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From: smithrd@laine (Randy D. Smith)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: Is this a dream???
Summary: Yep, we got lucky
Message-ID: <1991Apr8.174128.19414@intelhf.hf.intel.com>
Date: 8 Apr 91 17:41:28 GMT
References: <1317.27fc88ab@sleepy.bmd.trw.com>
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In article <1317.27fc88ab@sleepy.bmd.trw.com> cliburn@sleepy.bmd.trw.com writes:
>I entered the world of personal computing recently with the purchase of
>a Packard Bell 386DX from a local warehouse department store. ...
>...  I picked up a 386-25, 125MB HD, 2MB RAM, internal
>2400 baud modem, SVGA, etc., etc. for about $2300. ...
>
>Well, I got it home, opened the box, and immediately found an owner's
>manual for the PB 386-33!  Surely this is a mistake, I thought. ...
>
>I GOT A 33 MHZ MACHINE FOR THE PRICE OF A 25!!!!! ...
>
>Does this happen often?  What do you suppose possessed the good folks
>at Packard Bell to do this?  I talked to a guy at the store about it
>and he chuckled and said, "Yeah, they screwed up and we got lucky."
>
>Comments?
>
>Jay Cliburn 

Yep, we were fortunate.  Your excitement mirrors mine almost exactly.
I checked with Packard Bell while asking about a different problem,
and found that they had "accidentally shipped a load of Pack-Mate
386-25s with 386-33 motherboards".  I was not only surprised that
it had a 386-33 motherboard, but a QUALITY 386-33 motherboard!

When I was looking at the systems at "the warehouse", I was comparing
the 386 system with a 486-25 system next to it.  A warehouse worker
came along and asked if I had any questions, such as about differences
in the two monitors, etc.  Curious, I asked what WAS the difference
in the two monitors.  He said the 486 system came with a .28mm monitor
while the 386 came with only a .31mm monitor.  I then pointed to the
386 monitor box, boldly labeled .28mm; he was surprised, and said the
pallet I was pointing to (and from which I subsequently purchased)
was just received.  So...you should be thankful not only for the
improved speed, but also the improved quality of the monitor.  I got
the impression that was another of the "mistakes" in that shipment.

Where all did these mistakes go?  Mine came from Oregon, and I would
presume Mr. Cliburn's are from So. Cal.?

Look at it this way...instead of being disappointed 3-6 months down
the road about what coulda-been, or what we coulda-got--it'll be
6-12 months instead.  We've only achieved a brief respite from the
ever-decreasing cost and ever-increasing capabilities.  (Ever the
pessimist!  Also, think about the additional cost of a 33Mhz 387
over a 25Mhz 387! :-) )
--
					Randy D. Smith