reh2@nvuxf.UUCP (robert hausman) (01/26/89)
A week ago, I posted the following request for recommendations on a 386 system: > I'm looking to buy a 386/20 in the near future. The system will > probably have a VGA card/monitor and something like a 70M hard > disk. It has been suggested that I look at ALR as well as the new > CompuAdd 386/20 machine. My two main considerations are reliability > and cost. Thanks to all who responded; and here, as promised, are the responses: -------------------- I can't comment specificly on the CompuAdd 386/20, but I can on the company. We (NDSU Extension Service) have been purchasing hard disks and a few other things from them for 3 or 4 years now. Their technical support has been very knowledgable every time we've called them and we have never had a problem getting them to repair/replace something that was still under warranty. Based on our experience with them, we've recommended them to others. I know of at least one person that purchased a '286 from them, and he has been very happy with it. Also, I've purchased a hard disk from them and may be ordering a '286 from them within the next 2 months. -------------------- In regards to 386 machine, I must have you check closely at the CompuAdd LIMITED waranty. I have purchased from them (disks, monitor, 286's, etc), but never though about problems until a disk began getting flakey. I called tech support and they said that I could send it back to them and they might be able to fix it under warranty, but I could take up to 2 weeks for it to be returned. I suggested that they send me a replacement, charging it to my VISA, and then credit me after receiving the returned bad disk. This would keep me from losing a critical development machine for up to two weeks. They said ABSOLUTELY NOT. They would only repair and not replace my drive, and it was tough luck that my system could be down for 2 weeks. They suggested I Fed-Ex both ways, and if I was lucky, the disk might be returned in "several" days, but no guarantee. Since that incident, we have cancelled orders with CompuAdd (aka PC Source), and ordered two 286 machines from Northgate. They especially support the "exchange" plan we need, and offer to ship overnight any needed spare parts, giving credit back when the returned part is received. Very decent of them. Northgate seems to have come up a lot in quality of machine - no more cutting corners. The 286 machines have 66 Mb RLL hd's with 1:1 interleave, the 286 motherboard can be expanded to 4 MB, etc. I suspect the 386 machine is similar. I am not affiliated with either, just disapointed with CompuAdd. Good luck in your machine purchase. --------------------- Northgate 386 Last April I purchased a 16mz 386 from Northgate computers. I found them in Computer Shopper. Just recently my father purchased one from them too. So far I have had a 1.2 floppy go bad and they replaced it overnight. The machine is well built with good tech support, you may have to call a few times to get through though. From my research ALR will probably have the fastest machine, but it's price is also right up there with compaq. Northgate's sales guys are fairly knowledgable about technical issues. -------------------- We have the ALR machine here, and it benches at 3850 dhrystones. We also have the Everex 20 MHz non-step here (cheaper than the ALR), it benches in at 4400 dhrystones. I have the 16MHz Everex (with cache) at home, it benches at 4201 dhrystones, but doesn't support a 387 (just 8MHz 287). -------------------- I would highly recommend the GateWay 2000, although I haven't purchased mine yet. Byte did a review in about 10/88 of 20 '386 clones and the Gateway did real well. Byte's only complaint was that they used a 16 mhz '386 in their 20 mhz box, they don't anymore. I think they have about the best prices around... 20 mhz with 16-bit VGA, and multisync, and Seagate 4096 (80 mb, 28 mS), is about $4,000. They have an (800) number, check Byte, and their sales people are friendly, and actually return calls. -------------------- I just bought a UTI 386/20 with a 80 MB hd. It should arrive tomorrow. Send me email in a week if you are still interested. I bought UTI because of the price and because the company seemed solid enough. But this was just my estimation, I'll see soon how good the machine is. -------------------- I am purchasing a1024 X 768 w/16 color, 800X600 w/256 colr monitor and card. The two combined cost 980 and you can't beat it. If you don't mind access time 64 Mb for $299. (Miniscribe) I am inboarding 386/20 Mhz for $999.