garret@uw-june.UUCP (07/05/83)
I am going to be buying a micro computer to use as a word processor. I already have a terminal and a modem so I am looking for something very cheap which will work for me. Having just leafed through a copy of Byte magazine, all the different options have confused me. Buy a ready made computer. There were several computers that I noticed selling for about $1000 that offer a Z-80A, software, 64K and a single disk (e. g.the Morrow MD-1 and others). Is the list price stuck to? Can one bargain (I don't need training, I'll get it mail order from out of state so give it to me cheaper . . .) and pay substantially less than that? (like about $600?) Buy a cabinet and power supply (S-100) and put boards in it myself. Does this end up saving money? Are they difficult to assemble? (I built my H-19.) Would this have advantages if my dear uncle died and left me $5000 to spend on a 68000 and a hard disk? Does doing this mean I have to write all my own software? Buy a computer with out a disk. Would I save money by editing in core and saving files on cassette? Is this something a sane person would do? I would appreciate any comments, pointers or suggestions. Garret Swart University of Washington