nadkarni@erlang.dec.com (Ashok P. Nadkarni DTN 226-7448) (09/03/88)
>Has anyone out there had experience (good/bad) with BUS Computer >Systems, Inc. ? Sorry to post this, but as usual couldn't figure out the mail path from my VMS system. Besides this might warn some others away from BUS. I bought a XT clone from an outfit called PC Pro just over a year ago. They later changed their name to PC Prime. What does all this have to do with BUS ? Well it happens to be their latest name ! Isn't there a law against companies changing names every six months :-? Anyway that should tell you something. As for my personal experience, I would advise against them. I had three problems - (1) The ST225 HD kept having problems from day one - it would take 10-15 min to warm up after which it would be OK. Everytime (twice actually) I took it to them they would do a low-level reformat after which it would be test OK in the shop since it had had enough time to warm up. OF course once it got back home, same problem. I got tired of driveing 3 hours to NY city so settled for having to wait 15 in every time I powered on. (2) The system is flaky in turbo mode (8Mhz). Still is even after I changed the noname BIOS to a Phoenix. Their response - several users reported the problem but there was nothing they could do. Well then they shouldn't be advertising it as a Turbo ! (3) Finally, they'd promised DOS was included with the system. Well, they just put a pirated copy on the HD, no manuals nothing. When I called them, they said the manuals were another $70 ! I had to shell out to another source to get a legit copy. (4) Biggest gripe - interaction with them was VERY stressful (that's putting it mildly but I don't want to say more). On the plus side, the system has proved compatible (at 4.77 Mhz) withh all the s/w I've tried. Of course the above is only my experience. Maybe I always caught them in a bad mood ! /Ashok Nadkarni