My
Dream Come True
by
John Fleming
I
have thought for years that a cyber cafe would be a good thing for Puerto
Peņasco. It would be a place where young Mexican students could go to learn
about computers and the Internet. It would be a place where vacationers could
go to check their e-mail and get their stock market reports or the latest
in world news. I have often thought of starting one myself. Once I almost
started one in the Old Port. Another time I was going to team up with a Mexican
friend and start one in the Mirador Beach area. I even considered turning
our print shop into a cyber cafe.
None
of these dreams worked out, but last week I discovered that someone else has
turned my dream into reality. I was at a store in a little plaza just beside
La Merced market when I noticed through the windows of the store opposite
the backsides of a row of computers. It looked interesting, and I went inside.
The shop was called Analisis y Sistemas Informaticos de Peņasco, ASIP for
short, but a sign on the inside wall proclaimed
it to be La Red (the Internet) Cyber Cafe. The entry had a reception area
with a counter, a sofa, and a refrigerator full of soft drinks. The room beside
it was furnished with 7 computers, each with its own desk, and 2 printers.
There is space for more to be added later. The server is Prodigy.
When
one of the owners came out to see if he could help me, I recognized him as
Marco Carrillo, who used to work at Infotech. He told me he and two partners
had started this place a year and 8 months ago. The partners are Oswaldo Gonzalez
and Omar Colores. Oswaldo was there, and we met him also.
The
shop has been open a year and eight months (and I never even knew about it).
All the partners have experience with computers and working in computer shops.
Marco studied Information Systems at ITMAR here in Peņasco. He worked for
2 years at Infotech, and the others at Syscom.
It
looks like they have a good thing going here. The shop is attractive and spacious;
the decor is contemporary, with geometric patterns in red and blue on the
walls, and an elegant tile floor. In addition to the soft drinks, coffee is
available, and often there is a cheese pie or a flan.
The
price is 10 pesos (or $1 dollar) for an hour. This seems very reasonable,
and in fact the place is well used. Six of the 7 computers were busy when
we arrived; then two users left, and two more came in.
Besides the cyber cafe ASIP offers service and repair of computers, configuration, advice, sale of parts, and sale of new computers. If you were looking for a complete computer store, look no further. Go to ASIP and go ASAP*.
