nelson_p@apollo.HP.COM (Peter Nelson) (02/15/90)
After comparing the dismal performance of my XT-clone
to a friend's 286-based system I thought I would consider
an upgrade. I thought that a 386SX might be a good
target.
I can buy an HP 80386SX-based computer with 14" monitor,
5.25" FD, 3.5" FD, 42M (19 ms) HD, and 16-color VGA card for
around $2700 + tax through the company. Such a deal! 8-( .
Or I can buy a similarly-configured system only with a
65MB (28mS Seagate) HD from White Mountain computer in
Nashua NH for $2065. They use a generic motherboard made
by a Taiwanese maker, Magitronics, and use mostly name-brand
(Paradise, Seagate) peripherals. The difference in price,
especially when you figure sales tax, is almost enough to
buy a Laserjet IIP, through the company.
But is it worth it? Will the White Mt. computer blow
up in a spectacular display of sparks and repair bills the
day the warranty runs out? Will an HP computer (by then sold
to someone else) be heard at that very moment snickering quietly
to itself? Money IS an object but so is reliability and
satisfaction of use. Thoughts? Dire predictions? Soothing
reassurances? I'll accept them all with gratitude.
---Peterlance@helios.ucsc.edu (Lance Bresee) (02/20/90)
In article <48a4ddd8.20b6d@apollo.HP.COM> nelson_p@apollo.HP.COM (Peter Nelson) writes: > by a Taiwanese maker, Magitronics, and use mostly name-brand > (Paradise, Seagate) peripherals. The difference in price, > But is it worth it? Will the White Mt. computer blow > up in a spectacular display of sparks and repair bills the > day the warranty runs out? Will an HP computer (by then sold > to someone else) be heard at that very moment snickering quietly > to itself? Money IS an object but so is reliability and > satisfaction of use. Thoughts? Dire predictions? Soothing > reassurances? I'll accept them all with gratitude. I bought a Magitronic motherboard in a computer from a store in Oklahoma back in 1978. Due to some confusion over the telephone, I ended up buying the machine without the provided in store 24 hour burnin test. I have never had any trouble, except that it has been hard to get documentation from Magitronic's NYC offices. Every request for docs gets me a price list. But, by hunting a bit, I have gotten everything I need. This is an 8088 board, not a 386, but I have found the product to be reliable in every way lance