Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ncar!boulder!kuo
From: kuo@boulder.Colorado.EDU (KUO ANDY Y)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Lasers are not reliable? (was Re: Apple C+)
Message-ID: <15210@boulder.Colorado.EDU>
Date: 25 Dec 89 18:41:59 GMT
References: <8799.infoapple.net@pro-generic> <954@oucsace.cs.OHIOU.EDU>
Sender: news@boulder.Colorado.EDU
Reply-To: kuo@boulder.Colorado.EDU (KUO ANDY Y)
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Lines: 91


In article <954@oucsace.cs.OHIOU.EDU> bchurch@oucsace.cs.OHIOU.EDU (Bob Church) writes:
>> to upgrade a //c to //c+, sell your //c and with the money buy a Lasre
>> 128EX/2. 
>   
>Hmm, we tried that once. I went to Columbus to help a friend buy a Laser.
>Micro-Center informed us that they had sold twenty lasers  that year
>and that so far three had been returned because of defects. None of these 

      Strange, my friends and I have never had any problems with them at all. 

      I don't understand, why would anyone need help buying a Laser. :-(
    Just like buying a IIc, everything is built in, you don't need to
    worry about anything basically.

      From all the reviews I have seen, I am surprised about the defective
    rate.  Also, only selling 20 unites a dealer a year is pretty out of
    the scale compares to what I read in A+/InCider.

      Could you clarify your statement so it's not just a rumour?


>three had returned from Taiwan or wherever yet, but they told us that in the

     The Lasers were manufactured in Hong Kong.  But the CopyII+ that
   bundled with it were Made in USA :-)

      Also, (at least on my warranty card) Central Point Software
   handels the repairs.  They don't send it back overseas--does the
   Apple dealers send GS parts back to singapore?  Do you know how
   long the shipping goes?

     Video Tech owns Central Point now but I think the handeling
   for repairing is still the same (although the company is Laser
   Computer--I think).  By the way, some local dealers can handel
   repairs also.

      I have not dealt with them (I didn't need to).  But one of the
   reasons I bought my Laser was because I read several magazine
   reviews about their second day turn around repairing policy and good
   service.


>past the ROMs on the replacement lasers were often different so that some 
>software that worked before didn't work on the replacement machine. Their

     If you don't know it, please don't make a joke out of it. The
   ROM has been very compatible (actually so compatible that I wonder why
   Apple has not sue them).  To confirm that my words are valid, I suggest
   you dig out your old Apple magazines, there were some wonderful reviews.

      There have not been many versions of ROMs either, because it was good
   at the first place.  For me, except for 1 or 2 *old* *old* copy-protected
   arcade games (which won't work in a 65C02 base IIc as I was told), I have
   no compability problems at all.


      Considering all the strange stories your local dealer has told you. I
   suggest you contact Video Tech directly to find out how wrong your
   dealer has been handeling your case.

>demo model was only compatible with software that didn't use a space bar
>since theirs had fallen off and wouldn't go back on. Yep, sounds like a 
>real bargain to me. I'd be able to get all kinds of work done around the 
>house while the thing was being repaired. Hope my wife doesn't find out
>about them

      Strange?  All the other Lasers I have seen have good keyboards.
   Actually, the way I feel, the Laser keyboard is at least better than
   the IIe's.  You may be different, but that space key does *not* pop.


      I suggest you contact Video Tech because some lowly manufactures
   in your area may be cloning the successful Laser--at least your story
   is very, very strange.


>Bob Church
>att!oucsace!bchurch


      Don't get me wrong, if the IIc+ was out or if Zip chip was reliable
   enough, I would have bought a genuine Apple.  I needed all the processor
   speed and the fastest "Apple" was a Laser128EX.

      I am looking forward for a Apple IIGS or (someday) a GS clone runs at
   10Mhz.  And a Mac would be nice also--didn't get it this Xmas :-)


      Disclaimer: I have no connection with Laser/Video Tech/Central Point
   except as a satisfied user.