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From: urbina@hppcgo.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Reliability of PC Mail-Order Dealers
Message-ID: <10150001@hppcgo.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 22-Jan-87 20:31:10 EST
Article-I.D.: hppcgo.10150001
Posted: Thu Jan 22 20:31:10 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 25-Jan-87 14:48:34 EST
References: <1058@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP>
Organization: HP Entry Systems Operation,(ESO), Cupertino, Ca
Lines: 43

> / hppcgo:comp.sys.ibm.pc / tod4@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP (phillip a todd) / 12:38 pm Jan 15, 1987 /
> 
> 
> Has anyone had experience with PC Network's "PC+"? It has 256K, one
> 360K drive, 135W PS, AT-style keyboard, etc. for $444 plus 8 percent.
> Is it any good? Thanks in advance.  p.todd
> 
> UUCP:  ..!ihnp4!gargoyle!sphinx!tod4
> Bitnet: tod4@sphinx.UChicago
> ----------

   I bought the PC+ w/640K recently, along with the THE I/O plus,
both from PC Network. I ordered them on Oct 9, 1986. At that time,
they told me that the I/O Plus would be shipped that week, but that
there was a back order of 10-12 weeks on the PC+. The I/O Plus
card was shipped promptly and I got it about 2 weeks later. The PC+
itself was another story:

  On or around Nov 9, I got a card saying that there would be a delay
of at most 30 days in shipping, and that if I wanted, I could cancel my
order and get a refund. (By the way, they charged my AMEX as soon as I
put the order). I waited, and on the 12th of December they sent me 
another letter, this one telling me that there would be another delay of
at least 45 days, and that if I still wanted the product, I should return
the postage paid card as soon as possible. I called their Technical 
Support number and was told that my PC+ would ship before Xmas. I
finally got it on Dec 30th, almost 90 days after I ordered it, pretty
close to the 10 to 12 weeks they told me it was going to take.

  I'm pretty happy with the product, with no complaints. I haven't
had any problem with any software, yet. It has a turbo mode which makes
it run 1.7x as fast, according to Norton's System Info program. They
keyboard is AT style, nothing great, nothing bad. Overall, I'm happy
with it, and if you're willing to wait, it's worth the $506 it costs.
My experience with PC Network is pretty much the same: they have good
prices, but they take a long time to ship. (I bought a 20MB hard disk
from Warehouse Data Products - a good outfit in Phoenix, for the same
price as a PC Network one, $400, and got it in two days!).

  Have fun,
     
  - Fernando A. Urbina
   ...!hplabs!hpda!urbina