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Tom's Hardware Investigates Michael's Computers

cojsl writes "Tom's Hardware has an extensive article raising questions about Michael's Computers and their claims of a laptop with a "3DMark03 Average Score - 15,417"." It gets funnier as you go along.

75 of 609 comments (clear)

  1. Not in doubt, but.... by Space+cowboy · · Score: 4, Funny

    it surprised me that after all the work they went through, the conclusion is simply "make your own mind up". Now *that*'s being cautious!

    Or maybe I'm just a cynic by nature....

    Simon

    --
    Physicists get Hadrons!
    1. Re:Not in doubt, but.... by Orgazmus · · Score: 4, Funny

      And the coolness factor is of course way higher when you say it like that.
      "And like everyone can see without us even telling you, the dudes are lame"

      --
      The system had the verbosity of HTML combined with all the readability of compiled assembly viewed as bitmap images
    2. Re:Not in doubt, but.... by aixou · · Score: 3, Funny

      I half-way expected Michael to go Vice-City on the interviewers ass part way through the interview..... dot dot dot

    3. Re:Not in doubt, but.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      there are more companies doing that

    4. Re:Not in doubt, but.... by smittyoneeach · · Score: 4, Funny

      I've heard it is said among lawyers:
      If you've got the facts on your side, argue the facts,
      if you've got the law on your side, argue the law,
      and if you've neither, pound the table.
      Into which category to put Michael, or SCO, is unclear.

      --
      Get thee glass eyes, and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see things thou dost not.--King Lear
    5. Re:Not in doubt, but.... by btwIANAL · · Score: 5, Funny

      On the other hand Michael can now add... "Featured on Tom's Hardware" ... to his credentials

      --
      And then they armed me with moderator points and the world mourned.
    6. Re:Not in doubt, but.... by idontgno · · Score: 3, Funny
      Dammit, I've got mod points but I can't decide whether to mod +1 funny or +1 insightful.

      After all, it's funny because it's true. Bet on it.

      Oh, well.

      --
      Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
    7. Re:Not in doubt, but.... by Opie812 · · Score: 1, Funny

      I haven't seen a chimp turn into a human, but I once saw a pig turn into a human. Turns out, it was just beer goggles.

      --
      I'm not a nerd. Nerds are smart.
    8. Re:Not in doubt, but.... by jcr · · Score: 1, Funny

      If creationism is eligible for the award as "supernatural", then so too would Darwinism.

      Oh, for Christ's sake...

      And the lesson is, pay attention to local elections, everyone. If you don't, people like this get elected to local school boards and the next thing you know, your community is a laughing stock until your next chance to vote them out.

      -jcr

      --
      The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
    9. Re:Not in doubt, but.... by Jim+the+Bad · · Score: 2, Funny
      Man that one would have been tough even for the people who saw Christ after his death

      You are aware of the number of people who have seen Elvis after his death, right?

      --
      -- And when Justice is gone, there is always... Force. --Laurie Anderson, "Oh Superman"
    10. Re:Not in doubt, but.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      There exists evidence that Neanderthals are still around today: televangelists, young-earth creationists, the President...

    11. Re:Not in doubt, but.... by JamieF · · Score: 2, Funny

      Fair enough. I'll believe creationists when they can pull God down from the sky and show him/her to me, and get him/her to answer questions like "how can all those different translations and editions of your holy book be equally correct, when any linguist can demonstrate that the translations say totally different things?".

  2. Gee, what's next? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    An investigative story featuring Anandtech Deals versus Fatwallet.com Deals?

  3. Now I know... by RobertB-DC · · Score: 4, Funny

    Now I know where our friend Orlando Soto buys his computers.

    Hmmm... has anyone ever actually seen "Michael Gonzales" and "Orlando Soto" together? Put glasses on this guy, and he looks an awful lot like this guy...

    --
    Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
  4. Lesson to learn: by musingmelpomene · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ok, kiddies, the important lesson of the day is: When you want to scam people into buying your product, try to advertise a product that exists. Then it'll always work. So...ummm...*shuffles feet*...who wants to buy the Brooklyn Bridge?

    1. Re:Lesson to learn: by frodo+from+middle+ea · · Score: 4, Funny

      I do, as soon as I get my 10% cut of the 15 mil., from this really nice guy from nigeria whose uncle (the late military leader) who unfortunatey was killed.

      --
      for the last time people, I am "frodo from middle eaRTH", not "middle eaST".
    2. Re:Lesson to learn: by schon · · Score: 2, Funny

      Are you saying the Brooklyn Bridge does not exist?

      Of course not! Otherwise he wouldn't be following his own advice!

      BTW, I wonder how much he wants for it. :o)

    3. Re:Lesson to learn: by musingmelpomene · · Score: 2, Funny
      For an extra $50 (sent to my paypal account, email address bridgeofbirds@yahoo.com) I'll ship worldwide.

      Everyone needs a bridge. And this is a steal - I went to a dentist once and a bridge cost hundreds!

    4. Re:Lesson to learn: by parkrrrr · · Score: 5, Funny
      About that bridge thing, is free shipping to Europe included or extra?
      The free shipping is extra.
    5. Re:Lesson to learn: by musingmelpomene · · Score: 4, Funny

      Oh yeah. I bought it. Would you like to buy it from me? Special deal, one time only, and only because the French are unpatriotic. $500 and it's yours. Free shipping.

    6. Re:Lesson to learn: by musingmelpomene · · Score: 2, Funny

      Unobtanium? Sure! That sounds easy enough to find. What could possibly go wrong?

    7. Re:Lesson to learn: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      I'll take two! And please include one of those Infinium Phantom consoles I've heard so much about!

    8. Re:Lesson to learn: by Bombcar · · Score: 4, Funny

      Tell you what, ship it COD.

      But if I don't get it within 2 weeks, you're going to get negative feedback. :)

    9. Re:Lesson to learn: by Chalybeous · · Score: 3, Funny

      Well, I could be arrested by the government of Dictatoria for being a capitalist - but if you send me $20,000 to cover the legal fees, we can transfer the accounts into your name and move my assets of $15,000,000 (FIFTEEN MILLION DOLLARS) out of the country. Your fee, as foreign partner, will be 30%; I get 60%; and 10% will be used to cover sundry expenses. Please fax me your bank account details at 555-0419.

      Personally, I'm more worried about the US government tracking me down. This morning I saw a black helicopter; any day now they'll find out where I'm hiding, and then I'll be--%20[CARRIER LOST]


      ;-)

      --

      "It is dark. You are likely to be eaten by a grue." -- Zork

    10. Re:Lesson to learn: by musingmelpomene · · Score: 2, Funny

      Oh no...carrier lost? Were you eaten by a grue? :)

    11. Re:Lesson to learn: by schon · · Score: 2, Funny

      Will a million dollar bill do as downpayment?

      Hehe.. from your link:

      "The US Treasury does not make $1m bills, which only go as high as $100."

      Are they saying that they do make $1M bills then, but that they only go up to $100?

      Or are they saying that the US treasury doesn't make $1M bills that are only worth $100. (Maybe the Treasury department has been taken over by the Department of Redundancy Department?)

  5. Hee hee by grub · · Score: 5, Funny


    "Neighbors confirmed that Michael Gonzales used to live there, but moved out after a divorce."

    Maybe his ex-wife was an unsatisfied early user?

    --
    Trolling is a art,
    1. Re:Hee hee by EulerX07 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yeah, the news on the grapevine is that is actual boot-up speed was nowhere near advertised, when it actually did bootup.

      His 3D performance was also greatly exagerated. However she did admit that she never exceeded 15db when with him, so that part was correct.

    2. Re:Hee hee by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Maybe his ex-wife was an unsatisfied early user?

      Maybe it wasn't just the laptop that took 7 seconds...

    3. Re:Hee hee by Cheap+Imitation · · Score: 4, Funny
      Maybe his ex-wife was an unsatisfied early user?

      Being "The World's Fastest" is not a good way to satisfy your wife, that's for sure....

  6. The moral of this story... by Schlemphfer · · Score: 5, Funny

    Never buy a computer from some guy named Michael. You're better off buying a Dell. Oh, wait.

    --
    I'm generally "Interesting," "Insightful," and even "Funny" here. What the hell happens to me at parties?
  7. I know... by lukewarmfusion · · Score: 4, Funny

    Michael must have come from the future, with his Windows XP 2004 and currently non-existant hardware! I bet you could haggle with him and get next year's Super Bowl winner, too.

    1. Re:I know... by LilMikey · · Score: 2, Funny

      I bet you could haggle with him and get next year's Super Bowl winner, too.

      Screw that... can he give us next year's halftime show?

      --
      LilMikey.com... I'll stop doing it when you sto
  8. Tom, Micheal? by Enze6997 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I am Jack's complete lack of surprise.

  9. Michael's Computers investigates Tom's Hardware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Michael found that Tom's the stories are often riddled with errors and false claims that favour their advertisers.

    1. Re:Michael's Computers investigates Tom's Hardware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Their current advertiser appears to be a certain '[an error occurred while processing this directive]' - any idea what they sell? Whatever it is, I want to buy!

      Nice one, Slashdot! Kill the adservers, so I can read the article without annoying interruptions! :-)

  10. Re:My benchmark by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    You must get all the ladies.

  11. Re:Review doesnt go far enough by rvw14 · · Score: 2, Funny
    How many people stopped respecting PC World (once upon a time highly respected) after they endorsed Windows Me?

    I have been using windows ME since 1986 and haven't had any prob l ;;sd2 e ;a$

  12. My review of Tom's Hardare (read on)... by gosand · · Score: 4, Funny
    Here is my review of Tom's Hardware. I think that they are extremely.... Next ...

    First paragraph, first sentence

    First paragraph, second sentence

    First paragraph, third sentence

    First paragraph, fourth sentence

    Paragraph

    Second paragraph, first sentence

    Second paragraph, second sentence

    Second paragraph, third sentence

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    Second paragraph, fifth sentence

    Paragraph

    Third paragraph, first sentence

    Third paragraph, second sentence

    Third paragraph, third sentence

    Third paragraph, fourth sentence

    Third paragraph, fifth sentence

    Conclusion introduction

    Conclusion body

    Conclusion postscript

    --

    My beliefs do not require that you agree with them.

  13. Re:Sociopaths by Speare · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

    --
    [ .sig file not found ]
  14. And now... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    He'll add "As mentioned on Slashdot" to his page to add to the hype...

  15. Re:Welcome to the internet... by MooseByte · · Score: 5, Funny

    "it's basically the best way to make money, next to taking advantage of lonely guys (pornsites, strippers) and taking advantage of lazy people (remote control, clapper)"

    Tell me about it! I made an absolute fortune off my clapper-controlled porn site!

    Which also finally answered the rhetorical question, "What is the sound of one hand clapping?"

  16. (OT) Holy Cow! by schon · · Score: 3, Funny

    Great site...

    what struck me as particularly funny, is that with only one exception ("Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity"), every single one of those points describes behaviour exhibited by Darl McBride in public!

    Wow... it explains so much. :o)

  17. this is why i'm laughing by BlackWire · · Score: 3, Funny
    This is the part cracking me up.

    I was wondering, since you are a well established and reputable hardware site

  18. Tom's Own Hardware? by Bimo_Dude · · Score: 2, Funny
    Has Tom investigated his own web server hardware?

    It appears as though it cannnot handle a slashdotting.

    --
    "Teleporting Rodents with D-Cell Battery Displacement" theory -- IgnoramusMaximus (692000)
  19. Articles broken up into separate pages by Imperator · · Score: 5, Funny

    Why do sites insist on splitting articles into separate pages?

    [next page]

    It's even worse when the pages are short.

    Hell, they often have only a few paragraphs per page.

    [next page]

    Some sites are kind enough to at least offer a "print article" link.

    [next page]

    Others don't.

    [next page]

    It's obvious what they're trying to do.

    [next page]

    They want to generate ad revenue.

    [next page]

    [next page]

    But really, the joke's on them.

    [next page]

    Because I use Privoxy.

    [next page]

    And so they don't get any ad money.

    [next page]

    But still have to spend money on the extra bandwidth it costs...

    [next page]

    ...to split up the article into separate pages.

    --

    Gates' Law: Every 18 months, the speed of software halves.
  20. Good job... by happyduder · · Score: 2, Funny

    Good job Tom. Now you just need to investigate that other Michael's claims.

  21. crafts conspiracy! by ThePretender · · Score: 2, Funny

    At first I thought this was a story about an overagressive crafts store looking for market share while Martha's Empire was on the decline!

  22. Software? by Ironclad2 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Do the computers come bundled with Duke Nukem Forever?

  23. Re:Welcome to the internet... by BJH · · Score: 4, Funny

    That's easy: FAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAP...

    Oh, you said clapping. Sorry, I don't know.

  24. Re:Sociopaths by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Holy shit. I read that article... And I'm convinced that I'm a sociopath.

    :(

  25. Re:3DMark2001 and 2003 by Pidder · · Score: 5, Funny

    Haha forget about what I said about "simple mistake". I have now RTFA. That guy is a just a massive tool.

  26. Re:That's what I call a fan! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I believe the 0.19 dB claim.

    Does a tree make any noise when it falls in the forest and nobody's there to listen?.

    In fact I think it's pretty loud for a non existant entity.

  27. False claims on the Internet... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Oh, boy, I knew that some day this would happen...

    What's next? False claims in unsolicited email?

  28. Re:Michael's Computers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Not really. Omitted were mentions of your base, hot grits, and the death of Steven King.
    Hardly overkill, sir.

  29. Where's Roger Cook when you need him? by Channard · · Score: 3, Funny

    Or whatever investigative reports the US has - because clearly standards are slipping. Not with the investigators, but with the scamsters. It used to be you could tune into Roger Cook's Cook Report or Watchdog (UK shows, folks) and the scamster could be watched, on camera, doing a runner, slamming a door in someone's face, while the interviewer tried to get answers out of them. This 'video interview'.. it's just.. unnatural.

  30. I've got one of their desktops by supergiovane · · Score: 4, Funny

    Not only it achieves a stunning 17108 in 3DMark '03, but it also came bundled with Duke Nukem Forever, running at 138fps at full details.

    --
    Signatures are for stupids.
  31. Re:3DMark2001 and 2003 by LurkerXXX · · Score: 4, Funny
    Right. He said 3dMark2003 instead of 3dMark2001.

    And he claimed it was the 'World's Fastest Tower' which it wouldn't be with the 3dMark2001 score.

    And he said .15 DB instead of 15 DB.

    And he said 500GB Hard drive instead of 250 GB Hard drive.

    And he said he was in business from 1996-2000 at one location instead of 2000-2004.

    And he calimed places had reviewed his machine that didn't.

    And he seemed to claim he had won awards that he hadn't.

    And he seemed to claim people were customers who weren't.

    And.... seeing a trend yet?

    Simple mistake??? right...
    Oh, I've got some loveley swampland in Florida that you might be interested in! I'll make you a great deal!

  32. Re:See his clients list? by Dun+Malg · · Score: 4, Funny
    How much do you want to bet that those 'clients' are his in only the loosest sense - someone that works for the USAF bought a PC, so now the whole USAF is a client.

    You're probably right. I was particularly amused by a quote in his FAQ praising his waranty service, attributed to the US Navy. Not a rep of the Navy, but the Navy itself. Must have been a good warranty for the whole Navy to say it liked it. Of course, even if we assume it was quote from a Navy person working in procurement, it's clearly bogus:

    "...I only choose Michael's Computers over any other company because it's far better to know the maker and someone you can trust and is a Christian."

    Someone representing the US Navy is about as likely to say they chose a vendor because he's christian as they are likely to say they chose a vendor because they're "trustworthy white folk, not scheming negroes or devious chinamen".

    --
    If a job's not worth doing, it's not worth doing right.
  33. Brooklyn Bridge, I DO own it by johnmig · · Score: 5, Funny

    My great-grandfater actually bought the Brooklyn Bridge (OK so he paid for it). This was about 1910 or there-abouts. He was living in Little Italy with his sons and daughter. They were out making a living, by being sand-hogs (digging the subways for those of you who don't know) or tailoring/seamstressing, but Great-Grandpa wasn't working, evidently he got out of practice while still in the Old Country and never really got back into the swing of it (that's a separate story). So while wandering about the town, he comes into the proverbial huckster selling the Brooklyn Bridge. As this is a limited-time offer, he has to put the money down right away, i.e. before talking to his sons who have a better command of the language and know about this particular con. So that night, over the family dinner table, he say to his brood that their money troubles are over, he's just bought the bridge outside the window for $500. All they have to do is put up toll booth and they are set. At this point the kids pick up their jaws from the table and figure out how they can get Pop out of the City pronto. The next morning, they go to the train station, go to the end of the line, and find a place to move the family. So that's why my relatives live where they do. i figure out that I can tell this story, any gullibiity genes involved have been diluted 8-fold by know, so I'm probably OK.

    1. Re:Brooklyn Bridge, I DO own it by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 2, Funny
      Just out of curiosity, where do your relatives live now?

      --
      Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
  34. Re:Sociopaths by gryphokk · · Score: 3, Funny

    Stop saying that!

    --
    And you, madam, are very ugly. In the morning, I shall be sober.
  35. Re:That's what I call a fan! by mytec · · Score: 5, Funny

    With an RMS value of 194 decibels

    Wow, RMS gets pretty loud ranting about GNU. :-)

  36. Re:That's what I call a fan! by sharkey · · Score: 5, Funny
    You missed:
    • 209 Mother-in-Law
    --

    --
    "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
  37. Debunking THG by t_allardyce · · Score: 2, Funny

    A site calling itself "Toms Hardware Guide" is claiming that Michael's Computers is a scam. We have recieved numerous emails regarding this, so we decided to investigate. We attempted to contact this so called "Guide" however they returned all our calls and promptly emailed us back with answers to our questions. We then asked them to disproove the performance claim and they responded:

    "We would be happy to, please send us a review model"

    With people like that you just cant win, so we looked a little closer at their so called claims:

    "There is no AMD FX-51 3400+
    Currently, there are no 500GB internal desktop hard drives. The only 500 GB drives are external firewire/USB2.0 drives, such as the ones made by LaCie."


    There are two glaring mistakes here.

    There are many 500Gb drives on the market and the AMD FX-51 3400+ is a special overclocked chip. When powering up the computer, which contains no fans, no noise is made and the machine boots up within 8 seconds. And by booting we are of course referring to the commanly used term for smoking.

    --
    This comment does not represent the views or opinions of the user.
  38. Years of Experience!! by Monokeros · · Score: 3, Funny

    If you go to www.michaelscomputers.com they reveal that they have increased both the speed AND stability of Windows! They did it with their "years of experience". Michael's Computers are truly heroes.

    (The claim is in the translucent slideshow. Wait for it. . .)

    --
    The Statue of Liberty is America's lawn jockey.
  39. Re:I have a Michael's PC at home by 0x0d0a · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hi, Mike! Good to have you drop in!

  40. Re:That's what I call a fan! by PYves · · Score: 2, Funny

    120 Human Threshold of Pain - 1 watt/sq. meter
    120 Loud Rock Concert

    simple math shows that:
    Loud Rock Concert = Human Treshold of Pain

    I can name several bands that surpass my treshold of pain, but it's not really decibel-related.

  41. Correcting the anonymous troll by Kommet · · Score: 2, Funny
    Fat nerd girl finds fat nerd guy on slashdot.

    It's a match made in fucking heaven. Please don't cyber-reproduce, we have enough overweight uglies in the world as it is.

    Correction: Cute, 20-year old from Wisconsin meets lord only knows what (Chalybeous has no homepage linked).

    musingmelpomene, welcome to the 20's. In my experience they tend to suck less than the teens.

  42. The FAQ by Mateito · · Score: 2, Funny
    From the FAQ at Michael's Computers:

    Where many systems today are built with just the "fastest" processor, we dive deeper into incorporating the true components that allow every application you run, to run at the fastest speed possible.

    Ie.. we overclock everything until it steams, then write on our own numbers on in yellow crayon.

    I only choose Michael's Computers over any other company because it?s far better to know the maker and someone you can trust and is a Christian.

    Yep. I pray for the forgiveness of my sins on Sunday so I don't don't to hell for lying through my teeth the other 6

  43. Don't Forget by starcraftsicko · · Score: 5, Funny

    How about "Featured on Slashdot"

  44. Re:That's what I call a fan! by hetta · · Score: 2, Funny

    See, you have 2 speakers at 90 dB each, that's 180 dB, right?

  45. Re:Sociopaths by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    no one on Slashdot is qualified to make any intelligent diagnosis about anybody.

    Must...resist...circular....logic....aaaAAAHHHHHH! !!

  46. Re:That's what I call a fan! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    See, you have 2 speakers at 90 dB each, that's 180 dB, right?

    Yeah. And with 200 you'd have 18,000dB and could blow up the planet.

  47. Re:That's fine and dandy... by Krojack · · Score: 2, Funny

    sure they do.. it come with kernel 3.0.0