Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watnot!watmath!clyde!cbatt!ihnp4!occrsh!erc3ba!erc3bb!cord!desoto!packard!edsel!granjon!io!caelum!ariel!mtune!mtuxo!homxb!houxm!homxc!rps
From: rps@homxc.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Cooling down (more on IBM PS/2)
Message-ID: <199@homxc.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 9-Apr-87 09:49:35 EST
Article-I.D.: homxc.199
Posted: Thu Apr  9 09:49:35 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 11-Apr-87 16:43:38 EST
References: <1750@isis.UUCP>
Distribution: world
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Holmdel
Lines: 55
Summary: I think IBM #$#%%

In article <1750@isis.UUCP>, dragheb@isis.UUCP writes:
> I guess my last couple of articles have been pretty harsh on IBM.
> I suppose they are not as bad as I make them out to be in those
> articles.  But I have a question (I have received some mail on
> this subject):
> 
> Am I the only one out here who is not 100% satisfied with the
> way the PC market has gone (a direct result of IBM) ?

I am continually amazed that IBM can continue to sell products to 
new customers.  IBM is a company that has a publically known and
discussed strategy of enticing a prospective customer with marketing
into an initial purchase, and then LOCKING them into ONLY IBM maintainence,
software and upgrades, and RAPING them for the next N years.  Even though
people discuss and write articles about the FUD (Fear Uncertainty and 
Doubt) policy IBM practices toward its customers, new customers still
show up eagerly waiting for their turn to get screwed.  

Only with the PC has IBM been unable to practice FUD.  Amazingly, there
was a near rebellion over the unavailable, proprietary modem in the 
Convertible.  Usual pracitice is for IBM to just shove that sort of
thing down the customer's throat.  Even with the PC market as it is
IBM still gets away with outragous acts that even major magazines like
PC Week complain about.  For example, refusal to fix, or sometimes even
acknowledge, bugs in their BASIC language.  Who in their right mind would
do business with these people.  

Buy from IBM and you are guaranteed to get:

		  pluses		  minuses
		-----------		-------------
		compatibility		mediocre technology
		service for ever	low reliability, short warranty
					high price
					Take-it-or-leave-it attitude

		Any one care to add to this list?

You want compatibility? Buy a COMPAQ or a Kaypro!  Epson gives a 1 year
warranty.  Don't worry about service for ever, the technology will be 
out of date in 10 years!

Can anyone out there explain why an individual (not a corporation, they
have all kinds of considerations that have nothing to do with sensible
decisions) would buy an IBM PC anything?  Masochistic answers are not
valid.

Russ Sharples
homxc!rps

NOTE:

The diatribe above in NO WAY reflects the opinions of AT&T who sells the 
product being discussed.  These opinions are my own and the results of 
un-scientific and highly irregular analysis methods.