Additional Sun upgrade please

[Kerien Fitzpatrick]

While the commentary about upgrades is going around - how about
considering this one.

I'm not too sure how many others out there are stuck with 3/75M-8s, but
30% of our clients are 3/75s and they fail (power supply mostly or the
motherboard goes from overheating) a couple of times are year.  This was
compounded by Sun restricting the repair timeframe to only making the 30
day repair available.  It seems that the problem with these units is a
weak (and poorly designed)  power supply and poor ventilation.

It sure would be nice if Sun would be magnanimous and say "hey, we made a
mistake . . . " and give 3/75 owners a good deal on upgrading to a 3/160
housing.  Others at this university have taken the CPUs and memory boards
from 3/75s and put them into housings for 3/160s (the 3/160 boards where
put into cages on mobile robots,etc).  Our 3/75s spend almost 40% of their
year being repaired (unless you want to pay around $1000 for a new supply
or $600-$800 for a quick turn-around repair).

When I queried the people at the (800)USA-4SUN number they told me I
should rid myself of the 3/75s and purchase 3/60s.  There isn't anything
wrong with the CPU, memory board, or monitor - it is just a @%!$@$#$
enclosure.  If you are going to upgrade the donkey 3/50 why not save us
3/75 owners?

Kerien Fitzpatrick
Field Robotics Center
The Robotics Institute
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
arpanet: fitz at rodan.frc.ri.cmu.edu
(412)268-6564