Web-based online store for providing customer configured computer systems

摘要

A web-based online store, for enabling a custom configuration of a computer system according to an identification of a user belonging to a prescribed customer set, comprises a configurator (18) for configuring a computer with options selected according to user input, a cart (20) for temporarily storing the configured system, a checkout (22) for presenting payment options and obtaining payment and delivery information, and a database (24) for dynamically supplying options to the configurator according to a prescribed customer set. The configurator may include merchandising recommendations (36) for available options, and the cart may include recommendations for add-on options. The configurator may include a warning indicator for indicating when an option may adversely impact a shipment of the configured system, and may include a lead time warning. The configurator may also include a compatibility warning indicator to warn against incompatible options. The warning may be passive or active, where options which are incompatible with previously selected options are disabled. The checkout and cart may also be customised according to the prescribed customer set.