mom@cbnewsl.ATT.COM (mark.o.modig) (02/12/90)
We will be inheriting a seven year old IBM PC soon (my wife is getting a new machine at work, and we're welcome to the old one as long we come take it away). From what my wife tells me, the machine has: dual floppy drives 640K of memory a 20M hard disk in an expansion module I would like to get the following for the machine: a monitor (They're keeping the one the machine has) a modem (they're keeping this, too) a larger hard drive (eventually) I've seen a lot of ads for one thing or the other in various computer mags, but it's kind of hard to figure out which of the products offered would be compatible with this older system and which are solely for XTs/ATs/PS-2s. I know virtually nothing about this machine, and would hate to end up blowing money on equipment that isn't compatible. Any suggestions or recommendations on what to look for would be most appreciated. Thanks very much Mark Modig cbnewsl!mom
dlow@hpspcoi.HP.COM (Danny Low) (02/14/90)
>a monitor (They're keeping the one the machine has) >a modem (they're keeping this, too) >a larger hard drive (eventually) The monitor is dependent on the video card in the system. With an original IBM PC, the chances are it is a monochrome or a CGA card. It might have an EGA card which requires yet another type of monitor. I suggest taking the card with you when you buy the monitor. If you are lucky you can find someone who actually knows something at the store and can properly identify the video card. Any 8 bit internal modem will work. Any external modem will work. I suggest getting a 2400 baud modem. Depending on what you use it for, a 2400 baud modem can pay back the extra cost by shorter connect time and less connect charges. If nothing else the speed difference makes a BIG difference in how fast you can get things done. Danny Low "Question Authority and the Authorities will question You" Valley of Hearts Delight, Silicon Valley HP SPCD dlow%hpspcoi@hplabs.hp.com ...!hplabs!hpspcoi!dlow