c60c-3cw@web-3a.berkeley.edu (02/27/90)
I'm incensed right now, but I'll try not to do much flaming. I went to an Authorized Apple dealer to get my system disks updated. I know they don't have to update the software. I wanted both Mac & GS updates (6.0.4 & 5.0.2). They tell me that I need the originals and give me some story about there can be a virus on my disks if they aren't originals (yeah, right), and it might mess up their orignals. I had blanks but they still wouldn't do it, giving the same reason. If they had told me it was because of copyrights and proof of ownership, I would have accepted that, but instead they give me some stupid line and treat me like I'm a fool. I have a slight problem in that the last time I had an update (4.0) the dealer didn't give me my originals back. Can I use my original manual as proof? Why did Apple change from it's policy from the open licensing of DOS 3.3 and ProDOS 8? Is piracy really a problem? You need a GS to run GS/OS anyway, so why would I want it if I don't have their computer already. I then asked about warranties and AppleCare. They said that to get my Woz GS under warranty, I'd have to pay the inspection and coverage cost. I knew this already, and it's perfectly logical. However, he then said that the warranty will be void if: 1) I open the computer 2) I have non-Apple cards 3) Any Apple cards I do have aren't installed by an Apple dealer. I promptly said no way, and left. I would have to give up my 2 meg GS-RAM+, FingerPrint, Sonic Blaster, even my 16 pin joystick. If I want AppleCare. I asked very clearly if he just meant that it didn't cover non-Apple products, and he said no, use of these products would void the warranty on the CPU. This seems totally paradoxical. If only dealers are supposed to open the computer and install cards, why is it open architecture in the first place? Why are the instructions on how to open the case and not do damage to the motherboard in the GS owners manual? Why do all Apple cards/drives have instructions in them? If the instructions were only for the dealer, why are there words such as "your computer" used in them? Why would they even be included in an owners manual and not just in the Apple Service Level I Technical Procedure manual? This seems counter to Apple's stated policies of leaving the machine open and not developing the hardware themselves so that 3rd party companies are encouraged to make hardware for it, if they're going to abandon all computers that have 3rd party equipment in them. It's saying they want people to buy their computers, advertising the fact that there's all sorts of nifty hardware that other companies make that enhance the II line, but they won't support the computers that have the equipment installed. This doesn t just cover the Apple II line. A Mac II/x/cx/ci can have memory or a hard drive installed (only if it's one of the approved brands) if the dealer installs it, but that's all. Radius and other video cards/monitors aren't allowed, only Apple products installed by Apple dealers. Am I totally wrong in thinking something is not right? If the dealer is wrong could somebody give me references that he is wrong(Apple service phone numbers, control numbers, page numbers of repair guides, etc) to prove it to them? Am I still thinking about reasonable pre-Scully Apple policies that are now long extinct, or did I just encounter a dealership that didn't know what was going on? Why doesn't Apple put a warning in big letters next to the instructions if carrying them out voids your warranty? I'm hoping the dealer is wrong because, if not, Apple really is in trouble. ******************************************************************************* * c60c-3cw@web-3a.berkeley.edu * "Life's a jest, and all things show it, * * Allen Kelton * I thought so once, but now I know it." * *******************************************************************************
huang@husc4.HARVARD.EDU (Howard Huang) (02/28/90)
> I then asked about warranties and AppleCare. >...However, he then said that the warranty will be void if: > 1) I open the computer > 2) I have non-Apple cards > 3) Any Apple cards I do have aren't installed by an Apple dealer. >...This >doesn t just cover the Apple II line. A Mac II/x/cx/ci can have memory or a >hard drive installed (only if it's one of the approved brands) if the dealer >installs it, but that's all. One guy I know bought a Mac II through the University here. When he went home to install his internal hard drive, something went wrong so he brought the computer back. But they said he had voided his warranty by opening the machine and installing the drive. And thus his wrath descended upon the purveyors of fine Macintosh computers... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Howard C. Huang Internet: huang@husc4.harvard.edu Sophomore Computer Science Major Bitnet: huang@husc4.BITNET Mather House 426, Harvard College UUCP: huang@husc4.UUCP (I think) Cambridge, MA 02138 Apple II: ftp husc6.harvard.edu