The VAR Guy Field Trip: CDW Distribution Center

Every once in a while, The VAR Guy gets a chance to breathe in some fresh air and take a trip that doesn't involve a partner conference. Recently, our intrepid blogger had the opportunity to tour the CDW distribution center in Vernon Hills, Illinois, and get a behind-the-scenes a look.

Filled with moving conveyor belts suspended high above the floor, metal slides that shot packages down to the loading bay and the whir of forklifts, the 450,000-square-foot facility reminded The VAR Guy of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, albeit for computers and IT equipment.

At any given time, CDW holds hundreds of millions of dollars of equipment in its storehouse, ranging from tablets to laptops and pallets brimming with corporate servers. Imagine a Costco filled to bursting with the latest and greatest in enterprise tech and you’re about halfway there—except CDW doesn't have free samples.

It might look chaotic, but the CDW facility runs like clockwork, with all items following a strict procedure from the moment they enter the building to the time they are packed on trucks to bring to customers. Most products are moved throughout the facility via a complex overhead conveyor system, which drops the packages to the loading dock via twisting metal slides.

Aside from the millions of dollars of product housed within the facility—which CDW said doesn't stay on the shelves longer than a month—CDW has space reserved for customers to store their products after purchase. For instance, the distributor will house servers for a particular company so it can utilize them when it is most convenient.

The facility has seen its fair share of interesting products move through its doors, from government-commissioned projects to retail displays and more, The VAR Guy learned. CDW also has an area specifically reserved for laser-etching laptops, so customers can add a personal touch to their devices. (Hmmm, maybe our intrepid blogger should get a fedora emblazoned on his laptop?)

CDW also provided The VAR Guy with a brand-new HP EliteDesk E231 LED monitor to play with after the visit. The VAR Guy isn't one for full-on product reviews, but here are his thoughts on the 23-inch display:

Pros:
Nice size for an average desktop setup
Beautiful image
Lots of customizable settings, sleek interface
Lots of adjustability options for height
Decent price tag ($205)

Cons: Can be blindingly bright

Picture Quality
As noted, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a nicer image for this price point. The EliteDisplay performs well, from HD video to your standard office tasks, but you’ll definitely need to adjust the brightness settings to stop from burning out your corneas—this display can get mighty bright.

Pricing
HP currently lists the EliteDisplay E231 at $205, a good price for a monitor in with these specs and settings. A quick Google search yields many similar monitors, so there are plenty of options to choose from, but the E321’s price tag makes it rise to the top of the heap if you’re looking to save on a monitor.

Settings
The monitor’s wide-screen display makes it a worthy option as either a primary or secondary monitor, offering plenty of room for looking at multiple windows at once or simply watching HD videos or gaming on your rig. The VAR Guy is using it as a second monitor for his 15-inch Macbook Pro, and the EliteDisplay E231 offers more than enough room for our fedora-wearing friend to do his work. Another advantage of the E231 is its adjustability, allowing users to move the monitor to a variety of different positions to fit their needs.

The Final Word
If you need a reliable monitor for your home or your office, the EliteDisplay E231 is a solid choice that won’t hurt your wallet. A number of easy-to-use adjustability settings and good picture quality make the HP E231 a reliable, if unremarkable option for those looking for a good monitor for their particular desktop PC setup.

The VAR Guy thanks CDW for allowing him to take a look around. The Cubs game was a bonus. But he still loves his hometown team.