Well, the policy here in the U.S. seems to be to skip the outgoing
inspection and replace it with a warranty. The terms of the warranty make
it void if you open the box, so the buyer returns it for a replacement or
refund, and the maker then gets to do the outgoing inspection on the
incoming trip back.
-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Duell <ard_at_p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp_at_u.washington.edu>
Date: Sunday, April 11, 1999 2:47 PM
Subject: Re: What if,... early PCs (was: stepping machanism
>>
>> On Sun, 11 Apr 1999, Richard Erlacher wrote to Allison:
>> > The principal complaint I heard about the M1 was the principal
complaint
>> > about the M3. It was a paper tiger until you opened the box and added
a
>> > bunch of stuff/mods.
>>
>> While I agree, I kinda doubt that Allison has EVER plugged in ANYTHING
>> before she "opened the box and added a bunch of stuff/mods". So, she
>> might not see that as quite the negative that you do :-)
>
>You mean there _are_ people who plug things in without pulling the case
>and checking that it's built correctly? They must be mad...
>
>Of course once you've got the lid off, you might as well fix whatever the
>original designers got wrong ;-)
>
>>
>> > The same, to lesser extent, perhaps, could be said for
>> > the Apple. The Apple was made easy-to-open. The RS boxes were not.
>>
>> While velcro is certainly extraordinarily convenient, particularly to
>> those bothered by screwdrivers. But, as an occasional professional auto
>> mechanic, I hardly felt that half a dozen screws made something hard to
>
>I've also never seen the point of 'screwless' cases. If I'm going to be
>fixing/modifying something I'm going to need a logic probe (or better an
>logic analyser), multimeter, soldering iron, pliers, cutters, etc. Having
>to use a screwdriver as well is no big problem..
>
>> open. But it is true that RS had a very bad attitude about it. They
>> actually had anti-tamper paint on one of the screws! One of the local RS
>
>Some machines had a label over one of the screws. What Tandy didn't
>realise was that it was possible to get the label off in one piece
>without tearing it, and then stick it back after you'd done the mod...
>
>> technicians had an interesting slant on that: Since RS's policies
>> apparently didn't explicitly mention modifications, only that the tamper
>> seal must be intact, he would happily do the various warranty mods (there
>> were SEVERAL for the early EI), IFF you provided him circuit sketches for
>
>I never put Tandy UK to the test (I always fixed my Model 1 myself).
>Although the local shop did get me some of the parts either free or for a
>nominal charge for me to do a couple of official mods myself.
>
>> all mods, and put a dab of the anti-tamper paint (he would provide it) on
>> the screw after you made the mods. He said that if the store manager
>> balked at seeing additional stuff through the slots of the "unopened"
>
>:-) :-)
>
>> case, just start talking about "building boats in bottles". Apple's
>> attitude of "go on in!" was much more refreshing.
>
>Although, IIRC the Apple ][ Techref did mention that doing the Eurapple
>mod (50 Hz video) would void the warranty. It appeared that you could
>open the case and stick in expansion cards with no problems, but if you
>took a soldering iron to the motherboard you were on your own. Again it
>didn't bother me. Both the Apple ][ and TRS-80 had excellent tech manuals
>available, so fixing them yourself was the easiest thing to do.
>
>-tony
>
Received on Sun Apr 11 1999 - 18:08:24 BST