milesmm@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Madison MadMan Miles) (04/10/91)
I'm planning on buying IBM UNIX, as well as Xwindows for a 33 mhz 386, and am wondering if someone can answer a couple of questions as well as give me some advice on which one to get. Madison Miles milesmm@mentor.cc.purdue.edu
eravin@panix.uucp (Ed Ravin) (04/22/91)
In article <9944@mentor.cc.purdue.edu> Madison MadMan Miles@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Madison MadMan Miles) writes: >I'm planning on buying IBM UNIX, as well as Xwindows for a 33 mhz 386, and am >wondering if someone can answer a couple of questions as well as give me some >advice on which one to get. If it comes from IBM I wouldn't buy it. I've had three IBM Unix support experiences so far (IBM Xenix, AIX for PC/RT, AIX for RS/6000) and in all cases their support is at best bad, at worst abominable. They build up an elaborate support network designed for treating "defects", but it is very difficult to speak to qualified people who can answer your questions. Instead you get data entry people who (mis)type your question into their computer for someone else to call you back later and have you explain your problem all over again. Then they send you "updates" that you don't need, don't fix your problem, and break other things on the system, but at least now you're running "the latest level" and they're willing to talk to you again. The bad support wouldn't be so awful if the product worked when you unwrapped it, but alas, it's from IBM, and they do many things their own mysterious way often inscrutable even to the most seasoned Unix wizard. Summary: if you're buying any software for anything, buy it from someone besides IBM. You won't be sorry. -- Ed Ravin | This random number tells the computer that you are cmcl2!panix!eravin | a member in good standing. It is not related to your philabs!trintex!elr | membership number. --- Sierra Club
marmen@bwdla31.bnr.ca (Rob Marmen 1532773) (04/23/91)
In article <1991Apr21.170056.1773@panix.uucp>, eravin@panix.uucp (Ed Ravin) writes: > > <deleted stuff> They build up > an elaborate support network designed for treating "defects", but it is very > difficult to speak to qualified people who can answer your questions. Instead > you get data entry people who (mis)type your question into their computer > for someone else to call you back later and have you explain your problem all > over again. Then they send you "updates" that you don't need, don't fix your > problem, and break other things on the system, but at least now you're running > "the latest level" and they're willing to talk to you again. > > The bad support wouldn't be so awful if the product worked when > you unwrapped it, but alas, it's <vendor name here>, and they do many things their own > mysterious way often inscrutable even to the most seasoned Unix wizard. > My apologies for the hack editing job, put I couldn't resist. I agree with your comments completely, but with one small change. I've had the same problem with all major vendors (Apollo, HP, and Sun). Each is slightly different, but they all infuriat me one way or another. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- | Robert Marmen marmen@bnr.ca OR | | Bell Northern Research marmen%bnr.ca@cunyvm.cuny.edu | | (613) 763-8244 My opinions are my own, not BNRs |
rbj@uunet.UU.NET (Root Boy Jim) (04/24/91)
In article <1991Apr22.203806.28740@bwdls61.bnr.ca> marmen@bwdla31.bnr.ca (Rob Marmen 1532773) writes:
?
?My apologies for the hack editing job, put I couldn't resist. I agree with
?your comments completely, but with one small change. I've had the same
?problem with all major vendors (Apollo, HP, and Sun). Each is slightly
?different, but they all infuriat me one way or another.
Simply stated, The Net provides better support than any vendor can.
--
[rbj@uunet 1] stty sane
unknown mode: sane