Mac/RCT query

[Dean L. Reyburn, RPT]

James Grebe R.P.T. writes;
>How reliable are re-conditioned Mac laptops.?
> I have this aversion for factory re-conditioned which to me means they 
>had a problem and have now been repaired.

The PowerBook Duo 280/280c and Duo 2300c we supply with RCT packages are
*very* reliable. I'll answer this question in two parts:

1. Apple Macintosh products, especially PowerBooks typically receive the
highest ratings in the industry for customer satisfaction and reliability.
Usually they rate as high or higher than IBM, Compaq and HP.

2. The refurbished PowerBooks we provide are either reconditioned by Apple
or a third party with which I have had long and positive experience. The
machines operate just like a new unit. Occasionally there will be a nick
on the case. These are usually units which were returned for trivial
reasons such as a key that doesn't work, or even an extension conflict (an
easily fixed software glitch) etc...  All parts are brought up to like new
working condition. These units come with a full 90 day warranty. Normally
if anything goes wrong it will be within the first few weeks. Extended
warranties are available.

I'm very experienced and particular at checking these machines out, each
one gets a throrough inspection.

I did have an Apple factory refurbished Duo 2300c recently that ran RCT 
fine (in 8mb ram)  but wouldn't recognize more than 16mb of ram of the
3rd party (Newer Tech) ram I normally use (2300s expand up to 56mb).
Apple just put a new motherboard in at no charge, no problem.

For those who want new units with new warranties, we carry the new 
PowerBook 1400, 2400, and 3400 machines. The 2400 is the fastest
subnotebook on the planet, the 3400 is the fastest notebook on the
planet bar none.

>How reliable are laptops in comparisons with desktops?

Frankly I doubt if a desktop machine would survive being hauled around
as laptops are. The hard drives in laptops are made to withstand many 
more "G"s than are desktop hard drives. I've only dropped my RCT/PowerBook
once, but that was onto the cement sidewalk. The machine survived with
only a crack in a case part (which Apple replaced under warranty! - I even
told the tech it was my fault!).

How to prevent damage? One of the best cases made for laptops are made by
"Port Inc" (BookBag model $69).  These have a patented sling system which
protects the laptop from any harm even if dropped (fits your basic
tuning tools too).

-Dean

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Dean L. Reyburn, RPT    RPS, Inc.           email:  dean@reyburn.com
 2695 Indian Lakes Road                   web page:   www.reyburn.com
 Cedar Springs, Michigan, 49319 USA       
 1-888-SOFT-440 (or 616-696-0500)                   Fax: 616-696-8121