Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!bellcore!rutgers!mailrus!uwmcsd1!marque!introl!njs!karl From: karl@njs.UUCP (karl) Newsgroups: comp.unix.microport Subject: Re: FP PROBLEM RESOLUTION Message-ID: <220@njs.UUCP> Date: 22 Jul 88 14:14:16 GMT References: <2432@inco.UUCP> Reply-To: karl@njs.UUCP () Organization: Vollbrecht & Associates Lines: 86 <-------------------------- FLAME ON!!!! --------------------------------> I have been responsible for four systems in the Milwaukee area which use (or try) to use Microport Unix. One of these systems is already in a junk pile with my customer asking for a refund. Let's examine some of my specific problems: - One of the systems, uses MP system V/386 with DOS merge. This system has a "pre-release" version of DOS merge. My customer wishs to use a logi-tech mouse (Which does not work) and the Ventura Publishing Package. Each time (Perhaps 10 phone calls) I call MP about the "pre-release" DOS merge, they tell me that some special person (Someone they refuse to give the name of) is not there, and is the ONLY person I can talk is never there and has never returned any of my phone calls. I've have had no choice but to buy them a different Publishing package, and fight with them about no mouse. If this special "SOMEBODY" is listening, perhaps they could bless me with a phone call. This problem has been going on for over four months now. - Another customer (This is the sad, angry one who wants their money back) has MP system V 386, with an unlimited login package. - First, before the system was purchased, I called MP to see which tape backup drive was suitible for use with their UNIX. I was told by their sales staff (The wisconsin REP) that the EVEREX 60M ev-810 was the one to buy, although I did have to pay extra for the driver. GUESS WHAT? when I got the package the tape drive didn't work. The documentation said "newer ev-810 will not work with our software". Well, I'm still fighting with various people to return the tape drive and the driver disk. - 2nd problem, and perhaps the reason I typed this in, is the SAME floating point problem as described by other people. The compiler crashed, programs won't run, and MP won't help. I called many times on this problem, was told that the 386 person only worked there two hours each day, and spent that time very busy with answering questions. Well, finaly, after a week of phone calls, the 386 man called me. He said they were aware of a BUG with floating point, and that they have already fixed it in house. He said, "I'll send you a pre-release version to help you out". Boy was I happy, my heart sang, my feet danced, and a renewed feeling about MP had come. GUESS WHAT? nothing was ever sent to the customer (Video Station - Milwaukee), not a disk, not a letter, not a phone call. My further attempts to reach the 386 person have failed. No one has EVER returned my phone calls. - Whatever happened to the "Greenhills" compiler that was advertised? My customer bought this over Bell-tech and others because of this feature. GUESS WHAT? no-Greenhills and a person telling me at MP that my customer MUST buy the support plan if they wish to get it. I have NEVER been able to get any of my customers to buy the support plan, based on the fact that they a package out of a box, with problems, and are NEVER helped. How can I tell them that support would be any better. PEOPLE WHO BUY SOFTWARE THAT IS BROKEN SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR ONE DAY AFTER THE PACKAGE IS RECEIVED! - Another problem with the same customer, is BAD BLOCKS. the installation procedure for MP/386 is defective if your hard disk has any bad sectors on it. Again, many calls were made, nobody could talk to me, nobody called me back. Finaly, I just looked around and found another drive with no defects. In summary, I have NEVER had any success with getting the right people on the phone, or that one time it did happen, I was LIED to and got no help in the end. LYING about the Green-hills compiler is even worse. A man named "John Plocher" sounds noble, and I hope he gets this message in a bottle. Maybe he can help? I am also concerned that the only person working on the 386 port is only there two hours each day. Heck I get two hours of Microport related complaints each day. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Karl Vollbrecht (414) 358-1180 (poor unused phone number) Vollbrecht & Associates 6515 N. 40th Street Milwaukee, WI 53209 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------