Denys writes:
>As for other people buying multiple screens on Macs let me just say the vast
>majority of problems people have encountered with Windows 95 have to do with
>antiquated hardware and software support.

So all we have to do is go out and buy more hardware and software, and
our problems will be solved. I'm a bit surprised to read this line of
reasoning on this particular list: one of the primary advantages of the
HP 3000 is _investment protection_. PCs should be sold with a freshness
date. Someone who bought a top-of-the-line Mac in 1991 can use it
profitably today: it runs all the latest software with acceptable
performance, and today's system software runs on all 1991 Macintosh
hardware. Someone who bought a top-of-the-line PC in 1991, a 33MHz or
40MHz 386, has probably scrapped it already, despite having paid the same
price as the Mac user.

Denys states a problem, not a solution. If hardware that's five years old
is "antiquated" -- unworthy of support -- what does that say about the PC
market's respect for the user's investment? Denys, how many HP 3000 users
have you advised to scrap their five-year-old top-of-the-line equipment?

The problem is not exclusively the domain of PC hardware. Last week, the
DAT drive I bought four years ago to back up our Mac systems (and that
now backs up three PCs as well) developed a flaw: I was seeing lots of
verify errors, and it would only eject tapes if I turned it upside down.
I called the vendor and asked for an RMA number so I could send it in for
repair. The vendor's representative said "That drive isn't in warranty
any more. I can connect you to sales and you can buy a new one -- it'll
have much better software and will be twice as fast."

"I want the old drive repaired," I said.

"We don't repair drives," she responded.

"Are you telling me to drop this four-year-old tape drive, for which I
paid you $1,400, in the trash?" It seemed like the obvious thing to ask.

There was a long pause as she thought through the implications of
answering this question honestly. THEN she offered to get me the
telephone number of the original manufacturer,
Archive-(slurp)-Connor-(gulp)-Seagate, who, it turns out, will exchange
the drive for about $250. At least SOMEONE understands "investment
protection."

-- Bruce

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