circuit@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (circuit) (10/23/89)
O.k. Here we go with another ridiculous request but I figure that this is the only place I can get any REAL opinion. I recently posted a message regarding PC-BRAND , I will not consider them after what the person had to say. SO I am considering the following places. Any comments on any of these places would be appreciated. Northgate Gateway Club CompuAdd thanks in advance... Chris -- | Chris Steinke circuit@csd4.milw.wisc.edu | | "Oh no not ANOTHER bloody fine arts major!" | '------------------------------------------------'
larry@macom1.UUCP (Larry Taborek) (10/25/89)
From article <571@uwm.edu>, by circuit@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (circuit): > > O.k. Here we go with another ridiculous request but I figure that this > is the only place I can get any REAL opinion. I recently posted a > message regarding PC-BRAND , I will not consider them after what the > person had to say. SO I am considering the following places. Any > comments on any of these places would be appreciated. > > Northgate > Gateway > Club > CompuAdd > > thanks in advance... > > > Chris Chris, How about putting your own PC together from parts? Take this for an example (All from computer shopper) Mylex 386 motherboard with 1MB ram 64K cache memory $1100 Purchase another 3MB of 80NS ram at $150/MB $ 450 Purchase tower case $ 120 Purchase powersupply $ 100 Purchase floppy disk drive $ 100 Purchase floppy disk drive controller $ 100 Purchase SCSI disk controller and 80MB hard disk $ 550 Purchase Everix Unix $ 850 total for bare bones unix system $3370 You may even do better then that, as it may be possible to hook the floppy disk drive up to the scsi disk controller, (savings of $100), and I thought that I saw 80ns SIMM modules for $127/MB (over 3 MB savings of $69), and the case and powersupply can probably be had for less. I like the mylex motherboards. I have looked over the past several months for any negative reviews and everyone seems really happy with them. They have a 2 year warrenty and got a great review in computer shopper a few months ago. Hope this helps... -- Larry Taborek ..!uunet!grebyn!macom1!larry Centel Federal Systems larry@macom1.UUCP 11400 Commerce Park Drive Reston, VA 22091-1506 My views do not reflect those of Centel 703-758-7000
jbeard@ntvax.uucp (Jeff Beardsley) (10/25/89)
I don't know about Northgate, Gateway or Club, but let me tell you about CompuADD. Here at the University of North Texas, where I work, we had the mis-fortune to become the proud owners of a CompuADD 286 Box, running at 12 MHz. In the 3 semesters we have had this machine, nearly all parts of the machine had to be replaced, and some more than once (We get all our replacement parts from CompuADD also). When it first arrived, my first complaint was that the 80 Meg hard-drive was extremely cluttered up with bad-sectors (4.5 Meg Bad). Within the month the drive had 2 major crashes, and had to be replaced. The replacement drive was similar, though not quite so bad (3 Meg Bad). Everything went quite well for about 2 months, then there were power supply problems. That replaced, and another couple months wait, and we had to get our FIRST Mother Board Replacement. Original Parts on this machine now include: 1. The Case 2. The Keyboard (I hate the feel) 3. The Monitor (At least IT was nice [NEC Multi-Sync II]) Replacement Parts now installed: 3rd Motherboard 3rd Hard Drive 4th Power Supply 2nd 1.2 Meg Floppy 2nd 1.44 Meg Floppy Overall I think it was a bad choice in computers, for ANY purpose other than a doorstop. disclaimer: My opinion is Mine alone, and does not nessessarily reflect the opinions of all the other people at the university, though many concur. jbeard -- -------- Jeff Beardsley at UNT ----------- <jbeard@dept.csci.unt.edu> --------
joel@peora.ccur.com (Joel Upchurch) (10/26/89)
In article <1989Oct25.142228.10216@ntvax.uucp>, jbeard@ntvax.uucp (Jeff Beardsley) writes: > I don't know about Northgate, Gateway or Club, but let me tell you about > CompuADD. > (long flame about problems about problems with CompuAdd 286) > Original Parts on this machine now include: > > 1. The Case > 2. The Keyboard (I hate the feel) > 3. The Monitor (At least IT was nice [NEC Multi-Sync II]) > > Replacement Parts now installed: > > 3rd Motherboard > 3rd Hard Drive > 4th Power Supply > 2nd 1.2 Meg Floppy > 2nd 1.44 Meg Floppy This posting contradicts my experience with CompuAdd systems. I own a CompuAdd system and so do several of my friends. I have noticed no hardware problems with their systems personally and the information I've seen posted on the net and the reviews I've read in magazines says much the same thing. While any particular system from any manufactor might be a lemon, I fail to understand the continuing problems after the replacement of almost all the significant parts of the system. Are there any enviornmental conditions that might effect the computer? - Power surges or voltage variations? - Unusual temperature or humidity conditions? - Vibration? - Is the system properly venilated? - Does the computer get moved around a lot? - Are there any other computers in the same room? Do they experience any unusual problems? - Is there any equipment in the area that might emit powerful EM fields? Just a few suggestions? -- Joel Upchurch/Concurrent Computer Corp/2486 Sand Lake Rd/Orlando, FL 32809 joel@peora.ccur.com {uiucuxc,hoptoad,petsd,ucf-cs}!peora!joel Telephone: (407) 850-1040 Fax: (407) 857-0713