RE: [APML] Last Gasp for SprintScan 4000

[Jon Kolb <jkolb@mindport.com>]

Jim,

> What do you all believe are the most debilitating issues 
> related to getting 
> a soon to be orphaned scanner product?  Is the ver 5.0 software 
> good?  There will probably be no warrantee fulfillment.  Have 
> many of you 
> owners had problems needing warrantee service?  Parts??

Chapter 11 only means that they are reorganizing under the supervision of
the bankruptcy court.  It doesn't mean that they are completely gone.
Besides, they're trying to sell the company or its parts, so it's possible
someone else will pick up the scanner line.  OTOH, the scanner line may not
be profitable, and may indeed go away completely.  So, your risk is that you
get a lemon, and no support for it, but I think that probability is low in
the short term, since it will take some time to break up the company and
sell it off.
 
I've had my SS4000 for two years now (wish I'd only paid $700 for it!), and
I've never had any mechanical problems with it.  The latest download of the
software - I don't recall which  version that is - works just fine, although
it's nothing to get excited about to begin with.  I've never needed warranty
service or parts on mine.  In fact, it's worked so well that I'm hanging on
to it for awhile even though it has been essentially replaced by my SS120.

Considering that the SS4000 is selling for half the price it did when it
came out, it looks like a good deal to me, albeit with some risk.

Sincerely,
Jon Kolb
Adventures in Astrophotography
http://home.datawest.net/jkolb/
jkolb@mindport.com

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