From: sip1@ellis.uchicago.edu (Timothy F. Sipples)
Subject: IBM is Right (Was: Re: IBM is Horrible)
Followup-To: comp.os.os2.advocacy
Reply-To: sip1@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: Dept. of Econ., Univ. of Chicago
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1992 18:17:38 GMT

In article <67464@cup.portal.com> Tazzie@cup.portal.com (Jon S Novak) writes:
>My point is this:   You spend $89 on a program, one which claims
>                    compatability.   After having problems with
>                    one particular incompatability, they tell you
>                    that you have shell out over $500 ... THAT is
>                    not right.  
>Now for those who say 'well you just spoke to someone who didn't know'
>IBM is supposed to be the industry leader.  They are supposed to have
>all these high standards for their employees.  So if this person is just
>an example, what can you say about the company in general?  Forget about them.

A whole $89.  Gee, how much did that Creative Labs multimedia kit
cost?  :-)

Listen, I agree.  It would have been nice had IBM given you the
correct information.  (Actually, they did give you the correct
information, strictly speaking.  It depends on how you asked the
question.  Namely, that, at present, if you wish _native_ OS/2
multimedia support, i.e. something above and beyond multimedia support
for DOS and Windows programs, you may obtain MMPM/2.  You can get it
for $15 on CD-ROM or for approx. $125 on diskettes.  The $500 figure
may be roughly correct for MMPM/2 plus the programming toolkit, again
on diskettes.  CD-ROM is still $15.  I don't know how you asked your
question, but if you asked, "How do I use my multimedia kit under
OS/2," they would have been correct.  If you had asked, "How do I use
my DOS and Windows multimedia programs?" you very well may have
received a different response.)

However, consider that you are asking them about a specific, non-IBM
brand of equipment which the vast majority of people still don't have.
(I don't have a multimedia kit.  I don't know anyone who has a
multimedia kit.  I don't know people who know people who have a
multimedia kit.  :-))

Consider also that there are literally thousands of PC hardware
add-ons, most of which are not standardized in any remote sense of the
word (including this one).  The term "PC compatible" now doesn't mean
much more than a system with some sort of CPU that claims to execute
Intel instructions.  Vendors cut corners, fail to update drivers, ship
shoddy equipment, and go bankrupt with annoying frequency.

Well, end of tirade.  The point is that I don't think IBM should be
held to a far higher standard than other companies in this industry.
A higher standard, yes.  But not an unreasonable one.  Why aren't you
complaining about Creative Labs?  Did you even give them a call?  What
did they tell you?

I would also like to point out that your $89 is fully refundable.  You
have a 30 day no questions asked money back guarantee, and a 90 day
hardware compatible money back guarantee.  How's that for a higher
standard?  You think most companies are that generous?  What exactly
is at stake for you here?

I wonder if Creative Labs is offering a money back guarantee, no
questions asked, on their equipment?  Hmmm...

Follow up to comp.os.os2.advocacy.

-- 
Timothy F. Sipples      | The OS/2 FREQ. ASKED QUESTIONS LIST is avail. from
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