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From: rar@auc.UUCP (Rodney Ricks)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Amigas -- why the 90 day warranty?
Summary: IBM PC cases are METAL?  Guess again...
Message-ID: <32305@auc.UUCP>
Date: 27 Oct 89 13:48:33 GMT
References: <1989Oct15.021329.2118@ddsw1.MCS.COM> <23196@cup.portal.com> <1989Oct24.193454.23743@ddsw1.MCS.COM> <72137@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu>
Reply-To: rar@auc.UUCP (Rodney Ricks)
Distribution: na
Organization: Atlanta University Center, Atlanta, Ga.
Lines: 64

In article <72137@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu> Jeff Martens <martens@cis.ohio-state.edu> writes:
>In article <1989Oct24.193454.23743@ddsw1.MCS.COM> karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Karl Denninger) writes:
>
>	[ stuff deleted ]
>
>>I don't CARE if I see a PC with the features of an Amiga at the same price.
>>That is not the point.  The Amys are neat machines, yes, but they have
>>several shortcomings:
>
>>1) The plastic case.  Yes, the PLASTIC case.  It deforms easily, is broken
>>   easily, and in general gives off the impression of >toy<.  The A500s and
>
>How does this distinguish the Amiga from, say, the Mac?  The Mac is
>plastic.  A Sun workstation, certainly a professional system, is
>plastic.  Granted, PCs are metal.  So what?

I don't know about all of the clones, but I do know that IBM PC's, and I think
the newer PS/2's do NOT have metal cases.  Their cases are made with a special
kind of plastic that is designed to give off the impression that it is some
kind of metal.

This was told to me at the beginning of a summer internship with IBM two years
ago, by the person who was giving me a tour of the plant in North Carolina
where IBM now assembles the PS/2's.

However, I do agree with the point that a cheap, thin plastic case on a
computer gives an impression of cheapness, and of being a toy computer,
something that Commodore should be concerned about.


On a side note to Commodore, I'll reiterate what has been said many times
before:  Commodore should have a low-end machine with a seperate keyboard.
One piece computers, no matter how powerful, are generally thought of as
toy computers.  Also, I know several people who would like to buy an Amiga,
but can't afford a 2000, and HATE computers without seperate keyboards.

Fortunately, I'll be able to sell my old A1000 computer to him, although
he would much rather buy a new machine (for the upgrade path with the
graphics chips).


>>4) The warranty. ...
>
>As a general rule with electronics, if it works for a few weeks, it's
>gonna keep working.

Then again, a computer is not just electronics.

A friend of mine has had a LOT of trouble with the Agnus chip in his 500.
It keeps coming loose.  After a couple of trips to the repair shop, he
finally figured a way of fixing it himself so that it stays in.

Well, I have more to say, but I have to study for a Spanish midterm now.

Adios, Amigos y Amigas!

>-- Jeff (martens@cis.ohio-state.edu)

Rodney
-- 
"We may have come over here in different ships,
 but we're all in the same boat now."   --   Jesse Jackson

Rodney Ricks,   Morehouse Software Group