JUSTICE!

[FrankTheTank]

I just got off the phone with the Apple Store where I bought my single 1.8 G5 six weeks ago and they are going to let me bring it in and pay the additional $100 for the Dual 1.8 G5!!! That's kicks ass! Justice has been served!

Now, my question is: what is the best way to go about backing up Final Cut Pro projects? I currently have all my Final Cut Media on an additional Maxtor internal hard drive. When I take out the Hard Drive will all my media still be there when I connect it into the new dual G5?
Any ideas are appreciated.

Thanks,
The Tank

[David]

Now I've never heard of that!!!

Great news.

I'm guessing you have an internal Maxtor SATA drive with media on it?

If so, be careful when you remove it.

Also, place it back in the static bag it came with, and try not to touch the bottom of the drive where the spindle is.

You should be all right.

[FrankTheTank]

Thanks, David. Yes, I have the internal Maxtor SATA drive. I'll be sure to be careful when I physically remove it. That's a good tip about placing it back in the static bag.

Question, when I place the drive into the new Dual 1.8 how should I go about formatting it while wanting to keep the media that is on there? Do I use Disk Utility? I'll have to re-install FCP 4 on the new machine and theoretically will the media work fine on the new system with Final Cut? I'd hate to have to re-dig the project I was working on.

Thanks.

[FrankTheTank]

One more question: I also have additional sticks of RAM that I put in the single 1.8 G5. When I remove the RAM and place it in the new machine is there anything that needs to be done other than snap it in place? I guess what I'm asking is: RAM can be moved from machine to machine, right?

Thanks.

[David]

I'm guessing this is the spare media drive in your old computer?

If it is, then just put it in the bay where you had it previously on your single processor G5.

You don't need to reformat it, otherwise you'll lose the data.

Just install FCP in your boot drive, and place this Maxtor in the bay where the second SATA drives goes.

It will be recognized if it was recognized on your old machine.

[David]

Your manual has pretty specific instructions about the placement of the RAM, which must be installed in pairs, and placed moving outward from the center of the RAM slots, I believe.

Just read the manual on how to do this, and make certain that you have NO STATIC ELECTRICITY when removing the old RAM, and putting it in the new G5 dual.

[AndrewD]

I ENVY YOU. I just bought my single 1.8 last weekend from CompUSA and they will NOT take it back without a 15% restocking fee. I am SO UPSET, I cannot tell you how much. I am getting nowhere at this point with CompUSA or Apple. I have been a long time editor on the PC platform and just decided to add the G5 to my NLE mix. I should have known not to go to CompUSA. The nearest Apple store to me was about 1hr away. I should have made the trip. Since I didn't know alot about the platform, I let the darn rep talk me out of the dual processor. Now I am paying for it. Although I am really liking the G5, I really would have liked the horsepower increase of both processors. I am used to running on hardware assisted Canopus systems on the Intel platform where everything was real-time. I haven't had my system long enough to make a fair evaluation of FCP/G5 yet, but do realize I made a mistake with the single processor. Oh I am so upset at CompUSA and myself! I wish they would just do what's right and let me trade it in for the dual. I started calling only 3 days after I purchased it. They have a 14day return policy "for unopened boxes".

Geez.

Andrew
Crystal Clear Media
/2pop/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[FrankTheTank]

Andrew,

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. The whole restocking fee thing is such BS. Comp USA really should allow you to return the single and just pay $100 more for the dual 1.8. If you are unable to upgrade, you still have an excellent machine. I know it still sucks. I haven't done much testing with the dual processer yet, but the single 1.8 performed very well for me in the time that I had it.

I lucked out that the manager of the Apple Store near me was so understanding. Very rare in customer service these days...

[AndrewD]

Thanks Frank. I keep telling myself the same thing. Today, I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. Not that it'll make any difference. But I feel better. The darn CompUSA manager wouldn't even take my call. I was told that he was too busy and would have to call back. They called back, but just another sales rep with the same story. CompUSA has just lost a customer for life. That should represent much more than that darn 15% they are trying to milk.

Oh well. Such is business these days. Customer Service is dying rapidly in the world of consumer electronics.

Thanks again for your encouraging words.

Andrew
Crystal Clear Media

[David]

Andrew:

Both my wife and I claim that there is such thing as customer service.

Have you tried calling Apple and talking with them about CompUSA?

They might be able to help.

I remember going in the day as advertisement appeared in the Sunday paper about a $150.00 price at CompUSA for a HP laserjet. Got there, and they were sold out.

Ask for a rain check. "We don't give them, but you can prepay, and we'll order one for you."

"When will it be delivered."

"No way of telling, could be a week or three months."

As I was talking to this rep, the phone rang, and he picked it up during our conversation.

I walked out, and bought the same printer that day at Staples.

[Ned_Soltz]

My other suggestion is to call CompUSA corporate offices and start climbing the ladder.

You could also play a little dirty and contact your local radio or TV consumer protection reporter and get him/her on the case. This is exactly the kind of thing they love do handle and the bad press is often enough to get the store to make some accomodation.

CompUSA is now in yet another of its make-overs, going into home entertainment, plasma screens and good financing-- like 36 months no interest on a plasma TV. I confess to have bought my G5 from them simply for their 18-months, in interest deal. Some of their Apple reps are pretty good, though. Otherwise, I would keep my distance.

Ned Soltz
2-pop Guide

[David]

I still dread going to CompUSA.

Check out alone seems to take forever, and customer service can get pretty dicey.

Our local one is one of the best selling Mac shops in the Pacific Northwest.

Still, I wish there was an Apple Store within an hour's drive.

It's frustrating to see these Apple Events with 10 to 15% off in store purchases, and no way to get them locally.

I wish Apple offered this at its web site the days or evenings it offers it at its stores.

[AndrewD]

Thanks again guys for the moral support. I am in the process right now of working my way up the ladder. I FINALLY got a call from that CompUSA store's General Manager. He claimed he never heard about my call. Regardless, he proceeded to ask me if I registered it or installed any software. Of course I did. That is generally the first thing you do with software or a new computer, geez. Anyway, he then restated what I previously was told, "If it's registered with Apple, then we cannot resell it as new, thus the restocking fee." I asked him if when he installs software/hardware and the pop-up says, "Register" if he does? He semi agreed with me, but said he'd have to escalate it to the corporate office and get back to me. He called at 10am today, I haven't heard anything back since. I am so put out. This just makes for a very sour first impression when making the "switch".

Thanks again,

Andrew
Crystal Clear Media

[David]

So they can't sell it as new.

We used to take a look at the "bargain bin" at CompUSA, and half the time the "used" items were as or more expensive than the newer ones, particularly if there was a price drop.

Exactly what did you register???????

Your computer?

If you did, so what -- the warranty is still intact.

Tell CompUSA that you'll take an exchange with no restocking fee if you pay the cost of one year of CompUSA's warranty service -- probably $60.00.

Then you're covered, and they're covered.

[AndrewD]

Here's a quck update on my G5 situation with CompUSA. I called last night and left a voicemail for the GM to follow up on my situation. I also noted that according to their website, they price match for up to 14 days after the purchase. Low and behold their price changed on the single processor from $2399 to $2099. So, at the very least, I was entitled to a $300 refund. Guess what? I received a call this morning stating that I could either get the $300 or they would take back the system for store credit without the restocking fee.

I guess if you can't get them to do the right thing one way, try another. Anyway, I am going to restore my system and head there in a few minutes. Hopefully, when I get there all will go well.

Thanks again for listening to my drama.

Andrew
Crystal Clear Media

[David]

Andrew:

A friend, years ago, bought a tricked out Gateway system for $4800 to do DV editing. He could have got a similar Mac system for about $2200.00, but Gateway's "trained assistants" say this PC was the way to go.

9 months, and $600 in long distance calls later, he actually got them to take it back for a full refund. Never looked back.

Other than him, you're up there in the hall of fame.

Have fun.

[AndrewD]

Wow the hall of fame! Cool. /2pop/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Seriously, thanks again.

BTW: I just got home and hooked up my 2.0 DP G5. I just decided to go ahead and get the best of the best and not mess around any more. Since this was my first Apple Mac, I was a bit hesitant to spend $3000. After using the 1.8 for a week, I quickly realized how much I liked it. Finally getting to return it for a 2.0 dual was a much easy choice the second go around (albeit with much c/s pain).

Anyway, now I need to get learning FCP 4.

Thanks again for the support.

Andrew
Crystal Clear Media