Ray McCune.com

FORMAC Studio DV

The company is incompetent!

Having been assured by various articles that the tool to change the format of my VHS tapes and in fact, even capture live video to Digital so that I could convert it to DVD's with my MAC was the FORMAC studio dv unit. So I bought one. After finding it was not responding to the available software in a way that would allow me to use it's reported capabilities I finally found a way to contact the company. They quickly rerouted my call to a person speaking a version of english I could roughly interpret, and got my credit card information. I was then sent a form to fax back, with a signature. and promised a print it yourself shipping label, to get things going, after I registered the unit on line. THis was where the entire process came apart!

The dumbest website on the planet!

I have an expectation from companies that deal in technology, that they will have a functional website! I know that's a real stretch, but you might think that if someone is selling an item that costs $35.00 per unit to produce at prices in excess of $300.00 that they can then afford to have a functional website. WRONG! The first failing of the web site was to accept my email address. You see, it has two sections divided by the use of a period (or dot in web speak), because of this it would not see me as having a valid email address. The second failure was the fact that I had purchased the unit used on ebay, and not at a recognized retailer during their prescribed time period. I was directed eventually, after a couple long distance calls to a number where I could talk to a sales associate of sorts, to try to explain these strange goings on. I guess it is some sort of an anomally to obtain a unit used and desire to upgrade it. After five long distance calls, three different email go rounds, and a fax, I was left with nothing. NO label, No directions, No contact method to get the unit upgraded, just the haunting feeling there will occur a billing to my credit card of an action never performed and need I mention the unit which doesn't function, due to the missing chip upgrade, which will allow it to function under a current operating system.

I guess the fault was mine, I trusted the hype of the unit in the publications, and it may have worked for a limited time, about 6 months, if the unit you were using it with was not upgraded to keep up with progress. I guess the fact that they offered an upgrade package. (Change a chip-$90.00) was a false hope on my part that they actually meant to perform such an action. And the problems with the web pages seem now to have been by design rather than by accident. What better way to keep from having to perform a service, blame the requester!

Consequently I have moved all my accounts to a new credit card,sent formac a final opportunity letter, and am composing a letter to the State Attorney General explaining the situation to date.

I am considering creating a product that will only work under an outdated operating system, making it available only in a used market place format and offering an upgrade program that you can't access, but you won't know until after I have your credit card information, And I'm looking for a name for it, FORMAC is already taken. So send in your suggestions folks! I can't wait to hear from you! send your credit card information to me in care of "Bet you thought this was a real offer didn't you.com" and stand by for our informative reply.

Don't deal with formac!

I can only suggest you don't deal with FORMAC if you have any aspirations to be able to grow with their technology. I think at this point I will just relegate their little unit to the dust bin, and buy a unit for half as much that actually works, and get my projects done. Here is a list of alternatives that actually work, and are supported by their manufacturer, ADS

Available from TigerDirect.com

A03-7042 DVD express, a USB unit, mpeg 1&2 $79.99

A03-7038 DVD 2.0 a USB 2.0 UNIT MPEG 1&2&4 $149.99

A03-7064 PYRO A/V Link a FIREWIRE unit MPEG 1&2&4 $159.99

And there are others, none approaching the $300.00 plus price of the Formac unit and all being supported by their manufacturer.

All opinions expressed are based on my personal dealings with the mentioned entities, I have the emails.

Just for kicks I sent the unit to be upgraded finally. Believe it or not they actually responded, with a suggestion I hand write an RMA number on a label and send the unit back. I heard nothing from them regarding receiving the unit or repairing the unit or reshipping it. It just showed up here after about 6 weeks. No Notice, NO Paperwork, Nothing but a new sticker on the same box I sent it to them in. Although they claimed there would be a bill of sale and such after the unit was returned. It just showed up here, after reinstallling the software three times it finally worked enough to use it again. I have no desire to use the "On Air Recording Features" so after I cancel three screens everytime it loads, I can finally copy the videos I am interested in onto the computer.

Still not a big fan of it's operation, buy something else, I know I wish I had.

I guess that's it for this rant.

good luck, ray....

 

 

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