CompuServe Thread

Jim, I purchased a Vector at the WOC in New York earlier this year. I think it's great. I had some problems with it and sent it back to IVS to check out. They tested it and found that the problem was with a Simm. They told me this and when I explained I needed the board for my thesis they called the dealer I got my memory from and made arrangements for a replacement simm! They sent the board back ( minus the Simm which they sent to the dealer) using the same shipping method I used (2nd day air). I have never had a problem talking to a technical support person. I'll be upgrading to the 40 MHz when its available (you will have to send them the board it needs a new Pal, they will clean and check your board also). You can get a EC or regular 68030. Don't know about A-Max. You can't mix Simms so you need 4,8,16,or 32 meg config. the 8 and 32 meg. config. give you a FAST 5:1:1:1 burst. You can also expand your system to 144 meg with DKB's 2632 board. The 68000 mode gives you up to 8 meg from the board so you don't need a second 16 bit memory board and you still have access to the hard drive on the card. I guess you can see I think this is a great board but I'm biased as a satisfied owner. Tom

Jim, I forgot to mention you do need 60 ns Simms on the Vector. A little more expensive but available. They suggest you use Memory World for the memory, their prices are fair and you do have to be careful when shopping for the faster Simms, not all 60 ns are really 60 ns (there has been a lot of dross dumped on the world market in the faster Simms). Tom

I have an IVS Trumpcard Pro and am very happy with it. I had problems getting it to work with my AMaxII but customer support helped me out. The only thing I wish it had was an external SCSI connector, but IVS supplied me with a ribbon cable connector two days after calling them (Paid a small fee for it.) The Vector comes with a SCSI connector on its mounting bracket. I would be interested in it if it was an 040. My A3001 is doing just fine, thank you. -Steve

I've been running my Vector since January. I love it! Like the others who replied, I've had outstanding service whenever I've called tech support. I probably should have thought about this before I bought the board, but I've lately wondered what sort of upgrades might be available in the future. My understanding is that the '030 is not chip replaceable with the '040 (and presumably future processors). Since the Vector is also my memory and SCSI, how will I be able to upgrade? Other than this thought, I strongly recommend Vector. Steve

Jim: I've had a Vector since December. Bought it as a package from Tri State in NY. The hard drive came from Tri State with GVP utils on it (another nightmare story). It took a letter and TWO phone calls to IVS to get the board registered and get a manual and proper utils disk (Tri State sent a copy of their disk and a photocopy of the manual after a dozen phone calls over three months). The board has been acting funny almost from the beginning. I've had to re-format the hard drive twice when it stopped booting. I've had numerous errors coming from "who knows where" like: "can't find file"…."software error"…etc. The problem always seemed to correct itself, until Sunday when the computer would boot and the board wouldn't load the memory. I called IVS at 9:30 their time (12:30pm EST) and asked for tech support. I was told that they wouldn't take calls until after 1:00pm their time (4 est). The manual says 9 – 5 PST. I finally got tech support after 4 and talked with them about the problem. They said to send back the board and they would look at it…..it might be memory. I asked about swapping boards, since I make TV spots on my Toaster and as of now I was out of business. A woman named Louise said..Sorry they didn't have any "on the shelf…and besides they would charge me $50 to check the board if it was a SIMM problem and not theirs….and, oh yes, did anybody give me the new address? They hadn't! My FED X would have bounced! A nickel says they say its a SIMM problem and hit me for $50. If that happens it'll cost $199 per 4X8 60ns..and you've got to add them in fours. IVS has always been polite when I've called, except for the woman who answers the phone, and tech support tries to help, even when it seems that management won't let them. While their advice is good, the support stinks. Your problems are your problems. A mail order house which sells Vectors said that there are rumors of instability with the 68000 motherboard. Any way, I just bought a 4000 040 and sent back the Vector Fed X, and I'm waitin' for the SIMM phone call. Hope this helps…….. If you are a pro and need your A2000 to feed the family…buy GVP.