Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!newstop!texsun!texbell!uhnix1!uhnix2!uace0
From: uace0@uhnix2.uh.edu (Michael B. Vederman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: CMI Accelerator Board
Message-ID: <824@uhnix2.uh.edu>
Date: 1 Aug 89 13:19:27 GMT
References: <12871@well.UUCP>
Reply-To: uace0@uhnix2.UUCP
Organization: University of Houston
Lines: 95

In article <12871@well.UUCP> stevef@well.UUCP (Steven Robert Fordyce) writes:
>In article 18478 of comp.sys.atari.st Michael B Vederman writes:
>> Well, after having waited with bated breath for the CMI accelerator board, I
>> would like to share my experiences with the rest of the net...
>
[Stuff deleted]

>
>Actually, there are instructions for installing our product in an ST with
>the processor removed, and they are different from the piggy-back method
>and there are some fly-wires necessary.  Mr Vederman went on to say that
>that neither his disk drive nor his hard disk would work with our board. 
>This is cause he didn't put in the fly-wires as instructed in the manual.
>

As I stated in my second post, the instructions are not clear on the
installation with the processor removed.  Believe me, I have done *plenty* of
documentation (for work and for DCS) to know what was there.  There is no
description of what to do for the non-piggy-back method, but it is brushed
aside, with no mention during the piggy-back method description such as
'Do this for the non-piggy-back method also.'  That little line would make
everything very clear.

>We did our best to make the manual clear and understandable, but we're human.

You did your best to get the product out quickly, that is evident on the
skimpy manual.  No doubt you wanted to beat the rush of boards now coming onto
the market.

>Starting today, for people who buy an accelerator directly from us and send
>their computer into us, we will install our board for free.  For those who
>break their ST trying to install our board themselves, we'll fix it for a
>flat $50, including return shipping.

Believe me, I'm sending my computer in.  Very decent offer, I must say...

>Mr. Vederman did call us, and Lilliane explained his trouble over the
>phone.  And he got his board working.  However, he wasn't able to get
>FAST-ROM to work for reasons we weren't able to determine over the phone. 
>(The problem may well have been a defective part on our board.  We do fully
>test all of our boards before we ship them, but still a small percentage
>fail in the field.)  We offered to fix his machine with our board in it
>if he sent it to us (he didn't want to do this because he didn't want to 
>lose the use of his computer -- quite understandable), or to send him a new
>board, or to refund his money.  He chose the latter.  Of course we are
>disappointed and are confident a new board would have solved his problem,
>but it was his choice.  We've never had any allusions that we could please
>everyone.

1) FAST ROM wouldn't work, true.
2) They did offer to send another board.
3) Misunderstanding of point three, they never offered to fix my computer, but
   rather asked for me to send in my only working ST to determine why it
   wouldn't work with their board.  I have no problem sending in my computer
   (which is currently dead anyway) for them to work on.
4) I am not a difficult person to please.  And as such, will give them another
   chance to get it right, when they get my computer and their defective board.

>> Point of story:  I have a $300 paper weight.
>
>No one is ever stuck with one our products.  Within 15 days of getting any
>of our products, it may be returned for an reason for a full refund.  And all
>of our products also carry a six month warranty.  We guarantee our products
>to work and will do what ever it takes to see that they do, or refund the
>customers money.

If they still have that offer after I get my ST back (with their new board)
and I am not impressed, I will use that policy to its extent.

>Steven R Fordyce			    tektronix!sequent!calvin!stevef
>Creative Microsystems, Inc., 19552 SW 90th Court, Tualatin, Oregon  97062
>For customer service call Lilliane at (503)691-2552.

My intentions are never to publicly slam a company, but this time I had
it (up to here :-).  I have no intentions of posting flames on the net just
to slam a company without cause.  I never have before, and hopefully I won't
have to  again in the future.  I was very excited about getting the board at
first, as can be seen by my very first post, before I even got the board!
Lilliane was helpful and courteous, although certain other people at CMI
could certainly take a lesson from her (which did not help the situation).

So now, we wait.  When I get my ST back, we'll see what's what, and I will
post results of true benchmarks, including the SIEVE, and whet/dhrystone
timing.

- michael b. vederman

I speak for myself.  In no way do my opinions reflect Double Click Software.


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