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A computer rentals arrangement can be a boon for companies introducing new hardware platforms or software applications. Increasingly, companies are turning to short-term or long-term rental agreements, rather than lease or purchase programs in testing, training for and implementing hardware and/or software changes. Corporate testing and training has become a critical growth area both for equipment dealers and for training firms.

The transition from one computer platform to another can be a particularly taxing time from an IT standpoint for any organization. Undertaking a major transition * for example from a Mac platform to PC, or vice versa * can be a convoluted and cost-intensive exercise. IT managers are increasingly finding that beta testing a new hardware platform or software system before a company-wide roll out helps in both the planning and implementation phase of such a roll out by identifying obstacles to the roll out and by giving staff * both end users and IT professionals * the opportunity to train and get up to speed on the new system before it goes live.

In the testing phase, entering into a rental agreement for the system under consideration and setting up a simulated work environment * whether that is a trading floor or a simple office configuration * gives both end users and a company's technical support staff a chance to evaluate the system under consideration in a mock setting before an expensive and binding purchase agreement is entered into. For software trials, setting up a fleet of rental computers, servers and peripherals configured to run the new system gives a company the experience and feedback it needs in order to make an informed purchase decision. Most business computer rental firms can load and configure a mock system and have it delivered and installed in time for managers and staff to get the hands-on experience that will provide meaningful feedback with which a company can then make a well-informed purchase decision.

From a training perspective, the critical time period in any platform or systems transition is the first days and weeks after a system goes live. In the weeks prior to transitioning to a new computing environment, having IT and training professionals set up a fleet of rental computers in a simulated work space can allow the staff who will be transitioning to familiarize themselves with a new system without unduly interfering with day-to-day operations. The feedback from pre-training staff who will be the end users of a new system usually means that costly delays in getting a new system up and running will be minimized. Whether an entire staff is being trained, or whether a core group of staff receives training before a new platform or systems roll-out, the insight a firm's IT support staff get from the training phase prepares them for the inevitable bugs during the first days and weeks following deployment. Often problems and technical glitches that would otherwise be unforeseen come to light in beta testing.

Most major suppliers of computer rentals will be able to arrange a short- or long-term rental arrangement that will enable a company to evaluate new systems and train staff before a system or platform is purchased or deployed. The real-time, real-task evaluation of new or proposed systems, and training staff on the new systems or platform, can help a firm pick the optimal system or platform for its business and avoid the costly delays and technical glitches that often-times delay company-wide deployments and throw them off budget. Entering into a computer rentals arrangement before a binding purchase agreement is signed, and before a system is rolled out company-wide, can provide a wealth of information and feedback to avoid costly errors.