Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!hplabs!hp-sdd!ncr-sd!sceard!mrm
From: mrm@sceard.COM (M.R.Murphy)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.i386,comp.sys.intel
Subject: INTEL(R) Above(tm) Board
Keywords: mild disapointment
Message-ID: <899@sceard.COM>
Date: 18 Jul 89 23:02:56 GMT
Organization: Sceard Systems, Inc., San Marcos, CA
Lines: 37

I just received an Intel (R) Above(tm) Board Plus I/O. It is a 2MB
+(par/ser) 16-bit memory card. Turns out that it only can be addressed
on a 512k boundary as extended memory. That is somewhat less than convenient
with a motherboard that can only be configured as 512/0, 640/0, or 640/384.
I'd rant, rail, and rave at the MB manufacturer, but the only address that
I have for them is Taiwan :-) That leaves Intel. The folks at phone support
are real nice, real helpful, and they know the fix. The sell a new chip for
the board. It

   1) is "promotional",
   2) isn't shipping in the new boards now shipping,
   3) is backordered,
   4) will ship next Thursday or the following Tuesday, or so,
   5) goes UPS ground,
   6) costs only $30,
   7) can be put on VISA/AMEX/MC or CASHIER's Check or "a company check
      if you're on our approved list",
   8) allows addressing on a 128k boundary (I hope)

So, I get to buy it on my VISA, submit to my company for reimbursement, wait
some more to find out if the card even works at all, and it`s "promotional".
Sounds more to me like a fix of a design flaw. Some might even call it a bug. I
wouldn't grouse too much, but this particular flaw didn't show up until running
of their SETBOARD.EXE under DOS only mentioned start addresses of 1.0, 1.5, ...
Downloading a new version of SETBOARD.EXE from their (very convienent) bulletin
board gives a program that actually explains this requirement.  Had it been
mentioned in their rather beautiful shiny brochures, I might have chosen an
alternative solution, but now I've got the board.

Foo. Our customers expect us to fix stuff that doesn't work and not charge 'em
if it was our fault. No wonder Intel rakes in coin. At least the Intel folk
were real nice; I think it comes from working in Oregon where the air is still
nourishing. BTW, what gives with a tm on the word "Above"? How about tm on
"Below" or "In" or "On" or, oh well, I guess I'll just wait for the chip.
---
Mike Murphy  Sceard Systems, Inc.  544 South Pacific St. San Marcos, CA  92069
mrm@Sceard.COM        {hp-sdd,nosc,ucsd,uunet}!sceard!mrm      +1 619 471 0655