From: deane@galileo.ifa.hawaii.edu (Kimo Kanaka De`ane)
Subject: New System Initial Hardware Report
Summary: good so far, with one minus
Keywords: review, Focus, MacNews, EtherNet, IIvx, Radius, Color Pivot
Organization: Institute for Astronomy, Hawaii
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 21:46:14 GMT


	I have been running my MacIIvx for about a week now, in a system 
that includes an EtherLan A1-II EtherNet card, and a Radius Color Pivot/LE
monitor and interface card. 
	I purchased the CPU from ComputerLand Honolulu, the monitor bundle
from MacNews, and the EtherCard direct from Focus Technologies. 
	The CPU came in 7 working days, as they said. It was ~$250 more than
the UH bookstore, but the latter said 8 weeks minimum. I ordered the same
week the hardware was announced. 
	I ordered the monitor 2 weeks before I got the CPU, to take advantage
of the monitor/card bundle. I paid $879, delivered. The advertised price was
$779, but when I called it had become $799.  The shipping was $75. I tested
the monitor and card in a friend's IIcx, and the card was faulty. I asked
for a replacement. We played FAX tag to exchange the return agreement, then
they told me they'd ship a replacement next day, and I would return the 
defective card. A week later I called back, and found out that they were out
of stock, and the support person talked to Radius and had them send one
to me directly. A week later I called MacNews and told them it wasn't here 
yet, and they called Radius to learn that the latter was also out of stock. 
So finally a week after that my new card comes, and I hook up the system. No
go. To shorten a long story, the Radius product shipped with an old version
of the driver software (RadWare) that didn't support the IIvx. I had explicitly
told both MacNews and Radius which CPU I owned when I placed my order. The
Radius people said they'd ship an upgrade. I asked if I could download it 
somewhere. They told me the dial-in BBS number, and I did just that. BingoBango
Bongo, problem solved. 
	I'm not giving a negative reccomendation for MacNews, necessarily.
Just be careful when dealing with ANY mail-order people, that you are 
explicit about your needs, deadlines and expectations. I wish the full 
story had been told to me originally, but I can't fault MacNews or their reps
any further than that. They *were* ideal in their handling of the product
return - I signed a form and FAXed it back, and they took me at my word that 
I would return the defective part.
	To any company listening - I HIGHLY respect them for treating me with
respect. That treatment makes the difference between where I shop and where
I don't. 
	The Color Pivot/LE looks great. It has only one resolution compared
to it's parent, the Color Pivot, but I don't find that a problem (so far). 
The colors are good, the lines sharp. The pivot feature is frivolous but
wow-inducing. I am happy. 
	And the EtherNet card? Nothing to report - worked perfectly the first
time I installed it, hasn't peeped since. Ideal. A Fine Job, Focus.

	Sorry about the length. Hope others find this useful.

--
James "Rebel Without A Clue" Deane          Institute for Astronomy
deane@galileo.ifa.hawaii.edu                2680 Woodlawn Dr
"My God, it's full of *s!"                  Honolulu, HI 96822
	Grad Student/Astronomer/Diver/Mac Technician
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware