Seen and noted - CompUSA 2.0

A CompUSA banner hangs outside this shop in Hoffman Estates, Illinois

If you are familiar with TigerDirect, the low-cost online outlet for all kinds of tech goodness, you may have seen postings like this one at some of their retail stores. Slowly, but surely, CompUSA is working on a second act after filing for bankruptcy in 2007 and almost fading from view.

I frequent this TigerDirect retail outlet, which sprung up a little while ago. I had noticed the occasional CompUSA branded product, which I was sure was gobbled up my a lot of folks when they were forced to shutter their doors.

But recently, the large banner went up outside, and the employees now wear the familiar red CompUSA shirts.

Here is the official skinny from CompUSA's site:

"TigerDirect and CompUSA are now sister companies. Get the same great deals on PCs, Electronics, and Components that made TigerDirect one of the world's Top Online Retailers at your local TigerDirect or CompUSA store. Now serving customers with 23 stores in Florida, Texas, North Carolina and Illinois."

Erica Ogg of CNET had this quote from Wired's Priya Ganapati:

"Gilbert Fiorentino, chief executive of the Technology Products Group at Systemax, the company that bought CompUSA, told Wired: "We have invented this idea of retail 2.0...Every screen in every CompUSA store is now connected to the Internet and making buying a richer experience for customers."

Furthermore:

"And Fiorentino says CompUSA can keep its prices low despite the additional overhead costs associated with a physical store. CompUSA's inventory now ties into Tiger Direct and the company offers the same prices whether consumers buy a product online or in a store."

There certainly needs to be a place that fills the void left by the original CompUSA for a place to grab that allows you to look for things like cables and enclosures, as well as HDTV's and printers. You may not have heard of some of the names, but the prices are pretty decent.

Stay tuned.