forde@EGLIN-VAX.ARPA ("MAJ ERIC S. FORD") (11/06/87)
One item omitted from the ads for the Laser128EX is that the computer is not yet available for shipping. Just like its predecessor (the Laser128) when it first came out, the EX has not been fully approved by the FCC and so will not be available for a while. It seems the accelerator is the hold up. In the interim, they are shipping a slightly less capable machine (dubbed the 128E) pending approval of the chip. According to the their tech reps, all that will be required to upgrade from the 128e to the 128ex will be the accelerator chip which will cost about $20.00. In compensation, the price of the 128e has been lowered an equivalent amount. The sales folks say they do have a back log and to expect a 7-10 day delay in shipment of the 128e's. One of my co-workers ordered one just last week....I'll post a note here when it actually arrives. He's mailing it to my house to keep his daughter from seeing it (her XMAS present). Eric ------