[comp.sys.ibm.pc] PC Brand 386 review

stratton@mrsvr.UUCP (Ninja Programmer) (03/25/89)

From article <4128@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>, by rezac@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu:
> Does anyone have experiences - good, bad, or indifferent - with PC Brand 
> hardware?  I'm considering the purchase of a PC Brand 386-20. 
> CHARLES REZAC  bitnet: REZAC@UKANVAX  internet: rezac@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu

Dear Charles,

I just bought the PC Brand 386-20 system. ( Ok it was bought back in
November ) My experiences with PC brand is as follows:

Hardware - Excellent. I bought a fully blown system from them 80 meg 
	   hard disk, Sony monitor, 1.44, and 1.2 meg floppies, tower
	   case, 2400 baud modem (the vga I bought somewhere else.)
	   and all of the equipment has worked flawlessly.
	
Performance - When I got the system I noticed that it was running a
			  little slower than advertised. I got out the setup
			  software that came with the system and within 10 min.
			  I had the baby screaming at a much faster rate, but
			  it was still a little slower that what I was expecting.
			  (see next section for more info.) From the moment I
			  started using this babe though I new I was in for a
			  treat. ( I was not disappointed) This machine is great
			  It has run all the software I have put into it with no
			  complaints. Everything from games to buisness. I have
			  had no problems.

Service		- If I have one complaint with this company it is in this
			  area. Their customer support SUCKS. I ordered the machine
			  in early november, I told them I needed the system in 3
			  weeks. ( I am a contractor, and I had a job that was paying
			  big bucks for me to get the job done quickly) They told me
			  that there was no problem in getting me the system in that
			  time. Well obviously the system did not make it in time.
			  ( and this cost me big bucks in bonuses :-{ ) Everytime I
			  called the place I got this bullsh*t run around about what
			  the status of my order was. Finally 3 weeks late I get the
			  system and what does it come with, an ega video cable.
			  ( Boy was I pissed. I had ordered the sony monitor remember
				the one that has the vga resolution, and I even told the
				salesman that I already had a VGA!!!!) Now I was just
			  about ready to send the thing back. I called the company
			  to tell them about the cable problem, and the tell me it
			  will take 2 weeks for me to get the cable. ( I just about
			  broke a blood vessel. I thought there would be no way I
			  can finish my contract with any hope of cashing in on the
			  bonus bucks :-{ , and it was too late to send this junk
			  back and get another machine.) So I asked them if I bought
			  my own cable would they reimburse me. They said they would
			  that was back in January, and here it is march!! Still no
			  cash. I called them about the speed discrepancy, they had
			  no clue as to what was wrong. When I told them that I had
			  sped the system up by changing the setup they suggested that
			  my norton program was lying, and that I needed another newer
			  version. I asked them what version I should be using, and
			  that was the version I was had. Finally the asked me how
			  much memory I had, and when I told them one meg they said
			  that was the reason. It turns out that in order to run at
			  full speed the entire memory board must be populated. When
			  I asked them why they didn't tell me that up front, they
			  said I didn't ask. !!! :-{ !!! (can you believe that?)


  Well I am sorry this is so long, but I hope you find it informative.
  Overall I think the hardware is great, but if you have to deal with tech.
  support, or customer service, I hope you are VERY patient.



-- 
  My address is stratton@mrsvr.uucp
				{uwvax, rutgers}uwmcsd1!mrsvr!stratton

			Thanx alot in advance         Greg S.