reh2@nvuxf.UUCP (robert hausman) (01/19/89)
I'm looking to buy a 386/20 in the near future. The system will probably have a VGA card/monitor and something like a 70M hard disk. It has been suggested that I look at ALR as well as the new CompuAdd 386/20 machine. My two main considerations are reliability and cost. Anyone have any comments, suggestions, reviews, cautions, etc.? Please mail to me and I will post a summary in a couple weeks. Rob Hausman ...!bellcore!nvuxf!reh2
ads4@tank.uchicago.edu (Adam Sah) (01/20/89)
Hi folks. I just wanted to let some truths out here. No flames about this, please...
First, let me state my own experience with compuadd.
I am/was a loyal customer of their products, having purchased a Professional starter kit (standard brands 286/10, mono graphics & monitor, lx-800 printer, seagate st225 20meg hd...)
I have returned dead times a total of four times in the past year (which is what the warranty period is...). First a dead cpu/power supply (at point of sale), second a dead power supply (about one day after that), third a dead moniotr (3-5 months later), and now another dead power supply. So far, they weren't TOO bad about the whole thing, until simultaneously:
1. They REFUSED to make any "arrangements even though I am a sysop of a nationally recognized board- and a LOYAL credit-card customer (meaning that I cannot screw them because they have access to my bank account!) - but this wasn't even that bad. I can live with them "playing by the book"...
2. They MIS-shipped the power supply (which I priority mailed to them) to my permanent address instead of to my temporary address, here in chicago. I had specifically told them to ship it here, and heard the technician type in my change of address over the phone! (if they can't keep their OWN computers correct...)
3, I discover that my situation of four bad items is NOT THE least unusual!!! Apparently, I have run into a slew of people who have had similar annoyances with them. These machines are NOT new, unproven technology folks!!! There is no reason (except poor quality control by the original manufacturers (which compuadd uses)) for these breakdowns!!!
Other than that, their machine is fine and their prices are terrific. I just won't have anything to do with them. EOD.
--
-A.Sah'89 SysOp, The Art of Science BBs
Adam David Sah (312)752-6104
24hrs 7days 3-2400bps w/MNP5 where available
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