Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!thunder.mcrcim.mcgill.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!mintaka!ogicse!milton!nntp.uoregon.edu!nntp.uoregon.edu!stevev From: stevev@greylady.uoregon.edu (Steve VanDevender) Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds Subject: Re: HP Customer Service and the Serial Kit SCAM Message-ID: Date: 28 Jun 91 03:57:58 GMT References: <1991Jun25.182629.1803@njitgw.njit.edu> <1991Jun27.182152.3944@lsuc.on.ca> Sender: news@ns.uoregon.edu Organization: University of Oregon Chemistry Stores Lines: 34 In-Reply-To: jimomura@lsuc.on.ca's message of 27 Jun 91 18:21:52 GMT jfa0522@hertz.njit.edu (john f andrews ece) whines and burbles because he neglected to ask what he was getting when he bought the HP 48 Serial Interface Kit. Perhaps it is overpriced, but I thought it was customary to know what you're buying before deciding so you can avoid disappointment. But instead of exercising customer caution ahead of time, he decides to blame HP for his failing. In any case, then jimomura@lsuc.on.ca (Jim Omura) posts a totally bogus response where he thinks john f andrews bought the HP 95LX connectivity kit. What a waste. The 48 was clearly mentioned and Jim quotes that part; it's hard to believe he could spend so much time writing a reply that is so irrelevant to the original poster's burble. In any case, the responses Andrews got from HP's service department were perfectly reasonable. The Serial Interface Kit comes with Kermit for those who don't already know about it; it also comes with an assortment of 48 software that more or less justifies its price. You can get a cable-only kit if you want, and find Kermit from other sources. I have the HP serial cable and it's certainly worth the price--it's sturdy but compact. If you think that $30 is too much to pay for just a cable, then the pinouts for the HP 48 cable are easily available so you can build your own. I do feel sorry for the HP employees that took Andrews's call. It's the sort of thing that can drive companies to provide less responsive service. -- Steve VanDevender stevev@greylady.uoregon.edu "Bipedalism--an unrecognized disease affecting over 99% of the population. Symptoms include lack of traffic sense, slow rate of travel, and the classic, easily recognized behavior known as walking."