Latest news from Rascom I.T.

December 2011
As we speed forward towards the end of 2011, and what has been a difficult year for everyone, we'd like to thank all of our customers for the business and support they have continued to give us during the past twelve months.

All of our slimline all-in-one systems have now sold out but we're hoping to have further stocks available in the New Year.

We'd also like to announce that effective from January 1st 2012 our touchscreen monitor division, Touchscreens Direct, will no longer be a part of Rascom I.T. but will become a separate company in its own right - operated and run solely by Rascom I.T. director, Robert Stokes.  Existing touchscreen customers will be contacted in due course although there will be minimal impact to the ongoing day-to-day business of either company.

November 2011
We've been investigating a new product line to bring into the Rascom I.T. model range and have found a superb slim-line all-in-one computer unit boasting an Intel Core i3 processor, 4Gb of DDR3 memory, 320Gb hard disk drive and all combined within an LED-driven 22" widescreen HD monitor.

These units really need to be seen to be beleived, they're so compact.

We've got a handful of units to sell initially whilst we test the market but are confident these could become a major seller for us.  Take a look at the All-In-One product page for more information.

October 2011
Recent flooding in Thailand has resulted in the temporary closure of some of the world's major hard disk manufacturing plants. As a result, the price of hard disk drives has more than doubled almost overnight as distributors ramp up their prices due to excessive demand - yes, we're not happy about this either!

We are predicting shortages and higher costs of all types of hard disk drive - laptop, desktop and external/portable drives until the 2nd Quarter of 2012 (around Easter-time).

We have some stocks of common disk capacities which we have been able to obtain at reasonable pricing but cannot rule out a need to increase the cost of our base units and any hard disk replacements or upgrades until such time as new worldwide supplies become available and pricing returns to normal levels.

Please contact us for more information and updates.

May 2011
Continuing our practise of partnering with 3rd party solution provider who we feel are at the top of their game and offering high-quality solutions that we do not offer internally ourselves, we are pleased to announce that we are now resellers for Simply Mail Solutions offering cost-effective online email solutions to all customers taking the responsibility and management of email storage away from office-based servers and having them all accessible through the Internet.

April 2011
After the best performing year in our history, we start our new financial year with a complete pricelist update on all items - computers, peripherals, components, services...  the lot.

January 2011
Whilst we wait for our own suppliers to sort their pricing out following the recent increase in VAT in the UK, we're going to hold our current pricing levels until the end of January so now's the time to grab a bargain!!!

November 2010
We've updated our website with some new processor models, improved pricing on many desktop components and also updated our AVG software page as we are now authorised GOLD resellers for AVG and their latest version, AVG 2011, has also now been released and is proving very popular with faster scanning times, lower resource usage and an easier-to-understand product line.

July 2010
We're pleased to say that business is still going strong and thanks to the continued support that our customers have given us, we're just had one of our best sales periods for the past two years.  This isn't because we've put prices up or are trying to make more money out of our customers (quite the opposite in fact!) but because our customers know they can trust us for good, clean, honest advice and know that we will only recommend to them whichever solution we feel is the best FOR THEM, not for us and our bank balance.

The website has now been updated to take account of new processors available in our desktop systems including the all-new Intel Core i3 and Core i5 models as well as our brand-new Mini-PC systems which are ultra-modern and come in a small, compact form.  They are ideal space-saving systems that can be attached to the rear of a computer monitor and hidden out of the way.

Microsoft Office 2010 is now also with us and we've been very happy with it thus far having used it for a few months prior to its general availability.  The suite of programs that are supplied with each version have changed slightly so make sure that you buy the correct version for your needs.  OEM copies (only available with new systems) are listed alongside pricing for Desktop systems and we have also now added Windows and Office retail pricing onto our Microsoft software page.

Our director, Robert Stokes, has also just recently completed an online Microsoft course in Selling Office 2010 with New PC's gaining a grade of 80%.

Finally, we've updated our AVG software page also as Version 9 is now available and, again, there have been some changes in the features including within different versions of the software.  We have retained our AVG Silver Reseller status enabling us to continue providing our customers with outstanding Internet Security products and also to offer our customers slightly discounted pricing when compared to standard AVG pricing shown on their website.

March 2010
As we approach our financial year-end, we would like to thank all of our customers for their continued support and business this part year.  We appreciate that times have been hard and we're grateful for all of the kind comments received from you all when we have tried our utmost of offer cost-effective solutions to your problems.  Thanks also to the people have have thought we were not charged ENOUGH also!!!

All pricing has now been updated and we hope to be able to maintain these levels for the next few months at least and weather the oncoming storm of manufacturers putting up their own prices in relation to the dollar-sterling-euro instabilities that are still ongoing.

January 2010
Find us on Facebook.  Click here...

September 2009
After a review of the business, we have decided to discontinue offering website design and hosting services.

July 2009
In readiness for the new Windows 7 operating system, we're now using some newer components in terms of motherboards, hard disk and processors to give all systems an extra boost of performance, storage capacity and value-for-money.
Unfortunately this does come at a cost and we have had to put up the price of our base systems for the first time in over three years but the newer hardware is so much better than ever before and our systems still continue to offer superior quality and value-for-money when compared against some of the other online and high-street manufacturers.

June 2009
Microsoft have finally announced that their successor to the much-maligned Windows Vista operating system will be released to manufacturers in the Summer with systems available to buy from October 22nd.

Here at Rascom I.T. we have found that both our own expectations of Windows Vista, along with those of our customers, led to many people continuing to request Windows XP as their preferred operating system of choice when we have supplied new systems.

However, after initial tests of the new version (to be simply known as Windows 7), we will be supplying all new systems as standard with Windows 7 Home Premium and all of our systems already meet or exceed the recommended minimum hardware requirements as set out by Microsoft.

Business users who wish to continue to run Windows XP-based systems will be pleased to hear that Microsoft will be offering downgrade rights on Windows 7 Business products meaning that we can supply a Windows 7 Business edition license but supply new desktop systems with a pre-installed copy of Windows XP Professional.

April 2009
As we look back on having been in business for five years yet still remain optimistic for good trade in the coming months, we do wish to remind customers that we are a business at the end of the day.

All of our suppliers are putting their costs up as we get hammered by the double blow of unstable Euro and Dollar rates and whilst we can try to absorb as much of the blow as possible, we are not going to do so to extent that it causes damage to our business.

Rascom I.T. is a totally independent, self-financed business with no overdrafts, loans or other financial arrangements and it is for this reason that we are able to keep our costs as low as possible.  We rely on our customers to make prompt payments which in turn means we do not need to go down the routes of financing or other schemes.

We are still very busy and customers know that they can reply on us to provide a good level of service at the right price.  We have recently picked up additional support contracts for a couple of local business customers and continue to look at ways to promote our services to other towns in the area such as Devizes, Chippenham, Marlborough and Wootton Bassett.  We already get 'some' business from these towns but would not turn down the opportunity for more!

Rascom I.T. are also proud to be supporting the new THINK CALNE scheme which has been launched by the town's Chamber of Commerce to increase the awareness of products and services available within the town and promote better business to business trading.

February 2009
It's not all doom and gloom
The PC industry is taking a battering.  Costs of goods are going up as most items are supplied from manufacturers in the Far East, America or Europe and the UK buyer is being penalised as a result of the economic and currency instabilities.  Price rises of anything between 10% and 25% have hit everyone in the industry since the start of the year but we're trying to keep our own increases to a minimum.

Right now, despite our thoughts that the year would start on a low it's been anything but that.  We've got customers queuing up for us to repair their systems as they know we offer a fast turnaround service, pricing is as competitive as its always been and our customers have the knowledge that any repair work we undertake is of our well-known high quality.

Whatever the problem with your computer system, network or peripherals, give us a call and join the hundreds of customers who know that there's only one company to call for all their computer needs... RASCOM I.T. LIMITED.

December 2008
Busy busy busy...
As we approach the end of the year, we're busier than ever at the moment.  With the country's economy seemingly in ruins, people are putting off buying that all-singing, all-dancing new computer and instead repairing or upgrading what they're got - and no-one is better placed to offer that sort of service than us.  Our prices remain as competitive as ever and the recent VAT decrease has meant that we haven't had to increase our prices due to the rising cost of the components and other products so we're still providing the same low-cost, high quality service that we've always been and making sure that our customers stil get the best value-for-money and service that our reputation has been built upon.

Whatever you are looking for this Christmas and New Year, come to Rascom I.T. and you'll be guaranteed some Christmas cheer amidst all of the regular daily gloom.

October 2008
I've seen the future... and the future is the Netbook
There has been much interest in the industry in recent months with the new range of sub-portable laptop computers that have just been released.  Tagged the NETBOOK, these units are a small, highly portable computer generally no wider than an A5 piece of paper in size and weighing only around a kilogramme.
We've now taken delivery of our first Netbook and are highly impressed - we think our customers will be too.

October 2008
Are we heading for a Winter of discontent?
There has been much in the media and all around us about the credit crunch and talk of recession.  At RASCOM I.T. we are still committed to providing our customers with the best solutions and products at the right price.  We have been forced to increase our pricing on some products due to increases imposed on us by the manufacturers but generally we are continuing to be a value-for-money solutions provider which is why we are bucking industry trends and seeing business increasing as new customers come to us because we are offering our products and services at the right price.
Follow the crowd and give us a call for your next I.T. requirements.  Recently, we've shown one potential new customer how they could save almost £2,000 a year and STILL get a better service than the one they are paying for at the moment.  You'd be mad not to!

June 2008
Make your world mobile
We've added some new laptop suggestions into our Laptops pages offering a choice of Windows Vista and Windows XP operatings systems including the Fujitsu Siemens V5535 at just £349.99 inc VAT - our lowest cost laptop ever!

May 2008
Farewell old friend...
It is with some sadness that we prepare to say goodbye to arguably one of Microsoft's best ever products - the Windows XP operating system.  Microsoft have confirmed that they are withdrawing the sale of the operating system with effect from 1st July 2008, although we will continue to supply systems with XP pre-installed for as long as our own suppliers have stocks available.  Support for the product will remain until April 2014, subject to the installation of Service Pack 3 which was released in April 2008.

April 2008
New website
We've redesigned our main website to make it easier for customers to find what they're looking for - very little information is is now more than a click away.

We've also introduced online pricing so customer can clearly see our charges before contacting us and are therefore fully aware of how competitive our pricing structure is.

January 2008
Better desktop systems
Due to massive price-drops by the two big processor manufacturers, Intel and AMD, we are now offering dual-core processors as our entry-level products.  Combined with a massive 1Gb of memory, 160Gb of hard disk storage space and a high-speed dual-layer multi-format DVD writer it makes our systems even better value than before!

December 2007
Windows XP
There was some excitement in our offices recently when Microsoft announced they would be extending the availability of Windows XP to system builders until at least June 2008.

Although Windows Vista has been available since January 2007, we have seen very little requirement for it from our customers due to reports of incompatibilities and other issues in the media.

Whilst high-street retailers are shying away from supply XP-based systems, we are still proud to be able to offer this operating system as the standard choice on all our desktop systems, and still have access to a number of laptop systems running Windows XP also.