mel1@houxa.UUCP (M.HAAS) (11/05/86)
Awhile ago I reported my problems with "PC Network" and asked advice
for a reasonable source for a PC/XT clone. Thanks much to those who
replied.
I called "PC1" in Commerce, CA, another large mail order advertiser.
Chosen mostly for their "Order it today, Use it tomorrow" slogan
(after the 2+ month run-around from the other place, I didn't want
to wait), and their clear photograph of the keyboard I wanted. For
2% extra they promise to ship the same day - they did! I ordered
their $659 clone with $399 hard disk kit (plus the 2%), no other
charges. UPS delivered it 4 working days later. I plugged in the
graphics card and I/O card from PC Network - and am living happily
everafter (PC wise).
The clone is the regular Taiwan "American Research Corporation" PC
with a 2 speed turbo board, 640K, Western Digital HD controller,
4-floppy controller, 1 floppy drive, MS-DOS 3.10 with full IBM style
manual (hardware manuals, too), and a most wonderful AT style
keyboard (all the keys except ESC in the right places - Fn keys on
left - no garbage keys on right - good sort of clicky, light feel -
that damn CAPS LOCK way out of the way on lower right). The 20Meg
Seagate harddisk came installed with all the OS files loaded.
Everything booted first time, no hitches at all. The box is rugged
IBM style slide in. Everything is beautifully finished and well
designed, a class act through and through.
The PC Network Hercules monochrome card works fine, but doesn't go
into the special small character modes (I don't care about them, and
didn't even know about them until the card arrived). The PC Network
Multi-I/O card works fine, and I like the charging battery on the
clock. The Princeton Max-12E amber monitor is perfect - rock
steady, no glare, black background, perfectly formed letters, good
range of controls, high resolution in graphics mode.
Mel Haas , houxa!mel1