From: Niall O Broin (nobroin at domain sced.esoc.esa.de)
Date: Fri 28 May 1999 - 14:01:11 IST
> "He claimed the failed CD-Rom may have been the result of overuse which
> can cause it to burn out."
> - That's a new one on me. I presume he is talking about the drive
> here. There isn't really much to burn out with a CD drive except for
> the drive mechanism, and unless he was using it a *lot* (and changing
> speeds, and other unlikely things) I can't really see a drive burning
> out.
Yes, that sounds well hairy, to say the least. I don't ever recall seeing any
mention of the delicacy of CD-ROM mechanisms in Gateway documentation, or
elsewhere for that matter.
And I loved this bit
> Problems which Mr Hand had with the software were a matter for the software
> manufacturers - not Gateway.
Now it's entirely possible that Mr. Hand's software problems were finger trouble
but Gateway claim to provide support, and indeed the judge awarded the money on
the basis that the customer didn't get what he was told he would get. And it's very
strange that Gateway would employ a lawyer who is unfamiliar with the guiding principle
of Irish consumer law i.e. that the consumer's contract is with the retailer (Gateway)
from whom he purchased the good and not with the manufacturer(s) of the good (Gateway
in this case also, but presumably Bill G. was involved too).
Kindest regards,
Niall O Broin
UNIX Network Administrator nobroin at domain esoc.esa.de
Ground Systems Engineering Department Ph./Fax +49 6151 90 3619/2179
European Space Operations Centre, Darmstadt, Germany
P.S. Sean at domain HDL - I don't know why you're worried - if you've the slightest hint
of trouble now you just say "See you down the small claims court then !"
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