From: george@minster.york.ac.uk
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2,comp.os.os2.misc,comp.os.os2.programmer,comp.os.os2.apps,comp.os.os2.advocacy
Subject: IS IBM UK STILL IN THE STONE AGE???
Date: 27 Aug 92 10:58:42 GMT
Organization: Department of Computer Science, University of York, England

After much frustration and strife, I have decided to drop OS/2 and return
to Win3.1/DOS and await the arrival of Windows NT. A lesson in patience
which I should have kept earlier!

Why? Since installing OS/2 I have had constant problems running Windows
software and lack of decent driver support. Worse, IBM UK do not provide
a sensible and useful technical support group. Below is a copy of a letter I
sent IBM UK about various problems I've had running AmiPro under Win-OS/2.
I must emphasise that I had previously used AmiPro under Microsoft Windows
3.0 earlier and had NO problems at all. The only new difference was OS/2.

>  Dear XXXXXXX,
>  
>  I am currently writing my DPhil thesis using Ami Pro. Recently I installed
>  IBM OS/2 v2.0, and since then Ami Pro has given rise to numerous problems
>  which are wasting far too much of my time. It is urgent that a fix is
>  provided for the problems below and other incompatibilities.
>  
>  1) Amiprint regularly fails or causes system to crash
>  2) Facing page view causes system to crash
>  3) Downloaded fonts via ATM do not have EOLN characters in, thus
>  causing printer to give length checks. This is very annoying since I have
>  to print to a file, then transfer the postscript file to another system to
>  print.
>  4) Fonts are not installed correctly following procedure laid out in
>  documentation... often do not appear, or Ami Pro does not display them
>  on screen
>  5) Occasionally Ami Pro will crash for no apparent reason
>  
>  This is not at all encouraging when trying to write a 100,000 word
>  document. Will you please let me know what IBM are doing about these
>  problems - or are you not aware about them? I can supply details about the
>  various error messages if you want.
>  
>  Yours sincerely - George Bolt

I did include full details of error messages and also a test disk that
would demonstrate the various problems I had. After phoning a few weeks
later, I was told that a reply had been sent. 5 days later nothing had
arrived so I phoned again, and was told a copy of the letter would be
sent. This eventually arrived! Below is an *exact* transcription of the
letter. I stress "exact" since the English was very badly written.

>  Dear Mr George Bolt,
>  
>  Regarding your problem with OS2v2, I am very sorry
>  for the time taken in replying to your letter.
>  
>  It seems that there are a number of users using AMIPRO V2.0,
>  running under WIN/OS2 that have not encountered any problems.
>  
>  I can only advise you to run the software on an IBM machine to
>  ascertain whether or not there is a fault with Hardware instead
>  of Software.
>  
>  Number of factors could cause your problem e.g problem with
>  memory, have you installed the necessary FIXES such as the the
>  FIX for using SVGA cards, Maybe useful to Read the Readme file.
>  
>  Yours Sincerely,
>  
>  XXXXXX XXXXXXXXX
>  
>  OS/2 Support Group

I can only guess that this is an obscure form of internal IBM
humour... though I must say that I can't seem to see the funny
side. In fact, I feel somewhat insulted by the casual offhanded
patronising tone of the letter. If anyone from IBM *USA* management
is reading this, please take note and perhaps tell IBM UK that
prompt efficient and HELPFUL service is essential to keep customers.

Just as a side point, 5 people from the Computer Science Dept here
at York University bought OS/2 a few months back... now no-one is using
it due to various problems.

George Bolt.

p.s. Wonderful... now I can remove a few news groups from my
     morning reading :-)

p.p.s. I phoned Microsoft yesterday afternoon to ask about Windows NT,
       and asked for a copy of their white paper on it. Guess what arrived
       in this morning's post?? Only one guess allowed!

____________________________________________________________
 George Bolt, Advanced Computer Architecture Group,
 Dept. of Computer Science, University of York, Heslington,
 YORK. YO1 5DD.  UK.               Tel: + [44] (904) 432771

 george@minster.york.ac.uk                       Internet
 george%minster.york.ac.uk@nsfnet-relay.ac.uk    ARPA 
 ..!uknet!minster!george                         UUCP
____________________________________________________________
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