[comp.sys.ibm.pc] Wells American Compustar Computer?

sunshine@necbsd.NEC.COM (Roger Sunshine) (01/06/89)

  Has anyone have any experience with the Wells American Compustar line
of computers?  I am considering buying the 20 mhz 286 system initially as
I am a little strapped for cash.  After 6 to 9 months I will probably upgrade
it to the 20 or 25 mhz 386 since they will give me the full price I paid
for the 286 CPU in trade for the 386 CPU.

  If you have had any experience with the 286 or 386 compstar products (good
or bad) please send your comments to me by email and I will summarize to the
net if response dictates such.  If you can't get mail to me then please post
your findings (my home machine is a little shy...)

-------------------------------+--------------------------------------
Roger Sunshine                 | ...!cs.utexas.edu!necssd!sunshine
%INCLUDE ODISCLAIM             | ...!necntc!necssd!sunshine
-------------------------------+--------------------------------------

-- 
-------------------------------+--------------------------------------
Roger Sunshine                 | ...!cs.utexas.edu!necssd!sunshine
%INCLUDE ODISCLAIM             | ...!necntc!necssd!sunshine
-------------------------------+--------------------------------------

jwright@atanasoff.cs.iastate.edu (Jim Wright) (01/07/89)

I don't have one of the new Compustar computers, but I have had one of
their A*Star II computers for a number of years.  I have been nothing
but pleased with it.  It is quiet, well built, and COMPLETELY compatible.
They were making 12MHz ATs when most others were struggling with 10MHz.
Their documentation was good and they had an outstanding warranty.
Based on my experience with them, I'd say the Compustar is at least worth
a try.

hwh@cup.portal.com (Harold W Hankins) (01/09/89)

The compustar seems to work fine with MSDOS, but when we loaded Xenix
the monitor went blank as soon as the kernal was loaded.  We even tryed
disableing the builtin monitor adapter and using a hercules card/ mono
monitor with the same results.  SCO says that they have a fix that may
correct the problem and are sending it.

Other than the Xenix problem the machine looks great.   It has builtin
support for 2 serial ports (1 DB25 and 1 DB9), 1 parallel port, and 
a Paradise VGA card all on a card that is mounted under the motherboard.
The 80286 CPU and memory is on a card that is plugged into a passive
mother board.  The case construction reminds me more of the heavy
metal case of a mini than the lighter metal of a typical clone.
In fact, its a strain for one person to carry it (it has a large handle
that folds out of the top, but I wouldn't want to carry it further than 
across the room.)

Hank Hankins				hwh@cup.portal.com
Point of Sale Systems, Inc.
Camarillo, CA