|
August 30, 2006
Upgrading 124Host PCs to WinXP-based GMI Hosts.
Frequently asked questions...
Why do I need to upgrade?
You think that your DOS Host works okay and it meets your
needs, except that occasionally the program crashes. Or some
files got corrupted. Or the computer frequently locks up.
Or the 20 mbyte hard disk is full. Or the disk crashed. Or
the computer won't boot up anymore. Or you bought an old furnace
and the computer with the DOS Host got lost....etc. etc.
I (JG) have been involved with software since before most
of you reading this were born. Please believe me when I say
you would not be willing to pay what it would cost us to provide
this type of support. Maybe you think the real reason is because
we are evil bloodsuckers who want to sell you new software
that you don't really need in order to make a lot of money.
But you would be wrong.
Here is how you solve those problems and all the others with
DOS-based hosts: You throw out your old computer and buy a
nice modern PC running Win-XP and our GMI Host, which is designed
to run on XP. Then when you have a software problem we are
happy to support you - for free for the first 18 months. And
if you have a hardware problem, maybe you can even solve it
yourself because everybody is familiar with WinXP machines.
Will I need to upgrade any
hardware in my controllers?
Yes. Your controllers will definitely need new CPU cards.
You may also need new gas control cards, depending on how
old your controllers are. If you have 8001292 gas control
cards, you will need to replace them. Why did we change the
hardware - maybe you think it is because we are a bunch of
jerks who want to make a lot of money selling new hardware
and software to customers who don't really need it. But again
you would be wrong.
How much will it cost?
End-user prices are about $2500 per tube for software and
hardware upgrades. You can also purchase a PC with pre-installed
software and new RS-485 card for about $2200. Prices will
be higher if you need new gas control cards.
After I have upgraded my
hardware and software what kind of support will I be able
to get?
After you have upgraded your equipment, we will be able
to support all your spare parts needs.
A comment about "technological obsolescence"...
Have you tried to retrieve some old data off a 5-1/4"
floppy disk recently? No? Good thing, because you will spend
a lot of time trying. And you will need to have access to
a room full of old junk PC's. Or when is the last time you
tried to play a vinyl record? Not recently? Don't try. These
problems are similar to those we confront in trying to provide
support for furnace control equipment that in some cases is
more than 15 years old. We have trouble purchasing old components
for our circuit boards. So we redesign. Sometimes we can maintain
backward compatibility. Sometimes we can't. Same with PC's.
Today it is almost impossible to purchase a PC running Winows-2000.
So we tune our software to run on Win-XP.
We have a responsibility to ensure that you are able to keep
your ICCI controllers and GMI Host running reliably, and that
you are able to purchase spare parts. But you also have a
responsibility - to ensure that your equipment is maintainable.
And that requires spending a few dollars to upgrade them every
once in a while.
Yours sincerely,
Jon Goldman
Jon Goldman Associates, based in Orange, CA, has been
providing data mining software solutions to the semiconductor
industry for over ten years. Founder and President Dr. Jon
Goldman has been serving the semiconductor industry for more
than 25 years. He is the holder of several patents, including
LPCVD deposition of Silicon Nitride, LTO, and BPSG. JGA's
data analysis tools are widely used in the industry by both
end users and equipment manufacturers to reduce down time
and wafer scrap by implementing and improving SPC control.
|
