This year Leading Edge Computers Parkes (LECP) celebrates 20 years in business, servicing the Central West and beyond. In July 1996, Greg and Marisa Liebich started Parkes Computer Scene. It was a small shop in Clarinda Street, selling computers and servicing businesses. After a year of being independent, they decided to join the Leading Edge group as one of the first members of Leading Edge Computers. Today the group has more than 130 independently owned stores nation wide.
The group provided a space where Greg and Marisa could share their ideas and pull from the wealth of support that the group offered. In May 2003, the store could no longer fit in their small shopfront, and they decided to relocate across the road into a larger premises. With a new workshop, the team grew and the business flourished.
In November 2006, Greg tragically died in a light aeroplane accident. This was a difficult chapter in the life of LECP, however the team rallied with the support of the local community. The business continued, with Marisa taking up the role of sole owner and becoming the face of LECP. Today she is supported by Luke Williams, John England and Jason Murchie.
As Greg had always been a proactive member of the Leading Edge Group, and following his loss, an award was named after him. The Local Hero Award celebrates the group member that has been voted most willing to lend a hand to the rest. The award is presented after a vote from all the stores as to who they best think fits this role, and is presented at the yearly Leading Edge Computers conference.
With the combined total of over 50 years of experience in the industry, the Parkes team is always striving to be on the Leading Edge of technology and provide the right solution for our customers.
Times have changed in the last 20 years, and technology has changed dramatically. Twenty years ago the internet was still only being introduced to the world through dialup at a speed of 56kbit/second. Since then we’ve watched it grow into ISDN, ADSL, ADSL2, 3G, 4G, and now Leading Edge Computers have partnered with a local Internet company, BitWave Networks to provide high speed fixed wireless broadband to households and businesses all around Parkes. This network has speeds up to 100Mbit/second, which is nearly 2, 000 times faster than the older dial up network.
Another development is our new managed services allowing us to remotely manage sites via the internet. From powering on a server, to installing a program, it can now all happen remotely without even leaving the shop. Twenty years ago, Intel had just released their new processor: The Intel Pentium Processor, which had a 200MHz single core. These days we have the new core processor range with the newest i7 processor featuring 10 cores and 20 threads that can all run at 3.5GHz, which is around 350 times faster.
Laptops have gone from being expensive and heavy, to sleek, lightweight and powerful. Where in 1996 laptops were few and far between, these days they rival the desktop in power and price and far out sell the bigger desktop personal computers (PCs). Times have changed, but Leading Edge Computers Parkes always strives to be the leader in new technology. We are always there to provide the latest advice on all that is new to the market, and can quote on anything that your home or business needs. The last 20 years have had many highlights for the team at Leading Edge Computers.
• In 2003, the shop was able to move out of their smaller premises, and buy the shopfront where the shop is now.
• In 2011, through meeting sales and service goals with our suppliers, the store was awarded a brand new car.
• Through our new partnership with BitWave Networks, we are now able to provide highspeed fixed wireless broadband to businesses and homes in Parkes, Forbes and surrounds.
• Always being on the cutting edge of new technology, and providing solutions to any home or business system.
Leading Edge Computers Parkes would like to thank the community for getting us to where we are today. Without the support of the Parkes, Forbes and surrounding communities, LECP would not be where we are today. And to the support team at the Leading Edge Group and all of our suppliers, who have created a community in the group that is always ready to lend a hand with information on new technology, support queries, and just about anything that you need to know to run a store.
Here’s to the last 20 years, and many more to come!