Quality and Design for Quality
Quality of Product
The product is aimed at the low-end market (in fact, the first Macintosh LC was the first low-cost Apple computer). This particular model is aimed at the educational market, and as such requires a functional and robust product without the need for extravagant features.
The quality of the aesthetic design is appropriate for the level. It is relatively simple and sober and minimises the space used by allowing a monitor to be placed on top. The design is robust, which makes it suitable for the required market.
Product and Parts Approval
The following notice is found on the underside of the product:
"FCC ID: BCGM1254
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired opration.
This product meets the requirements of EN 60 950 for a Class 1 device
LISTED
UL 1950
Info. Tech.
Equip. 4k29"
The standards the product meet include:
- FCC - Federal Communications Commission (Interference Standards)
- http://www.fcc.gov/
- UL - Underwriters Laboratories (Safety Standards)
- http://www.ul.com/info/standard.htm
- SA - IEEE Standards Association
- http://standards.ieee.org/
- ERG - European Regulators Group (Communications Standards)
- http://erg.eu.int/
EN 60950 is a European safety standard for "information technology equipment".
The following external parts have evidence of being quality approved:
- SCSI Drive by Quantum to Apple Specifications
- Floppy Drive by Mitsubishi Electric
The standards these meet both include:
- VDE - VERBAND DER ELEKTROTECHNIK ELEKTRONIK INFORMATIONSTECHNIK (Innovation and Safety Standards)
- http://www.vde.com/vde_en/
- TUV Rheinland (Safety and Quality Standards)
- http://www.tuv.com/global/en/index.html
Product Failure
There is no obvious design weakness in the product, but there is a large scope for error due to the number of parts made by various manufacturers and the shear complexity of computer systems.
One issue is the fact that the connectors are mounted to the motherboard and not to the case, and pressure applied to said connectors could potentially cause the board to crack and the product to fail.
Other potential sources of failures include:
- Power Supply failure
- Fan failure
- Ports/connections breaking
- Motherboard failure
- Case cracking/breaking
All these would manifest themselves to the user in different ways. Some would be obvious, but generally locating the source of computer failure can be difficult for the average user.