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Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!mcsun!ukc!tcdcs!swift.cs.tcd.ie!vax1.tcd.ie!jagrogan
From: jagrogan@vax1.tcd.ie
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Opinion on Amstrad Computers please!
Message-ID: <6432.2690fc04@vax1.tcd.ie>
Date: 3 Jul 90 20:11:48 GMT
References: <23723@uflorida.cis.ufl.EDU>
Organization: Computer Laboratory, Trinity College Dublin
Lines: 37

>        I am thinking of purchasing an Amstrad 386 20MHZ computer  with

STOP, think first!!
I'm working for a company for the summer who used to deal
a lot with Amstrads. We were experiencing a 200% failure rate (on average)
with Amstrad machines, these include the PC2086, PC2286 and PC2386.
Apparently the 386 has the worst record, so much so that we wouldn't
touch them anymore, but we still have a lot of 8086 and 80286 machines
on site giving problems. No matter how good a deal you are getting it is
not worth it, because Amstrad and the third party companies they contract
to repair their machines give to too much hassle in getting them repaired.
Having been on an Amstrad training course for repairing their machines, I
can say that the problems are not usually that simple, and often require
spare parts or a new unit - both of which are difficult to get from Amstrad.
I would advise you to look at an alternative machine. Olivetti and Dell are
two very good makes worth looking at.

>         Amstrad claims that they are the largest sellers of PC compatible
> machines in Europe and that they outsell IBM. Is there any truth in that?
> Somebody in Europe should be able to confirm this.

Well I don't know much about that, but I wouldn't really believe it.

-- 

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