Re: [cobalt-users] CHEAPEST RAQ3i - where to buy?

[Jeff Lasman <jblists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

PSS wrote:

> IOpliance System looks good,

The key here is that they brag about using "standard off the shelf
hardware".  Now that's often "a good thing", but most likely not when
building a 1U server.  "Standard off the shelf hardware" is not made to
use in the close confines of a 1U case.  Not meaning it may not work a
long time; it may.

It also may not <frown>.

> but what is up with their site?  More errors
> than you can believe.

True I only spent a few moments looking, but I didn't see any serious
errors.  What did you see?

> I phone their 877 number and get a recording to leave
> a message.

My guess is that they're a one-man operation or so, without full-time
help to answer the phone.  Read what they say:
> Navigate our site, and feel free to email us with any questions...
> we'll respond within an hour.

and

> To receive a call back with in 45 mins. click the phone.

Sounds to me as if no-one's there <frown>.

And on the subjeect of software, there's yet more:


> and feature, not pictured, an IOpliance® logo and
> status lights, plus our exclusive IOManager*, to
> simplify your everyday tasks. Extensive and second
> to none on forced air cooling.   There simply is no
> more cost-effective yet robust use for your rack
> space.


Note the "*", it refers to:

> *Coming Soon

And on the subject of their 24/7 warranty, which they feature
prominently in their comparison against the RaQ, look at what they've
got to say:

> ** denotes premium support contract or pay-per-incident after hours
> 120 days of free standard business hours support and lifetime free
> email 48hr. turnaround support

Okay, so they're promising a bit more than Cobalt.  Where's their
traffic record?  What makes you think their software will work (in the
first generation) better than Cobalt's at generation three?

> There machines look good.  Does anyone have any experience working with this
> machine or company?

Looks like they're about a month and a half old; look at what their
whois record for iopliance.com has to say:

> Record created on 2000-03-22

And why would there be two phone numbers?

> Toll-free 1-877-932-2221 or 1-877-803-5927

Perhaps because the company is made up of two equal partners who work at
two different locations?

I just clicked on their "Priority care" phone icon and typed in the info
they require; let's see if they respond within 45 minutes; it's now
08:35 PDT on Friday.

Note the message you get after you send them your phone number for
priority care:

> Your PRIORITY Call-Back request has been submitted to our Network
> Operations Center.
> 
> Please be aware that IOpliance will be trying to reach you during
> 9am-5pm EST. Monday-Friday at:
> 909-787-8589 with in the next 45 minutes.
> 
> Current Time Is: 10:34 AM, Friday, May 5th, 2000,
> Eastern Standard Time. 
> 
> (if this call is after business hours your call will be returned
> the next business day)

Is that the same priority they talk about for service?

Look at their "About Us" page; it's nothing about them; only about the
server.

Well, about four minutes after I made the "click", I got a return phone
call; the man was talking on his cellphone at 8:39 am PDT, 11:39 am EDT
(his time).

Yes, it's a new company, the software is NOT ready yet; look for a June
1st date (but it's not yet in Beta <frown>.  It'll be ready for both NT
and Linux at the same time.  <smile>

I've asked for a review unit; let's see what happens <smile, again>.

Jeff
-- 
Jeff Lasman <jblists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
nobaloney.net
P. O. Box 52672
Riverside, CA  92517
voice: (909) 787-8589  *  fax: (909) 782-0205