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From: bobf@intermec.UUCP (Bob Folline)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: Gateway 2000 Computers
Message-ID: <1490@intermec.UUCP>
Date: 14 Mar 91 20:56:47 GMT
References: <1991Mar8.011318.28717@mathcs.sjsu.edu> <1991Mar9.000159.13295@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu> <1991Mar10.180547.2682@mathcs.sjsu.edu>
Reply-To: bobf@orca (Bob Folline)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Intermec Corporation, Everett WA
Lines: 59

In article <1991Mar10.180547.2682@mathcs.sjsu.edu> horstman@mathcs.sjsu.edu (Cay Horstmann) writes:
>In article <1991Mar9.000159.13295@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu> cy5@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (Conway Yee) writes:
>>In article <1991Mar8.011318.28717@mathcs.sjsu.edu> horstman@mathcs.sjsu.edu (Cay Horstmann) writes:
>>>
>>>Jerry Pournelle and some mags wrote nice things about the Gateway, so
>>>they may not all be lemons.
>>
>>The problem with most rags (esp. PC Magazine) is that they do not write
>>bad reviews about anything.  At worst, their reviews are middle of the
>>road.  I guess they can not afford to offend their advertisers.
>>
>I got a few responses to my query, some of them stating "my Gateway runs
>fine..." and some stating "Mine doesn't and I know a bunch of other people
>whose doesn't either..." The consensus seems to be that Gateway has been
>cutting a lot of corners--cheap parts, less than professional assembly...
>
>That is all right--a lot of cheap clone makers do that. Nevertheless,
>I'd recommend that you go to your friendly neighborhood clone manufacturer
>if you live in an area with such enterprises. At least you can carry the
>broken machine to their doorstep if it fails and picket their store if
>they don't give you satisfaction. 

I would recommend you go to gateway and ask them about their guarantee.

They guarantee that if for any reason you are dissatisfied within 30 days
of purchase you can return the unit for a full refund.  The only thing it
will cost you is the shipping.  

Our company has many of the gateway 386/33 machines and is especially
satisfied with them.  The company is founded on mail order satisfaction and
they will ship you a replacement for any defective component by FED next
day air.  They have in one case sent us an entire new central unit when
the problem couldnt be found over the telephone.

We have had a few monitor problems but both were due to shipping, (it seems),
and both were concluded to our satisfaction.  I contacted several other
companies in the area and all were satified with the service and product.

The mother board is micronix and well proven in the 386 and 486 systems.
the components are all top quality.  

By the way when compairing with your local clone`s make sure they have 
fully configured systems.  By the time I added in a good drive and monitor
to what the locals were pushing I was well over the price of the Gateway
system whic has an excellent drive.  And the local was using a no name
board in their product with a 24ms hard drive.  A nice bottle neck for 
a 486 or 386/33 system.

Another good source for a 386 or 486 is surprisingly COSTCO.  They have a
packard Bell FORCE system (Intel motherboard) for under $4000.00 in a 
full development system.


good luck

Bob Folline

Disclaimer:
My opinions cannot be bought or sold so Ill keep them myself!