but its better).

eropple 7y ago
> I've been going to Microcenter in cambridge MA for years. They've got a decent selection (If you need it they'll likely have something that fits the bill) and decent prices. This wildly depends (for that store, at least)--if you need something very mainstream you'll find it but they don't have a lot of things that I'd consider pretty obvious for a tech store. Their computer cases, for example, are mostly X-TREME in nature and they have few-if-any HTPC cases at any given time, and definitely nothing that can rack. On the other hand, what I do really like about them is that they sometimes, for high-demand items, don't actually update the online stock numbers. I was able to walk into the store to pick up some RAM and walk out with a 3900X because they were saving them for in-store customers.
- colechristensen 7y ago
  >Their computer cases, for example, are mostly X-TREME in nature and they have few-if-any HTPC cases at any given time, and definitely nothing that can rack. Cases that aren't designed to appeal to 12 year old boys are hard to come by, period. Manufacturers have decided that everything needs to have sexy angry facades and RGB lights - this has a lot more to do with product people at the manufacturers and less to do with the actual market. Ditto motherboards, especially.
  - eropple 7y ago
    Motherboards I'll give you, but Silverstone, Cooler Master, and Fractal Design all have plenty of simple and normal models. (This list brought to you by looking around my office.) It would be nice to not have to wait for Amazon to get something for a project, is all.
  - PhasmaFelis 7y ago
    I would guess that gamers are by far the largest market for home-built PCs these days. Most people see no need to build from scratch.
akoster 7y ago
I completely agree with you about Micro Center frequently changing. I remember when visiting their SoCal store, the books section was moved to what appeared to be a clearance area and found a large drone display in its place. The Fry's in my area seemed like it had 2-3x the square footage, but maybe the same amount of inventory (or less) than Micro Center did. The Micro Center also used to have this awesome display of old logos (such as the rainbow Apple logo, Compaq, Packard-Bell, old Microsoft logo, etc) from various hardware and software companies that wrapped around the front and sides of the building in all its 90s glory. Sadly, I found it missing as of earlier this year. I wish I took a picture of it while it was still up. Did the Cambridge store have a similar "logo ribbon"?
- mrpippy 7y ago
  I remember those, the one in Tustin also had pictures of industry luminaries (RMS, Bill Gates, Grace Hopper, Steve Jobs, Woz, etc) inside, posted high on the walls around the edge of the building. Just going there takes me back to the proper “computer stores” that ceased to exist after the 90s. Actual PC parts and not full of appliances and movies/music
- acomjean 7y ago
  No logo ribbon.. frankly a boring looking store https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3574429,-71.1149978,3a,75y,109.78h,99.31t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1shqLPWdP1qLrOTh8g9oWIWw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3574429,-71.1149978,3a,75y,1...

eropple 7y ago

> I've been going to Microcenter in cambridge MA for years. They've got a decent selection (If you need it they'll likely have something that fits the bill) and decent prices. This wildly depends (for that store, at least)--if you need something very mainstream you'll find it but they don't have a lot of things that I'd consider pretty obvious for a tech store. Their computer cases, for example, are mostly X-TREME in nature and they have few-if-any HTPC cases at any given time, and definitely nothing that can rack. On the other hand, what I do really like about them is that they sometimes, for high-demand items, don't actually update the online stock numbers. I was able to walk into the store to pick up some RAM and walk out with a 3900X because they were saving them for in-store customers.

colechristensen 7y ago
>Their computer cases, for example, are mostly X-TREME in nature and they have few-if-any HTPC cases at any given time, and definitely nothing that can rack. Cases that aren't designed to appeal to 12 year old boys are hard to come by, period. Manufacturers have decided that everything needs to have sexy angry facades and RGB lights - this has a lot more to do with product people at the manufacturers and less to do with the actual market. Ditto motherboards, especially.
- eropple 7y ago
  Motherboards I'll give you, but Silverstone, Cooler Master, and Fractal Design all have plenty of simple and normal models. (This list brought to you by looking around my office.) It would be nice to not have to wait for Amazon to get something for a project, is all.
- PhasmaFelis 7y ago
  I would guess that gamers are by far the largest market for home-built PCs these days. Most people see no need to build from scratch.

akoster 7y ago

I completely agree with you about Micro Center frequently changing. I remember when visiting their SoCal store, the books section was moved to what appeared to be a clearance area and found a large drone display in its place. The Fry's in my area seemed like it had 2-3x the square footage, but maybe the same amount of inventory (or less) than Micro Center did. The Micro Center also used to have this awesome display of old logos (such as the rainbow Apple logo, Compaq, Packard-Bell, old Microsoft logo, etc) from various hardware and software companies that wrapped around the front and sides of the building in all its 90s glory. Sadly, I found it missing as of earlier this year. I wish I took a picture of it while it was still up. Did the Cambridge store have a similar "logo ribbon"?

mrpippy 7y ago
I remember those, the one in Tustin also had pictures of industry luminaries (RMS, Bill Gates, Grace Hopper, Steve Jobs, Woz, etc) inside, posted high on the walls around the edge of the building. Just going there takes me back to the proper “computer stores” that ceased to exist after the 90s. Actual PC parts and not full of appliances and movies/music
acomjean 7y ago
No logo ribbon.. frankly a boring looking store https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3574429,-71.1149978,3a,75y,109.78h,99.31t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1shqLPWdP1qLrOTh8g9oWIWw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3574429,-71.1149978,3a,75y,1...