Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!pt.cs.cmu.edu!cive.ri.cmu.edu!gerry
From: gerry@cive.ri.cmu.edu (Gerry Roston)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Gateway 2000 Computers
Message-ID: <8817@pt.cs.cmu.edu>
Date: 11 Apr 90 14:58:13 GMT
References: <90092.105736EMH101@psuvm.psu.edu> <90096.202211GOLDSTN@MAINE.BITNET> <7232@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu>
Organization: Carnegie-Mellon University, CS/RI
Lines: 36

Just to throw in my $0.02.

My fiance needed a new computer for her work.  After some looking
around, we decided that the Gateway 200 386-20 machine a) fitted
her needs and b) was the most price effective solution on the
market.  We placed an order and were told that we would have the
machine in 2 weeks.  Two weeks later I called and was told of 
delays, but the machine did arrive shortly there after (I have
forgotten the exact details).  Every time I called, I was treated
courteously, although I did have a hard time getting through to
my customer service rep on occasion (but she did return my call).

I believe that due to their aggresive pricing, Gateway is having
a hard time meeting demand.  Also, since that are an OEM, they 
are at the mercy of their suppliers.  They should probably be
more realistic in their delivery quotes.

We have had no problems with the machine.  It is well built and
uses good components.  Two small gripes, however: 1) the version
of the vga utilities installed on the hard disk and those supplied
on the floppy disks were not the same, and 2) they supplied a
nifty program (I forgot the name, but it is an online ms-dos
manual), but for some reason, you can not install it using
its install program.

A last note: after all the talk about the latest version of the 
vga utilities software for the ATI card, I called Gateway to
get a copy of these.  My customer service rep didn't know what
I was talking about, but she put me on hold for a minute and
found out.  She said they would send the disks to me.  The next
day they arrived by FedEx.  That's service!
-- 
gerry roston, field robotics center
robotics institute, carnegie mellon university
pittsburgh, pennsylvania, 15213  (412) 268-6557
gerry@cive.ri.cmu.edu