[net.micro] bargain Apples

jsweet@uci (01/13/83)

From:  Jerry Sweet <jsweet@uci>

I don't know what the Canadian customs do with "bargain Apple IIs," but
according to the 11-Jan-83 issue of the Los Angeles Times, U.S. customs
is seizing Asian counterfeit Apple computers entering the U.S.

An ad for one brand of pseudo-Apples from Taiwan insisted that you place
payment in a Swiss bank account.  Sounds like an unpleasant way to do
business.

	--jns

howard@brl-bmd.arpa (01/18/83)

From:      Howard Walter <howard@brl-bmd.arpa>

Well, I can finally admit it. Slightly over two months ago, I mailed
a money order to the Swiss address advertised in the Nov. Byte as
payment for an Apple compatible 80 column card which would be shipped
from Taiwan. For the past two months, I have alternated between hope that
the card would arrive any day saving me many $ and despair that I had been
foolish enough to fall for such an obvious ripoff.
Saturday, I received a plain white box (little more than an envelope).
Inside was one circuit board - nothing else! A trip to the local electronics
store and 15 minutes work produced a cable. The card was plugged into slot
3, PR#3 was typed and Presto, I had a working 80 column card.
My faith in human nature has increased by at least 10%.

Howard Walter