Check out this email from a modchip distributor

[nickbuhl]

I just wanted to get some opinions on this. I emailed mod-chip.com to request he accept a return of some chips. I said I think all his chips are clones, and I can understand why it makes more sense to sell clones when you're sitting on that domain name. It sounds like he'll take care of me, but what do you guys think of his denial of selling "clones?"

Our chips are no clones.
Show me an original Neo12
Show me an original Magic 3.1+
The Magic 3.1+ is no clone of the Magic 3.1.
Its a unique chip which uses the free ICE source code. The design is totally different from the Magic 3.1. They call it Magic 3.1+ because Magic 3.1 is a very popular name. Thats all.
There are hundreds of different chips available, so from your point of view they are all clones, but you are not right.
Everyone can produce his own chip because the source code is available for free.
You have a 30 days warranty on all items purchased at www.mod-chip.com (please read our terms)
Because you are a returning customer i can make you the following offer: I will accpet a return on the unused modchips.
I will not accept a return of any used chips (if there is solder on the chip already)
So how many chips are still unused?
Also please note that Neo12 and Magic 3.1+ works perfect for all other thousands of customers who bought them before.

[fasman]

You can remind him that the ice team doesn?t condone the use of there code on chips to be sold commercially, and because there basically using code that they don?t have a permission to use, makes those chips clones, its the same as if they stole the code from another chip just to use it on there?s so basically it is a clone.

BTW I don?t normally trust emails that have been posted because it is easy to modify.

[tsaikimon]

Well I don't know anything about ICE code or what chips certain code should be run on but my experiences with Mod-chip.com have been nothing but good. Infact I just did business with them and they were nothing but polite and extremely generous. I've even recommended them to my friends who have all been happy with the service and none of us have ever recieved a clone. I'm sure they'll handle it in a fair and reasonable manner.

Tsaikimon

[nickbuhl]

That makes sense why you don't trust posted emails. But in this case I'm not trying to nail Osterrman to the wall or anything, lol....In fact I probably risk losing his offer by posting this. If he came along and read this, he might get annoyed and say "fah-q you can eat those chips now." I don't want to falsify anything; I want to expose the truth.
@Tsaikimon: His service has always been totally awesome! And I did get one chip to work, but thats 1 out of 4 I tried.
This is not an attempt to flame the above website. I just want to discuss it.

Here's a previous thread on the issue:
http://www.psx-scene.com/forums/show...light=magic3.1

[fasman]

Dont worry I actually belive you,thats why I sayd normally LoL .

It can be that there using some of the very old ICE builds for there chips,theres were extreemly buggie,if he claims that they are oreginal and he doesnt want to take them back cleim for Credit card froud,but that is a last resort so just chat with him for now and tell him that only one out of the 4 worked.

BTW On what version of console are you trying to install them to,I was told that ICE doesnt allways like V1-V4.

[nickbuhl]

I tried to put a neo12 in a v9 and a magic3.1+ in a v4 with gap bios. The v9 I mighta botched by trying to mount directly to the back side of the bios. But the magic3.1+, I took my time and did everything right. That ps2 is now dead. Both are dead.

[fasman]

If both consoles are dead I would defenetly take it up with mod-chip.com ,but unfortunatly there isnt much you can do ,he will most likey just argue that it was badly installed,even though you know it wasnt.

[nickbuhl]

Its ok, I'm not really mad at him. I admitted in my email that my mistake was not researching and investigating more before I dove in.