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From: JLI@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: CompuAdd
Message-ID: <10613@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>
Date: 3 Sep 89 20:26:47 GMT
References: <719@dtix.dt.navy.mil> <10471@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu> <1933@garcon.cso.uiuc.edu>
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services
Lines: 33

> My experience with CompuAdd is about the opposite of yours.
> I have a CompuAdd 386/20 and we had several 386/25s at my last job. I've
> found their quality to be excellent and their warranty service very
> fast and reasonable. High end 286s and all 386s come with a free on-site service
> contract, and the few problems we've had have been handled by FedExing us
> the new parts BEFORE we shipped back the old (they paid shipping both ways).
> I would not hesitate to recommend CompuAdd to anyone.
> 

  Sorry, I do.  Since we do evaluations on various brands of personal
computers, our test (you may say) is a "little" too extensive and 
covers most areas.  Like many clone-makers, they are using generic
parts in their machines.  I don't mean generic parts are not reliable
or do not meet certain specification standards.  A lot of parts (either
made in U.S. or overseas) are very good, but unreliable parts do
exist.  I have noticed that the parts they use change from time to
time,  and some of them did have problems.

  If their machines are only used for offices and homes,  they do
have my recommendation (so do many other brands).  Since many of our
customers use different kinds of interface devices to do scientific
experiment, etc., any small problem (such as bus speed, signal timing)
will trigger system failure or bring unwanted results.

  By the way, we did not get complete system tech. ref. from CompuAdd
for their units.  We do have complete ref. from Zenith for their
products (including all design diagrams, signal timing diagrams, etc.).
Even though Zenith products are not our favorite choice, we can easily
determine if a certain design is suitable for particular use or not.

  I bought some parts from CompuAdd to assemble my own computer at 
home. They do work fine to me, but I don't want to buy a whole unit
from them.  This is just my own opinion.  No flames please! :-)