*BSD News Article 66330


Return to BSD News archive

Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.development.apps,comp.os.linux.development.system,comp.os.linux.x,comp.os.linux.hardware,comp.os.linux.setup,comp.unix.bsd.386bsd.misc,comp.unix.bsd.bsdi.misc,comp.unix.bsd.netbsd.misc,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc
Path: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au!newshost.anu.edu.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!news.rmit.EDU.AU!news.unimelb.EDU.AU!munnari.OZ.AU!news.ecn.uoknor.edu!paladin.american.edu!news.jhu.edu!aplcenmp!night.primate.wisc.edu!sdd.hp.com!swrinde!newsfeed.internetmci.com!in2.uu.net!mail2news.alias.net!myriad!mylinuxbox!suck!netcom.com!stephenk
From: stephenk@netcom.com (Stephen Knilans)
Subject: Re: Why to not buy Matrox Millennium
Message-ID: <stephenkDq791n.KuA@netcom.com>
Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services (408-241-9760 login: guest)
References: <31785BB6.99F81FD@lambert.org> <stephenkDq62u3.7En@netcom.com> <31796B47.5E7DCA65@lambert.org>
Date: Sun, 21 Apr 1996 06:36:58 GMT
Lines: 126
Sender: stephenk@netcom12.netcom.com
Xref: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au comp.os.linux.development.apps:14596 comp.os.linux.development.system:21716 comp.os.linux.x:29676 comp.os.linux.hardware:36691 comp.os.linux.setup:51099 comp.unix.bsd.386bsd.misc:675 comp.unix.bsd.bsdi.misc:3306 comp.unix.bsd.netbsd.misc:3140 comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc:17624

In article <31796B47.5E7DCA65@lambert.org> Terry Lambert <terry@lambert.org> writes:
>Stephen Knilans wrote:
>] Actually, FASTER DOES imply that it WORKS!  If it is the
>] fastest card on the planet, yet can't run your application,
>] it isn't very fast afterall, now is it?
>
>"The Concorde isn't the fastest commercial passenger aircraft
> on the planet because I can't buy replacement parts at Checker
> Auto Parts and it won't run on unleaded gasoline from a Circle
> K gas pump".
>

The concorde isn't sold as being compatible with anything!  Actually, it is VERY
obvious that it is VERY unique!

>
>] What an odd way of stating things.  Yeah, and people actually
>] bought YUGOS! SO?  Gee, I wish every company that was bad went
>] bankrupt!  THEN, we wouldn't have such problems.
>
>Clearly, your idea of "bad" and that of the free market at
>larger differ greatly.  You lose; there are more of them than
>there are of you... you have been outvoted.
>
NO, some of them are just uninformed!  I bought a diamond card, which I would
NOT have, had I known how they treated their customers.  I ALMOST bought a
matrox(I currently have a LAN with three computers, and one other viable 
system.  Only one has an SVGA card, and one has a VGA card.

>
>] BTW it does NOT come with drivers for BSD, LINUX, windows 97,
>] dos 8, and perhaps not even for SCO!
>
>
>It doesn't come with a 6 inch man in the box to connect up
>your 15 pin VGA connector for you, either.  What *is* your
>point?
>

If you NEED drivers, and can't get them, it is WORTHLESS!

>
>] >If you assume something, and then spend money on the basis
>] >of your assumption, and your assumption was wrong in the
>] >first place ("VGA means a generic driver will make the card
>] >run", etc.), then you will suffer.
>] >
>] >Eventually you will learn not to make stupid assumptions.
>] 
>] COME ON!  YOU make assumptions!  Do you know how I know?  If
>] you DIDN'T, you wouldn't even have a computer to use!  Do you
>] assume that a PC compatible computer runs PC software?  Do
>] you assume a pentium 100 is compatible with a pentium 90?
>
>I don't make *stupid* assumptions, because I understand the
>concept of a feedback loop and have the ability to generalize
>based on past experience.
>

I make generalizations based on past experience ALSO.  Heck, we aren't
talking about a mistake I made, but my dislike that a trap was set that
others might fall into.  *I* have been spared that disgrace for now.

>Please make a note of the distinction between "assumptions"
>and "*stupid* assumptions".  Consider your Matrox exprience
>as the universe putting evoloutionary pressure on you to
>evolve the capability to not make unfounded ("stupid")
>assumptions.  If you fail, the universe is then free to
>squash you like a grape at its convenience.
>

Spoken like a true jerk!  May you consider such a statement the next time YOU
find yourself in a bad run of luck!

>
>] Should I REALL have to ask the salesperson "Is this register
>] compatible with VGA?", or similar questions?
>
>If you are buying the thing to poke at registers you need
>to exist in the first place, >*YES*<.  I won't implictly
>agree that the registers you want to poke are VGA registers,
>unless you can quote line items on the VGA standard requiring
>them for all implementations claiming conformance.

As I said, you CAN'T ask such a question, as over 80% will lie, and most
of the rest will state they don't know, or confuse the issue.

>] I'll tell you, MOST salespeople don't even understand the
>] questions, and MANY lie!
>
>Unfounded assumption #2:Salespersons understand what they sell
>Unfounded assumption #3:Salespersona will tell the truth, even
>			though it might cost them a sale, because
>			they are there to server the public, not
>			to make as much commision as they possibly
>			can.
>

I never made any such assumptions, especially since the facts are to the
contrary.

>Stupid corrolary #1:	A salesperson won't pretend to understand
>			a question and tell you what you want to
>			hear.
>Stupid corrolary #2:	It is safe to make purchase decisions
>			solely on the *assurances* of the person
>			selling what you are purchasing.
>
>
>
>I could explain advertising lead time, and ad preparation lead
>time, and production of camera-ready PMT's, and then explain
>software schedule slippage and Common Time Estimate Mistakes
>Software Engineers Make...
>

NO, this does NOT explain ANYTHING!  In FACT, it gives me MORE reason to
expect the tech-support guys to KNOW about the product!

>But I have a feeling it would be lost on you, since you want
>to impose moral restrictions on the way in which the universe
>is allowed to operate.
>

So you WANT things to be immoral!
That explains a LOT.