What is the Fry's of Seattle?
March 19, 2011 11:56 AM Subscribe
Frys Electronics : Los Angeles :: ???? : Seattle
I know this is going to sound borderline retarded, and yes, I've googled the crap out of this question, including maps and so forth, but I'm baffled.
Perhaps everyone just uses macs and the answer is 'apple store', but doesn't seattle have some sort of giant interesting megamart of reasonable quality computer equipment somewhere? That's not, e.g., a Best Buy or a Staples? Like somewhere where you might go to find an SSD, a laptop sleeve, an OEM copy of Windows, a book about Erlang, a super cheap HDMI cable, and maybe a handful of TTL 555s?
I know this is going to sound borderline retarded, and yes, I've googled the crap out of this question, including maps and so forth, but I'm baffled.
Perhaps everyone just uses macs and the answer is 'apple store', but doesn't seattle have some sort of giant interesting megamart of reasonable quality computer equipment somewhere? That's not, e.g., a Best Buy or a Staples? Like somewhere where you might go to find an SSD, a laptop sleeve, an OEM copy of Windows, a book about Erlang, a super cheap HDMI cable, and maybe a handful of TTL 555s?
My husband buys all his computer stuff online. Sometimes eBay, sometimes other sites.
Even for mac stuff, most folks I know recommend mac resellers online. YMMV.
posted by jbenben at 12:04 PM on March 19, 2011
Even for mac stuff, most folks I know recommend mac resellers online. YMMV.
posted by jbenben at 12:04 PM on March 19, 2011
Best answer: yeah, I second Frys Electronics : Los Angeles :: Frys Electronics in Renton : Seattle
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 12:27 PM on March 19, 2011
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 12:27 PM on March 19, 2011
Best answer: Everyone I know here buys their stuff online, and lots have Amazon Prime memberships for free two-day shipping. Several of the things you mentioned there (SSDs, laptop sleeves, Windows), are available on AmazonFresh, so you can potentially have them delivered later the same day. I get cheap cables from Monoprice and other electronics from Amazon or Newegg.
If you absolutely have to get this stuff at a store, then Renton is your option.
posted by grouse at 12:39 PM on March 19, 2011
If you absolutely have to get this stuff at a store, then Renton is your option.
posted by grouse at 12:39 PM on March 19, 2011
Best answer: Aren't there still some big-box stores on the east side?
For some of those things, you can go to the University Bookstore. They have a reasonably good technical books section and they have a computer department. It's not bargain-oriented like Fry's, though. (But, on the other hand, it's not bargain-oriented like Fry's.) For cheap stuff of dubious reliability, there's RePC.
For electronics stuff like 555s, most of the stores in the area dried up a while ago, leaving people to buy things online. There's still Vetco in Redmond (surplus and some new stuff). Heck, for 555s, there's still Radio Shack.
posted by hattifattener at 1:12 PM on March 19, 2011
For some of those things, you can go to the University Bookstore. They have a reasonably good technical books section and they have a computer department. It's not bargain-oriented like Fry's, though. (But, on the other hand, it's not bargain-oriented like Fry's.) For cheap stuff of dubious reliability, there's RePC.
For electronics stuff like 555s, most of the stores in the area dried up a while ago, leaving people to buy things online. There's still Vetco in Redmond (surplus and some new stuff). Heck, for 555s, there's still Radio Shack.
posted by hattifattener at 1:12 PM on March 19, 2011
Best answer: nth-ing Frys in Renton.
Otherwise, nothing on the north-west side to get *everything*. 3rd Place Books often has a good supply of tech books, as does UVillage B&N.
posted by hatsix at 1:26 PM on March 19, 2011
Otherwise, nothing on the north-west side to get *everything*. 3rd Place Books often has a good supply of tech books, as does UVillage B&N.
posted by hatsix at 1:26 PM on March 19, 2011
There's also Re PC, the used computer superstore. Bins of network cards, cables & assorted gear of unknown provenance or function. It's like a candy store for hackers. Picked up a token ring PCMCIA card there that proved to be very handy in giving me entre onto a certain network & more than paid for itself.
posted by scalefree at 3:03 PM on March 19, 2011
posted by scalefree at 3:03 PM on March 19, 2011
I've lived in Seattle nine years, and I've found it baffling how hard it is to find computer gear in a city with so many people in the tech industry. Like grouse and jbenben said, lots of people use newegg or amazon. But sometimes you don't want to wait for shipping!
Fry's in Renton is the default option, of course. But if you don't mind driving to the east side, consider Hard Drives Northwest. They're smaller, and the prices are a bit higher, but the staff is actually really knowledgeable and helpful (I find Fry's hit-or-miss).
posted by molybdenum at 4:53 PM on March 19, 2011
Fry's in Renton is the default option, of course. But if you don't mind driving to the east side, consider Hard Drives Northwest. They're smaller, and the prices are a bit higher, but the staff is actually really knowledgeable and helpful (I find Fry's hit-or-miss).
posted by molybdenum at 4:53 PM on March 19, 2011
I've found it baffling how hard it is to find computer gear in a city with so many people in the tech industry
We all have at least three of everything in our closet already.
posted by kindall at 5:45 PM on March 19, 2011 [5 favorites]
We all have at least three of everything in our closet already.
posted by kindall at 5:45 PM on March 19, 2011 [5 favorites]
the staff is actually really knowledgeable and helpful (I find Fry's hit-or-miss).
I always considered the defining traits of Fry's to be (1) we carry everything and (2) we save you money by not hiring people to try to educate you.
posted by bjrubble at 10:03 AM on March 20, 2011
I always considered the defining traits of Fry's to be (1) we carry everything and (2) we save you money by not hiring people to try to educate you.
posted by bjrubble at 10:03 AM on March 20, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by macfly at 11:59 AM on March 19, 2011 [1 favorite]