From: chrisr@ersys.edmonton.ab.ca (Chris Ringe)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Why you shouldn't buy NEC.  (More NEC 4FG horror stories!)
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 92 08:27:40 MDT
Organization: Edmonton Remote Systems #2, Edmonton, AB, Canada

*** Note: This is a letter I just FAXED to NEC ***

To     : Complaint Department                           Date: Sept 28,1992
From   : Chris Ringe (A Very P.O.'ed Customer)
Subject: Why my next monitor won't be a NEC!

        I was advised by many people that NEC made some of the finest
   computer monitors available.  Needing a crisp display for CAD/DTP,
   I decided to purchase a NEC 4FG ($1000+ Canadian).  After about 1 3/4
   months DOS PROMPT TYPE use, I finally started to use some FULL SCREEN
   graphic programs.  To my amazement, I noticed that two "pixels" were
   missing, and the CONVERGENCE was un-aligned causing a multicolored line
   around the screen borders.  I decided to take the monitor back to the
   dealer for replacement.  I found out that because I had the monitor for
   1 3/4 months, a direct swap was not possible.  I was told that my dealer
   must send it to the warrenty depot.  No problem.

The story begins...

   Monitor #1 - original purchased monitor.
   SENT: - 1 NEC 4FG.
         - Original Packaging Materials (Box, 4 Foam pc., Manuals, and
           Power Cable).
         - Defects as mentioned above.

2 1/2 Weeks Later

   Monitor #2 - "NEW" monitor
   RCVD: - 1 NEC 4FG.
         - Original Packaging Materials (Same box as monitor #1, 3 Foam
           pieces & 1 broken in 3 pieces, No Manual, and a power cable).
         - New defects: - CONVERGENCE problems (see above)
                        - one missing "pixel" (different location)
                        - warped monitor case
                        - melted imprint on corner of monitor

   SENT: - same as received

1 Wk 2 Days Later

   Monitor #3 - "NEW" monitor
   RCVD: - 1 NEC 4FG
         - Orginal Packaging Materials (Same box as montor #1, 2 Foam
           pieces & many broken pieces resembling HUGE foam peanuts,
           manual (finally!), and a power cable)
         - New defects: - Worse CONVERGENCE problems (see above)
                        - still one missing "pixel" (different location)
                        - flickering of lines on screen (in non-interlaced
                          mode) with Windows 3.1
                        - focusing fuzzy on borders, and extremly bad
                          in the center of screen
                        - different dent on corner of monitor

    SENT: (yesterday) - same as received

*Note* - these test were done on the same computer setup, and same SVGA
         graphics card.  The missing pixel syndrome is likely a flake of
         phosphorus fallen from the inside of the picture tube, or a
         defect in the color mask.

And the saga continues...

I wonder if the "NEW" monitor #4 will work at all!  However, rest
assured that I will keep everyone (including friends) informed as to the
continuation of this horror story.

"Because ^ is the way you want to go." - NEC
(Correct, but surely not to include stress levels, blood pressure, ect...)



 /  __  ___   /___                    \ /   Chris Ringe       (VE6MCP)    \
|  /  \(__   / ___)                    |    St. Albert, Alberta, CANADA    |
|  \__/___) / (___   F O R E V E R !   |    MAIL: chrisr@ersys.edm.ab.ca   |
 \         /                          / \   PHONE: (403) 460-PLAY/7529    /
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