Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!usc!samsung!aplcen!jhunix!d_alvear
From: d_alvear@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU (Dom Alvear)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Don't Buy From tech spcialities (was Re: Memory upgrade...)
Summary: BAD COMPANY BAD PRODUCTS
Message-ID: <3281@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU>
Date: 13 Nov 89 07:30:03 GMT
References: <89110911304412B.CKBC@RAI.CC.FSU.EDU>
Reply-To: d_alvear@jhunix.UUCP (Dom Alvear)
Organization: The Johns Hopkins University - HCF
Lines: 76

In article <89110911304412B.CKBC@RAI.CC.FSU.EDU> BAILEYS@FSU.BITNET (NOLES #1) writes:
>
>thought I would share this with y'all.  I received some neato junkmail
>about a month ago from an outfit in Texas called Tech Specialties.  As

Junk mail is a good term for this catalogue!!!

>far as I can tell, they are an ST only group, and they print a damn nice
>catalog.  Offered within are:
>
>        1.  Various memory upgrades, seperated by different versions of
>            ST models.

I bought TWO (2) of their memory upgrades for my 520ST, and they
DIDN'T work!  It seems the instructions for installation were
misprinted, and the owner wouldn't (or didn't know) tell me!

>        4.  CPU cases, in various formats.

CPU Cases...Ah that's a joke.  They sent me a so-called CPU case, and
it was a nightmare.  It took over SIX MONTHS (from Dec. '88 to July '89)
for me to get the cases in working condition, and I STILL DON'T HAVE
EVERYTHING PROMISED!

> In refference to number 4, these guys are offering an upgrade to 1040's and
>520's in which you can get the motherboard and drive put into a METAL case,
>similar in size to the Mega's (with more room for expansion), and put the
>keyboard into another case, and connect the two, thus having a sexy two
>piece computer (an alternative to getting a Mega, if you are so inclined).
>The keyboard case is roughly the same size as a Mega's, and uses the
>original keyboard from the 1040/520.  Pretty neat!

Neat?  No way!  The keyboard case is made of folded metal with a cut
top from a 520 or 1040 (depends on your machine).  I bought two CPU
cases with all the trimmings, and the 1040 keyboard case is a piece of
junk.  Not only is the keyboard case top cut crookedly, but the
keyboard sends out spurious signals because t*s didn't use all the lines!!!

>
>Another thing I liked was the info printed within the catalog.  They did a
>good job explaining why they designed there stuff the way they did, and I
>learned quite a bit about both memory boards and HD's from it.  There
>(whoops)  Their address is:
>
>      Tech Specialties
>      909 Crosstimbers Street
>      Houston, TX  77022
>      Tel: (713) 691-4527/8  Fax:  (713) 691-7009
>

If you want to really learn about HD's read the Dave Small articles in
START or get the HD/ToadFile Info Files from TOAD Computers: (301) 544-6943.
It's funny, but I have tech*spec's number memorized because I've had
to call them up so many times to TRY (and fail) to get everything promised.

>My catalog is dated 02-13-89, hope these guys are still around.  I heartiy
>recommend getting this catalog, just the info it contains is worth a stamp.

Yeah, they're still around, but if they keep up the good work (hah!!!)
they won't be for long.

>
>
>Bob Marley
>
>Disclaimer:  I am in no way connected with Tech Specialties.  I haven't
>             even bought anything from them, but would damn sure like to!

I wouldn't buy anything from them ever again, and I wouldn't recommend
them to anybody.  (Not even somebody I didn't like...)

Dom Alvear

P.S.  I am not connected with tech specialities or Toad Computers
(although I'd like to be connected with TOAD).  I am just a user who's
been used and abused by a BAD ST developer.