Companies that have burnt...

[Santilli]

I can't really say Unicomp screwed me on this one, but, circumstances certainly did, and it's my fault for not putting the keyboard in the safest place, and spilling stuff on it.

Still, all in all, if I'd known how this was going to turn out, I wouldn't have sent the keyboard back to them:

"On top of this, I'm finding out I now have to pay for shipping, twice, to you and back, along with 30 dollars. If I had known that was going to be the case, I would have thrown the keyboard in the trash.
Wonderful.

Let's see:
I have 93.00 to buy first. Another 16.00 to ship it back to you, 13.00 more to ship it back to me, and 30.00 in repairs.
152.00. An hour screwing around trying to log in, because you neglected to tell me you'd changed store fronts: about 40.00.

Plus the work I failed to get while I'm screwing with this thing.

I'm sorry, but if I pay for this, it will remind me constantly of how your company has cost me a bunch of money, with horrible customer
support.

I tried to buy american. My mistake.

Please sell the keyboard to someone else, to cover your costs, and send me a check for the balance."

I realize that with somethings, it's better to let them go, even if you loose money.

If I paid the 43.00 to have them ship it back, EVERYDAY I typed on the thing would remind me of how I was talked into shipping it back to them, when I knew
UPS was going to get rich, and make the value of the keyboard nothing.

They offer on special, the same keyboard for 59.00, which I could have bought new.

 

[Mercutio]

One of my customers just got a quote from a "cloud" data service suggesting that his utterly paltry 16.5GB of company-wide data could go live on a server on the internet someplace for the low, low price of just $490 a month.

Apparently all of us are in the wrong business.

 

[MaxBurn]

Santilli: too bad it didn't work out as I like their products. I wonder how things would have gone wrong if you got something that was actually defective? I admit I have never heard of anyone interacting with their service.

Merc: question is how much bandwidth per month? Does sound like something dropbox could handle at first glance though. https://www.dropbox.com/teams/pricing

 

[Handruin]

One of my customers just got a quote from a "cloud" data service suggesting that his utterly paltry 16.5GB of company-wide data could go live on a server on the internet someplace for the low, low price of just $490 a month.

Apparently all of us are in the wrong business.

That is an expensive service. Is there something over and above the general-purposes cloud backup sites that was needed to justify that cost?

 

[Mercutio]

That is an expensive service. Is there something over and above the general-purposes cloud backup sites that was needed to justify that cost?

... not from what I could tell. They said they had an industry-specific focus, but there wasn't anything specific in their marketing materials that made me think they did anything but put a webDAV server someplace with a fat pipe and some decent backup and redundancy.

 

[Handruin]

... not from what I could tell. They said they had an industry-specific focus, but there wasn't anything specific in their marketing materials that made me think they did anything but put a webDAV server someplace with a fat pipe and some decent backup and redundancy.

You're right. We're all in the wrong business!

 

[Santilli]

They must be milking PG&# for a place to store and access their pipeline data.
Maxburn:
It did work out, it just cost me a lot of money in shipping, and they didn't clearly state up front that it was going to be two way shipping, and 30 bucks to repair, if it wasn't a warranty issue.

I got the general impression they would have fixed it for free, if it had not been the small terrorist's actions that caused it.

For my useage, the covers maybe the way to go. Give it a try.

If I'd known it was going to be 60 bucks to fix, I would have first torn it apart, just to see if I could clean it up and fix it.

Then, if that didn't work, just order the one for 59 on special, something I did anyway, and try that one.

 

[Santilli]

I should also mention calling them is worthless. Last two weeks, nothing but answering machines, and no return calls.

 

[MaxBurn]

Seems like they could use a customer service injection, such a small place likely can't afford it though. I would not be surprised if the whole shop is two people dealing with an importer or overseas direct. If you search their physical address there are about ten companies operating out of that building, and it isn't that big.

 

[Santilli]

I think you are right. Seems there are 3 people, Owen, Neil, and the answering machine voice, probably a secretary.

Neil maybe the repair guy, or might be someone else.

Granite Digital is a similar setup. They are kind of proof that you can pull it off, and do it well, with a small crew, out of a small building.

 

[Stereodude]

I've been to Unicomp at a previous job. They have a reasonably sized operation. The keyboards are made there. They've got injection molding machines, ect... They are not importing stuff from China (or didn't when I was there). They have a lot more than 3 employees.

 

[Santilli]

Thanks. Nice to know what you are dealing with.

 

[Stereodude]

Have you been talking to Neil M.?

 

[Santilli]

email, and yes.

 

[Stereodude]

email, and yes.

You realize he's the President of the company right?

 

[Santilli]

Wonder if he put everyone out on vacation for Presdients' day and maybe a week vacation, and is doing it all himself this week?

That's good, because he really needs a better website for his business.
Nice that my feedback went to someone that can solve the problem.

 

[CougTek]

You realize he's the President of the company right?

No no no! He's just the repair guy. Santilli wrote it earlier. Oh but, is it possible that there's another Neil in the same company? Noooo, can't possibly be... He certainly wrote to the company's president for a defective ~100$ keyboard (and got answered).

Hey, tell you what, next time I have a defective hard drive, I e-mail John F. Coyne about it.

 

[Mercutio]

Hey, tell you what, next time I have a defective hard drive, I e-mail John F. Coyne about it.

Remember to mention my demands for apologies followed by ritual murder/suicide.

 

[Santilli]

Neil Muyskens

Apparently he is the repair guy, and the president/founder, and a former IBM keyboard specialist.

"Estimates show Unicomp Inc employs 10 to 19 people and has an annual revenue of $5 to 10 million."

So, I'm supposed to be impressed that he has a company that is about the size of a restaurant I used to run?

OK, I'm thrilled and honored to be emailing the guy.
Good on him, and I'm glad he answers his own emails.

Maybe he can get the website fixed.

I suspect the margins they operate on aren't huge, but, I could be wrong.

Whatever. I like the fact that the president actually does something except count money in the company.

Just got me thinking what was the biggest company I've worked for, and it's revenue intake.

I suspect the Hilton Hawaiian Village grossed 10 million dollars some days, or weekends.
22 acres of oceanfront paradise
Unique "Village" destination resort concept
5 pools including Waikiki's largest Super Pool, and separate pools at Ali'i Tower® and Kalia Tower®
Diverse dining options with 20 restaurants and lounges
Exclusive Ali'i Tower featuring concierge and private facilities
Exotic wildlife and botanical gardens
Romantic seaside sunsets
Mandara Spa
Camp Penguin children's program
Daily activities ranging from Hula lessons to wildlife feedings

Does bring to mind a story about a Japanese Whale that dropped millions of dollars in the Vegas Hilton.
He was rewarded with a 2 week, all expenses paid stay at the Hawaiian Hilton, where he did his best to drink all the Dom and Lafite we had.

 

[Santilli]

In all fairness, their customer service prior had been superb. Owen(with my luck, the other owner) called me 3 times over another issue I had with the keyboard, within a week.

Their keyboard numbering was kind of strange, with Model M on the bottom of the keyboard, and, IIRC, they also call their Mac keyboard the Model M.

He called me, and we talked, and he explained the history of "Model M".

I guess I missed a bit by not getting in on the early 80's ground floor with computers.
I had the chance, and, as a manager, could probably have become really involved in the stuff.

My bad choice.

 

[Handruin]

This is a lot of energy spent on a keyboard.

 

[MaxBurn]

Input devices and monitors deserve more attention than they really get.

 

[Mercutio]

I'd say that monitors deserve more attention than they get. Most desktop users basically hate using anything that isn't a mouse and the only people for whom the keyboard matters are people who type A LOT and gamers. People tend not to have so serious a relationship with they keyboard.

 

[ddrueding]

My father (a programmer) just got a Das Keyboard Pro S (with lettering, quiet) and is marginally happy with it. It is still noisier than he likes, but you can't help that with a buckling spring keyboard. He also says that the transfer rates from the built-in USB hub suck.

 

[CougTek]

I agree with Merc regarding the relative importance of monitors (high) and keyboards (low). I can live with a cheapo keyboard (up to a certain point), but I want a certain quality level with my main screen. With most people spending more time typing textos on their phone rather than typing on a regular keyboard, it tells a lot about the expected and tolerable quality level they can live with regarding their keyboard.

 

[Handruin]

I'd say that monitors deserve more attention than they get. Most desktop users basically hate using anything that isn't a mouse and the only people for whom the keyboard matters are people who type A LOT and gamers. People tend not to have so serious a relationship with they keyboard.

I agree with this also. I feel like the monitor is often over-looked as a key upgrade for both image quality and functional usable space efficiencies.

 

[Santilli]

My view is well, a 27" Samsung TV, and a 37" Vizio for monitors. They are huge, and a great part of the experience, so I'm with Sam on this one.

Mice and keyboards are the things that allow me to input, and as Maxburn says, they are far to often over looked. If they are really junk, they can physically effect the inputter, causing C.T.S., and other, really annoying problems. I think they should be at the top of the list, for matching to the person's needs, and physical requirements.

I have big hands, and big mice are a problem to find.
Also, a decent size keyboard really helps my hands, and the fatigue I feel after typing for a while on a small dome keyboard.

The whole thing with these keyboards is they are at what I consider the outer limits of reason for money spent on a keyboard. I'm hoping I find one I really like, and that makes me feel comfortable typing.

 

[Handruin]

My view is well, a 27" Samsung TV, and a 37" Vizio for monitors. They are huge, and a great part of the experience, so I'm with Sam on this one.

Mice and keyboards are the things that allow me to input, and as Maxburn says, they are far to often over looked. If they are really junk, they can physically effect the inputter, causing C.T.S., and other, really annoying problems. I think they should be at the top of the list, for matching to the person's needs, and physical requirements.

I have big hands, and big mice are a problem to find.
Also, a decent size keyboard really helps my hands, and the fatigue I feel after typing for a while on a small dome keyboard.

The whole thing with these keyboards is they are at what I consider the outer limits of reason for money spent on a keyboard. I'm hoping I find one I really like, and that makes me feel comfortable typing.

Your first statement really has me puzzled. One cannot agree that a good monitor is essential and then use a 27" or 37" run of the mill TV. The pixel pitch and coloring would be sub-par. Sure, physical size of the monitor is nice, but if the pixels are the size of your head, what good is it for anything related to text and pictures? To each his/her own, but my opinion is you would be better-served with a proper IPS computer panel than a TV when doing computer-related work. I would never want to write code or edit photos/graphics on either of those TVs. The closest I might want to do is play games on them, but even then, I still prefer my 24" panel.

I agree on a good mouse. A nice keyboard is a bonus, but I'm not hell-bent to use a mechanical switching oddity that I think it'll help me work. I'm 6'1" and have decent sized hangs, but never have I found an issue with a keyboard because of my hand size.

 

[Santilli]

Hi
The Vizio is an LCD, and seems to be the sweet spot for text and playing video, at the distances I use it.
The 27" Samsung is a new generation edgelit TV t27a300. 1080P, can't tell the difference from the 27" Samsung monitor I have in the other room.

The specs don't indicate any difference in screen, but, the response time is higher for the TV, and the power consumption is over double.

One of my to do's was to put the 27" TV in the living room for a monitor, and move the S27A35h0H in here, just for the power issue.

 

[CougTek]

Sure, physical size of the monitor is nice, but if the pixels are the size of your head, what good is it for anything related to text and pictures?

In twenty or thirty years, when your eyesight will severely degrade, you'll appreciate pixels the size of your head. A good monitor for Pradeep and a good monitor for Santilli are probably two very different things.

 

[Handruin]

In twenty or thirty years, when your eyesight will severely degrade, you'll appreciate pixels the size of your head. A good monitor for Pradeep and a good monitor for Santilli are probably two very different things.

I disagree. A panel with a very fine pixel density can have the icons and text sizes increased for when I get older and my vision is worse. Having large pixels doesn't help this, it exasperates it.

 

[Handruin]

Hi
The Vizio is an LCD, and seems to be the sweet spot for text and playing video, at the distances I use it.
The 27" Samsung is a new generation edgelit TV t27a300. 1080P, can't tell the difference from the 27" Samsung monitor I have in the other room.

The specs don't indicate any difference in screen, but, the response time is higher for the TV, and the power consumption is over double.

One of my to do's was to put the 27" TV in the living room for a monitor, and move the S27A35h0H in here, just for the power issue.

Sure it's an LCD, that wasn't really my point. Take for example that your 27" TV is 1920x1080 pixels at its highest resolution. Now compare that to a proper Dell 27" U2711 panel which runs at 2560 x 1440 pixels. You're going from 2,073,600 pixels to 3,686,400 (or roughly 80% more pixels or 109 pixels per inch vs your 82 PPI). Next, you're not accounting for the type of LCD panel. The response time of most modern LCD panels is more than acceptable and in this case 6ms is enough to do anything you want with the dell and your Samsung TV at 5ms really won't be noticeable.

Yes, the Dell in this case does cost more than your Samsung. It's also a much better display. More to the point that Mercutio made and what you claimed to agree with is that people overlook a quality display for computer usage. You've spent a lot of time fussing over a specialty keyboard and overlooked getting a quality display.

 

[Santilli]

No. I picked the best monitor setup for the money I could find. VALUE is what I'm after, and it's the same with the keyboards.

 

[Santilli]

Update: Ordered the covers and Kentucky keyboard for 59 dollars, cover 10 dollars. I really like the Kentucky. It has a more solid feel, like the really old model M's. For 59 dollars, I can't imagine anything better right now.
GREAT VALUE. Wish I'd bought this in the first place.