Word: microns
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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Because even if the U.S. does turn out to be more or less Y2K O.K., other parts of the world may be less fortunate. "There's going to be some massive issues in other countries," says Steve Brown, CIO of Micron, a major PC manufacturer in Idaho. "Mexico's got problems. I also think Brazil's got problems, and Eastern Europe has got big problems...
...Micron PC offered free support a year ago when I bought it. But like most other PC makers, Micron now charges $24.95 for help with software after 30 days (hardware help is still free). I understand why this has to be. Margins in the PC business are thinner than Bill Gates' smile. Why should any PC maker have to fix the zillions of problems that can arise when consumers install their own software? A few enlightened manufacturers, such as Dell, offer free lifetime support for any software shipped on their machines. As PCs become interchangeable--one box much the same...
That said, I called Micron and waited 45 minutes for the privilege of paying for help. I finally hung up in exasperation. Next night, same thing. The third night, I got someone right away. It was the help-line maitre d'. The wait, he said, "might be as long as an hour." It was two. "Is this some kind of record?" I exploded when at last a support guy answered. "Nope," he said with a chuckle. Two hours later, after taking me on a hellish tour of "msconfig"--an apparently pointless Windows 98 diagnostic tool--he admitted he couldn...
...with it--better to reinstall Windows. Which was what the CompUSA support guy taught me how to do, showing me an easy way to make a Win98 boot disc. Ten minutes and $25 later, I was well on my way to fixing my machine. Someone still needs to fix Micron's software support, though...
...have but one nit to pick with Micron. A few months ago, I had occasion to call the 24-hour toll-free support line on behalf of my older Millennia. The machine came with Windows 95; naturally, I updated to Windows 98 as soon as I could. But now the Micron help guy said he wasn't allowed to support it--the machine had been "altered." This is a hugely cheesy way to treat customers. Still, even if you plan on altering it, a Millennia Max, with a 450-MHz Pentium II chip that's even faster than mine...