Proteva computers are manufactured by a parent company, Arima, in Taiwan; the company has been reported as also manufacturing computers under the names of Micro Professional and Cavistar. Thousands of the Proteva computers have been sold in the USA over the Home Shopping Network and throught Staples Office Superstores.

I have purchased five computers during the last six years, all of them via direct mail. While I don't consider myself a computer expert, I am of at least intermediate skill and abilities. I was seduced into the purchase of a Proteva computer due to it's very low price of $799 after rebates of $200, including a color printer and 15" Pixie monitor(at least it was exceptionally low at time of purchase)during January 1999.

My nightmare began some two weeks after the computer was purchased; delivery had been expected within two weeks of purchase but was delayed by two additional weeks. When it arrived, the computer had a busted video card and hard drive...but not to worry, right?...the computer came with a one year on site service warranty. However, on site service could not be performed for TWO MONTHS!! So just send the replacement parts to me and I'll pay for the labor to install them...no big deal, right? Wrong! Proteva claimed not to have the replacement parts and I'd just have to wait the two months for on site service, all the while my computer serving no good purpose other than as a paper weight. More than a dozen telephone calls to Proteva produced no reasonable response, the company changed tech support service providers at least three time in the two month time frame, thus I angrily returned to Staples where I'd originally purchased the computer. Thanks in large measure to the manager of the local Staples store, who agreed to repair my computer at no expense to me inspite of Staples having no liability in the case, my computer was up and running in less than an hour, and has worked just fine in the now nine months since Staples performed the service.

The moral of this story: if Proteva had provided the service they had promised, this would have been a favorable review; even good parts can go bad, but it's service of the bad parts which makes all the difference.

As a footnote, I understand that the USA arm of Proteva has filed for bankruptcy so perhaps Proteva is no longer a viable OEM. But for the thousands of other who presently own a problematic Proteva computer, I would suggest that you locate a good local computer repair shop where, likely for less than $100, you'll be able to get your computer in good working order...the company uses good parts and the computer should be very serviceable for quite some time, once it's in good working condition.



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