THIS MONTH: The WatchDog goes after...
Will the Real Review
Please Stand Up?
A potential PC consumer would understandably
be impressed by xVx Corporation’s web site
(www.xvxonline.com). Its “Reviews & Awards”
section is continually updated with positive
excerpts attributed to respectable industry sourc-
es. For instance, in April, TechTV was quoted as
saying: “If the Monstruo computer system that
was sent to us is an indication of PC maker xVx’s
future success, the company’s going to do quite
well.” A subsequent installment reported CNET
as saying: “This is one of the fastest computer
systems that we ever tested.” PC Gamer suppos-
edly had this to say: “xVx is going in the right
direction to become the next Rolls-Royce in the
computer market.” But what really caught the
Dog’s eye was the glowing praise from none
other than Maximum PC: “xVx Monstruo systems
just keep getting better and better.”
That’s pretty good copy—if it were true. Fact
is, Maximum PC has never reviewed an xVx com-
puter, and neither has its sister publication PC
Gamer, which certainly raises suspicions about
xVx’s many other supposed accolades.
The Dog questioned xVx Corporation presi-
dent Edgar Joel Intriago about the erroneous
quotes. Intriago said he had no intention of put-
ting those reviews on the web site. “The web-master of the company put the wrong [company]
logos into the review page of xVxonline.com. I
didn’t want to put a review page on the web site
as we still don’t have many of them.” Intriago said
the reviews had since been removed from the
site and he apologized for any inconvenience or
confusion the reviews may have caused.
At press time, five of seven company
reviews that were on the web site, including
those mentioned above as well as an AMD
Crystal Wafer Award, were removed from the
xVx Corporation web site. Only two review
excerpts remain: quotes attributed to Reuterswire service and the Boston
Globe , which Intriago insists
are authentic.
The Dog was unable to
verify the authenticity of the
Reuters review, but glaring
grammatical errors in the two-
sentence quote make us leery.
As for the Boston Globe , we
requested a search of its news
library database for a review
containing the sentence: “If
anyone ever said that there
was no such thing as a luxury
computer, ooh they were wrong,
xVx Corporation are creating
them as we speak.” The search
came up empty, which was no
surprise to the Dog.3-2-1... Zero!
DEAR DOG: I purchased
DVDXCopy Platinum last
Christmas and quickly sent in
the information for the $
rebate. I have been waiting for six months.
Though 321 Studios says the rebate has
been approved, the story is always the same
whenever I call: I will get my rebate in two
to three weeks, but it never
comes. Could you look into
this? Was this all just a big lie?
Is this a disreputable company
producing questionable prod-
ucts, and then boosting sales
with empty promises so they
can take the money and run?
(Please don’t accept the answer
that “the check is in the mail” because I’ve
heard that one about eight times already.)
—BRUCE WILLIGHAMTHE DOG RESPONDS: Unfortunately, it’s bad news
for Bruce and any other customers of 321 Studios
who are awaiting refunds, rebates, or further
support. The company shut its doors after losing
a long legal battle with the movie industry. When
321 Studios first began selling its controversial
DVD copying program, which let users easily
duplicate commercial DVDs, it anticipated a legal
tussle. 321 Studios sued movie companies hopingto force the issue, and in the end, lost.
In a message on the company’s web site, offi-
cials stated: “Despite 321 Studios’ best efforts to
remain in business, injunctions entered against
321 Studios by three US Federal courts earlier
this year have resulted in 321 Studios no longer
being able to continue operating the business.”
The company says it will keep its knowl-
edge base online until August 2005 but cannot
offer any other technical support. Those trying
to obtain rebates are advised to visit: http://
rebates.321studios.com. The Dog was unable to
reach company officials but the chances of get-
ting a rebate check are probably slim.
So how can other companies continue to offer
software that lets consumers duplicate DVDs? It’s
simple, they don’t actually bundle the software
that lets consumers defeat a DVD’s encryption.
Instead they strongly hint to consumers that they
locate programs such as Slysoft’s AnyDVD, which
disables DVD encryption.
Owners and prospective buyers of 321
Studios’ products may be wondering if they can
still use a program if it’s been deemed illegal by
the courts. The answer is yes, according to 321
Studios. The injunction is against the company
xVx >321 Studios >IBM >Belkin
Say hello to Cody,
WatchDog of the Month.WatchDog (^) Maximum PC takes a bite out of bad gear
MAXIMUMPC NOVEMBER 2004
Five out of seven reviews were pulled from xVxonline’s
web site after at least two of them didn’t turn out to
match reality.
g
“
”
THAT’S PRETTY GOOD COPY — IF IT
WERE TRUE. FACT IS, MAXIMUM PC HAS
NEVER REVIEWED AN XVX COMPUTER
AND NEITHER HAS PC GAMER.