Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site uwvax.ARPA Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!uwvax!pal From: pal@uwvax.ARPA (Anil A. Pal) Newsgroups: net.micro,net.micro.cpm Subject: Osborne Warning Message-ID: <1060@uwvax.ARPA> Date: Wed, 31-Aug-83 16:28:33 EDT Article-I.D.: uwvax.1060 Posted: Wed Aug 31 16:28:33 1983 Date-Received: Sun, 4-Sep-83 22:32:14 EDT Organization: U of Wisconsin CS Dept Lines: 42 A warning for any of you who have, or are thinking of buying, an Osborne computer. I have an Osborne I, with double density disks. I decided to get the 80-column upgrade offered by Osborne, both because 80 columns seemed nice and the other features promised (User-definable character sets and higher serial-port baud rates) were very attractive. I went in to the local ComputerLand store where I had bought the Osborne initially. They took the money for the upgrade, and said I would be notified by mail to bring in the Osborne for the upgrade, which would take about 48 hrs. plus transit time to-from California. I did receive the notification, and took te Osborne in a day or two before the required date. I was told that Osborne was slipping a little in their schedule, so it would take a little longer than expected. That was the last I heard for a LONG time. Several calls to Osborne resulted in little progress. I was told it "might take 6 weeks" (this 2 months after sending it in), and that "We have no record of an Osborne with that serial number". They even denied ever having manufactured a machine with the serial nu,mber in question!! At this point I had ComputerLand track down the shipping invoices and so on, and discovered that Osborne had misprinted the serial number in their shipping records. A strong letter to Osborne followed, and I eventually did get the computer back. HOWEVER, it is now completely flakey. It resets anytime a new soul enters the world, and often turns on both drives and WILL NOT TURN THEM OFF until switched off overnight. ComputerLand says that the 80-column board needs frequent reseating, and also that NEARLY EVERY 80-COLUMN OSBORNE THEY KNOW OF HAS THIS PROBLEM. Oh, and by the way: Ther is no mention of the other goodies which were supposed to come with the 80-col. upgrade, such as higher baud rates and user-definable character sets. I guess they just decided not to include them in the 80-column upgrade after all. Along with this, I bought the Osborne during the period when they were offering a free dBase II package. The package was not delivered until about 5 months later, and then only after several calls and a letter. And people moan about JRT Pascal. In sum, I have had almost ZERO use of the Osborne since it was bought. Even when the hardware worked, I did not have the main software system I needed (dBase) for the applications I envisaged. My impression of Osborne's business practices was (and is) that they are sloppy and inefficient at best, and somewhat less than honourable. I would not recommend that any net readers purchase the 80-column upgrade, and would be wary of doing business with them again. As soon as I recover financially, I will buy a real working computer, but in the meantime: ANYONE WANT AN OSBORNE I WITH ALL OPTIONS? PLEEAASSEE??