TigerDirect Buying CompUSA Assets

By Geoff Duncan January 8, 2008

Fans of old-school technology retailing may rejoice: the CompUSA brand may be changing, but it’s not going away. As word broke in late 2007 that the venerable computer retailer CompUSA would be closing its remaining retail stores and, essentially, holding a fire sale on anything left on the shelves, some technology enthusiasts rejoices (whoo hoo! Longer lines at Best Buy, Fry’s, and Circuit City!) but others lamented the loss of a well-known brand, where you could always go for a motherboard at two in the morning. And stop for some fries nearby.

Thanks to a deal with electronics retailer Systemax, CompUSA will not be vanishing altogether. The company—which also owns TigerDirect—has inked a deal to buy the CompUSA brand and trademark, along with picking up as many as sixteen selected CompUSA retail locations. (PDF) The companies expect the deal to close in the first quarter of 2008, with the total value of the transaction being around $30 million.

“We believe the value of the CompUSA brand remains very high,” said Systemax CEO Richard Leeds, in a statement. “The company has a long legacy of value pricing, service, and customer loyalty among consumers nationwide. We view this acquisition as a strong complementary business to our TigerDirect operation.”

TigerDirect currently operates eleven retail locations in Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, and Ontario; adding up to sixteen CompUSA locations will be part of TigerDirect’s planned retail expansion in Florida, Texas, and Puerto Rico.

Until the acquisition is complete, CompUSA’s online and retail operations will continue under CompUSA’s existing structure. After the acquisition, Systemax plans to roll out an improved CompUSA site with advanced searching and improved content.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

Mobile

Best Verizon Fios new customer deals: Get 2GB/s internet in your home

Fios TV Package

Whether you surf the web for work or you subscribe to one of the best live TV streaming services, the experience can be made better with blazing fast internet. Fiber optic internet service is the future, and with Verizon Fios you can get some of the fastest internet service around. This service would pair well with any of the best TVs and home theater setups, but it’s also something to consider if you're into online gamine or do work that requires large file uploads and downloads. We’re currently seeing some of the lowest prices on Fios home internet service we’ve ever seen, with Verizon putting some super impressive deals out there. We’ve rounded up all of the best Verizon Fios deals available right now, and they include low monthly costs, waived setup charges, and a number of freebies like Target gift cards.
2 Gigabit Verizon Fios connection -- $85 per month + free extras
One of the fastest internet speeds you can get, and the fastest speed that Verizon offers, this is the sort of subscription you should grab if all the members of your family are essentially watching 4k content all the time. It's also great for those who want to host their own media server to share with friends or family while not impacting anybody else in the home. You also get a lot of great freebies included here, such as the choice of either a $300 Target gift card or a $350 value Samsung Chromebook Go, which is admittedly an entry-level device, but it's not bad to use for just streaming content. On top of that, you can choose between 2TB of Verizon cloud storage and 12 months of Disney+ with no ads or a MoCA Ethernet Adapter for gaming and a $50 Xbox eGift Card. You could also get both of these if you add an extra $10/month, although it's probably not worth it at that point.

1 Gigabit Verizon Fios connection -- $65 per month + free extras
If the super-fast speeds aren't necessarily needed, especially if you're in a smaller household without too many folks watching content, then the 1 Gigabit version is the way to go. It is $20 cheaper, so it's a lot of money that you're saving over the course of the year, and you still get quite a few extra benefits, even at this level. You get to choose either a $200 Target gift card or the same sort of Samsung Chromebook Go that's worth $350 that's great for streaming content. You also get a similar choice as the 2 Gigabit connection, which includes either 2TB of Verizon cloud storage and six months of Disney+ without ads, or a MoCA Ethernet Adapter for gaming and a $50 Xbox eGift Card.

Computing

Best Buy laptop deals: Cheap laptops starting at $139

Apple M1 MacBook Air open on a desk with plants in the background.

With Best Buy almost always among the best places to buy a laptop online, it’s worth checking out what sort of laptop deals the retail giant currently has taking place. It regularly discounts laptop models by top laptop brands like Dell, HP, Lenovo, and even Apple. We’ve tracked down all of the Best Buy laptop deals worth shopping right now, and you can read more about them below. They include some massive savings on an Acer Chromebook, as well as some discounts on new MacBook Airs. If you’re uncertain what sort of laptop best suit your needs, you can also consult our laptop buying guide.
Acer Chromebook 315 — $139, was $199

The Acer Chromebook 315 is one of the larger Chromebooks you’ll find, as its display comes in at an impressive 15.6 inches. This makes it a great option for people who want some extra screen real estate, but who still like to do their work on the go. The Acer Chromebook 315 has plenty of power for a Chromebook, and is made as much for comfort as functionality. Its slightly larger size will come in handy when doing creative work and an integrated numeric keyboard gives it the feel of working on a desktop. The Acer Chromebook 315 is able to reach up to 10 hours of battery life on a single charge, meaning you can work on the go all day without needing to take a charger with you.

Computing

The latest Windows update is breaking VPN connections

Windows Update running on a laptop.

Microsoft has acknowledged that the Windows security updates for April 2024 (KB5036893 for Windows 11, KB5036892 for Windows 10) are causing disruptions to virtual private network (VPN) connections across various client and server platforms. According to information on the Windows health dashboard, devices running Windows may experience VPN connection failures following the installation of either the April 2024 security update or the April 2024 non-security preview update.

The company has also stated that it is actively investigating user reports regarding these issues and will share more details in the coming days. The impacted Windows versions include Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows Server 2008 onward.