🚀 go-pugleaf

Gonzo wrote:
> 
> Sam Sexton <Sam@leofric.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> 
> >A friend of mine is about to buy his first PC, mainly for his young
> >daughter's edutainment purposes. We pored over various ads in PC Shopper
> >over the weekend, with my steering him towards a Dan system, based on
> >Dan's reputation for reliability and service. However, there was an ad
> >for Time systems in the Independent that had a similar configuration for
> >about GBP1000 rather than 1200. I've no experience of Time and so would
> >appreciate news of any bouquets or brickbats regarding their systems and
> >service.
> 
> >For the record, we're looking at something like: 133MHz, 1.2GB hdd,
> >8x CDROM, 14-15" monitor and sound in the region of a grand (pounds), so
> >if you're particularly impressed (or otherwise!) with a similar system,
> >please let me know.
> 
> >Thanks in advance - email replies would be appreciated.
> >--
> >Sam Sexton                                           (+44|0)1203 256562
> >Reuters Ltd
> >Coventry, UK
> 
> A friend of mine bought a computer from Time. It took 6 weeks to
> arrive, although his credit card was debitted the day he ordered it.
> When it finally arrived there was no monitor with it. The monitor
> arrived a week later, but was broken. When a new monitor finally
> arrived the system initially worked, but when he bought a printer and
> plugged it in the picture went off. When he unplugged the printer lead
> the picture came back on.
>
><snip> 
>
> Technically the system was wierd. Although the system had 8Mb of Ram,
> the video card was on the motherboard and used 1Mb of it, so in effect
> you only had 7Mb to use for your programs. Time made no mention of the
> amount of video Ram in their adverts. It's a good idea to ask them
> before you order. The graphic were pretty slow as well.
> 
> It may be �200 cheaper, but I guess you get what you pay for.


The giveaway here is in their adverts is says something to the effect of 
- 1Mb video RAM switchable to 2Mb for increased resolution/colours. 

I believe they use the VX chipset that allows a video adapter to share 
system memory, from what I understand this is a cheap and slow way of 
doing it - one way of helping to cut the price by the �200 quoted above.

My advice would be to avoid TIME after reading about the lousy after 
sales service in Which magazine- apparently the local trading standards 
are investigating claims from customers.

Jez