From owner-freebsd-hardware Wed Aug 6 09:30:01 1997 Return-Path: Received: (from root@localhost) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.5/8.8.5) id JAA05457 for hardware-outgoing; Wed, 6 Aug 1997 09:30:01 -0700 (PDT) Received: from sabre.goldsword.com (sabre.goldsword.com [199.170.202.32]) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.5/8.8.5) with ESMTP id JAA05423 for ; Wed, 6 Aug 1997 09:29:56 -0700 (PDT) Received: (from jfarmer@localhost) by sabre.goldsword.com (8.7.5/8.7.3) id MAA20834; Wed, 6 Aug 1997 12:32:32 -0400 (EDT) Date: Wed, 6 Aug 1997 12:32:32 -0400 (EDT) From: "John T. Farmer" Message-Id: <199708061632.MAA20834@sabre.goldsword.com> To: hardware@FreeBSD.ORG, richard@pegasus.com Subject: Re: Compaq ProLiant systems -- problems? Cc: jfarmer@goldsword.com Sender: owner-freebsd-hardware@FreeBSD.ORG X-Loop: FreeBSD.org Precedence: bulk On Tue, 5 Aug 1997 22:35:44 -1001 Richard Foulk said; > [Said by others] >} In general I would avoid the Compaq machines, for several reasons: >} >} 1. Everything in them is very proprietry, the frames you mount your >} disks in, the SCSI controllers, you name it. >} >} 2. They are overpriced. >} >} 3. Due to #1, you're stuck with compaq support/service, and over >} here that amounts to "It had a RAM error, so we changed the >} motherboard & the SCSI controller. That will be $3000 thankyou!" > >I'll second that assessment. Proprietary, quirky, expensive and costly >to repair. > The problem I run into is that Compaq & Dell are so beloved by "corporate America!" It's similar to to the old "Nobody ever got fired for buying IBM" in my mainframe days... I put on my coat & tie, go in & do the dog & pony show for the management types, pitching a FreeBSD server. Even with warrenties, & my company history, etc., they go, " Well, we would raither buy a 'name brand' computer for this application, since it's so critical to our company." I mention parts issues, open vs. proprietary, etc. "We already have xx machines from Compaq/Dell, etc. and they run Win95/NT just fine." Then the FreeBSD vs. WinNT arguement starts. Do I do projects using Dell/Compaq machines, etc.? Yes. Do I do projects using WinNT? Yes (I hold my nose...). When the client has made up his mind, & I want a chunk of his money/business, then I work with what he insists on. What do I use in house? FreeBSD & open architecture systems, of course! John ------------------------------------------------------------------------- John T. Farmer Proprietor, GoldSword Systems jfarmer@goldsword.com Public Internet Access in East Tennessee dial-in (423)470-9953 for info, e-mail to info@goldsword.com Network Design, Internet Services & Servers, Consulting