Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!uwvax!rutgers!att!codas!flnexus!kimbal!rick
From: rick@kimbal.UUCP (Rick Kimball)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.rt
Subject: Re: Inquieries for "Bad Aspects" of the RT
Message-ID: <815@kimbal.UUCP>
Date: 27 Nov 88 12:42:04 GMT
References: <7963@dasys1.UUCP>
Organization: Mac Source BBS, Altamonte Springs, FL (407)862-6214
Lines: 74

From article <7963@dasys1.UUCP>, by johnc@dasys1.UUCP (John Canati):
> I am interested in the RT, and have been looking at it for a while.  While
> IBM will brag about it, and their salesmen with tell me only the goodies
> it has to offer, I would like a "public opinion" as to what are the BAD
> aspects of the RT.  Why wouldn't I want to use it as a multiuser system
> around a small business?  Please mail anything you think might will help
> me with my question.  Thanks in advance -- John - johnc@dasys1.UUCP

My firm (Software Design Group) writes office automation for
insurance companies using UNIX and the customer's choice of
hardware.  One of our clients selected the RT as their machine.
We've had at least two years of experience developing and using it.
Overall, I'm pleased with the machine.  Here are some "personal"
observations of RT's running AIX 2.1.2 .

My biggest complaints are IBM service (lack of RT knowledge), and
the Virtual Resource Manager (it just gets in the way).

Here is a typical service call, it goes like this:

Me: "Hello, IBM service? Yes, I'm having trouble with my IBM/RT"

Operator: "RT, no you mean AT ... just bring to a local IBM dealer
          the can help you."

M: "No!No! I do mean RT.  It's not a PC, it's a mini computer"

O: "Well let me check if we sell those ... Ha, Ha, Yes your right"

... time passes, Tech calls.

IBM Tech: "Ya got one of those RT things ... yuck yuck,  What seems
           to be the problem?"

M: "The machine is hung and there are lights flashing on the led
    display. The numbers are "02 C6"... We can't do anything. When
    will you be here?"

I: "First I've got to work on a 36 and then a 3800 printer then I'll
    be at your place"

... much time passes, Tech shows up ...

I: "This is the first time I've ever seen one of these things. 
   ... Hmm doesn't look like the picatures though"

M: "This is one of the originals.  We've had it upgraded"

I: "Well, let's run the advanced hardware diagnostics"

M: "I've already done that.  It says everthing is OK"

I: "Well sorry, but that's all I know how to do.  That will be $200
    cash, check or credit card"

...


The VRM is a great idea if the machine is going to support multiple
operating systems at the same time, but if your only going to run
UNIX it's a real pain in the rear.  First you have to set everything
up for VRM, like configuring the disks then you have to do it again
for UNIX.  The VRM eats up a significant chunk of the disk for itself.

We've had relatively few complaints with ours since we added more
memory and the upgrade option.  Our customer is using a 135 and seems
very pleased with it.


-- 
____________________________________________________________________________
Rick Kimball | Mac Source BBS, Altamonte Springs, FL     DATA (407) 862-6214
             |                                          VOICE (407) 788-6875
UUCP: rick@kimbal ..!gatech!fabscal!kimbal!rick ..!ucf-cs!sdgsun!kimbal!rick