IBM Engineers

From: Mark Firestone <pdp11_70_at_retrobbs.org>
Date: Thu Apr 8 07:15:17 2004

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony Duell" <ard_at_p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
To: <cctalk_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 2004 11:29 PM
Subject: Re: IBM Engineers



> On which planet have you been living for the last 20 years????
>
> I've never met a field servoid who had any sort of clue whatsoever about
> the operation and troubelshooting of computers -- they just replace
> seemingly random parts until the fault goes away. Certainly I've never
> seen oue use a multimeter, let alone a 'scope...

Heh. I've been stuck in the deal. I used to be one of three Macintosh
field service engineers at Arizona State University.

We used to *really* fix things, and I'm sure Apple would have been really
upset if they knew that we used to really fix things, because it cost them a
lot of lost revenue in parts. I used to carry a multimeter around with me,
so there. (;

> I was once taught that the really good troubleshooter is the guy who
> makes some measurements, thinks _a lot_ about the problem, and then
> replacees exactly one part, and the machine works again for 10 more
> years. I am not that good!

Rules me out as well. I have to tell you, I'm self taught at all of this.
This a hobby that got out of hand. My favorite comment I ever got from a
customer was, "we like you because you don't make stuff up. If you don't
know the answer, you tell us."



"I guess that every form of refuge has its price." --The Eagles

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Received on Thu Apr 08 2004 - 07:15:17 BST

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