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Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Google-DoubleClick merger approved

By Bob Keefe | Tuesday, March 11, 2008, 11:45 AM

After a four-month investigation, the European Union has cleared Google’s merger with Internet ad giant DoubleClick, giving a huge boost to Google’s plans to greatly expand its advertising reach online.

The EU said in a statement said that it didn’t find any evidence that the $3.1 billion merger would harm consumers.

Just a few hours after the approval. Google announcedit had completed the deal.

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CompUSA re-opened Deerfield Beach store; Palm Beach Gardens coming soon

By Steve Pounds | Tuesday, March 11, 2008, 11:10 AM

CompUSA has reopened its store in Deerfield Beach at 1835 W. Hillsboro Blvd. and is expected to open a store in Palm Beach Gardens sometime this spring.

The company closed many of its stores, including the one on Okeechobee Boulevard, after the holidays in December, when Mexican billionaire, Carlos Slim, failed to turnaround the store chain that was a fixture for geekdom during the boom years of high-tech.

Almost immediately, Systemax Inc., a direct marketer of computer hardware, spent $30 million for the brand name and said it would re-open 15 CompUSAs in Florida, Texas and Puerto Rico.

By the way, this company has found itself on the wrong side of Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum. He acknowledged in January that he had begun an investigation of Systemax’s OnRebate.com site over allegations that it delayed or kept customers’ product rebates.

I’m glad a familiar name is up and running again. On its web site, CompUSA says it will offer a wider range of hardware at lower prices and ship its products faster. Easier said than done. But will it be enough to compete with the Dells of the world?

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