grumpy@edg1.UUCP (Eric Schwarz) (09/21/88)
A friend of mine is thinking of buying the 15Mhz V20 based PC clone from PC Brand and I was wondering if anybody has any comments about this particular computer, PC brand's other models, or PC Brand itself. Thanks, Eric Schwarz uunet!edg1!grumpy
leonard@bucket.UUCP (Leonard Erickson) (09/24/88)
In article <256@edg1.UUCP> grumpy@edg1.UUCP (Eric Schwarz) writes:
<A friend of mine is thinking of buying the 15Mhz V20 based PC clone from
<PC Brand and I was wondering if anybody has any comments about this particular
<computer, PC brand's other models, or PC Brand itself.
Well, I've been wondering ever since I saw the first ad for a 15 Mhz PC....
What on *earth* do they expect you to use for a math coprocessor? The fastest
that Intel makes (for use with the 8088/8086) is only a *10* Mhz chip. And
unlike 286 machines, the math chip has to run at the *same* clock as the CPU.
And the 8087-1 (10 Mhz) lists for a *mere* $330. Best mail order I've seen
is $200.
Also, if he needs speed that badly, he'd probably be better off with a 286
machine of some sort. My 10 Mhz V-20 is no where near as fast as a 6 or 8 Mhz
AT.
--
Leonard Erickson ...!tektronix!reed!percival!bucket!leonard
CIS: [70465,203]
"I used to be a hacker. Now I'm a 'microcomputer specialist'.
You know... I'd rather be a hacker."dross@umn-d-ub.D.UMN.EDU (david ross) (09/29/88)
In article <1063@bucket.UUCP> leonard@bucket.UUCP (Leonard Erickson) writes: >In article <256@edg1.UUCP> grumpy@edg1.UUCP (Eric Schwarz) writes: ><A friend of mine is thinking of buying the 15Mhz V20 based PC clone from ><PC Brand > >Well, I've been wondering ever since I saw the first ad for a 15 Mhz PC.... > >What on *earth* do they expect you to use for a math coprocessor? The fastest When clonemakers claim "15Mhz", they invariably mean "throughput", as given by some package like Norton Utils or the Landmark benchmark; the machine is probably 8 or 10Mhz with a V20 and 0 wait states. Aside: I think this is scuzzy! Ads should state real clock speed! Anyway, an 8087-1 or -2 should then work. (Also: if the machine's 'turbo' mode is switchable, a 5Mhz 8087-3 might even work at the slower speed.)
byrnes@ge-dab.GE.COM (Arthur J. Byrnes) (10/01/88)
In article <1063@bucket.UUCP> leonard@bucket.UUCP (Leonard Erickson) writes: >In article <256@edg1.UUCP> grumpy@edg1.UUCP (Eric Schwarz) writes: ><A friend of mine is thinking of buying the 15Mhz V20 based PC clone from ^^^^ ^^^ watch out!!!! > >Well, I've been wondering ever since I saw the first ad for a 15 Mhz PC.... > >What on *earth* do they expect you to use for a math coprocessor? The fastest Tell your friend to be careful and read the ad very, very closely. Some not so decient companies are calling their 10mhz machines 15mhz because they put in a V20. In the small print they do tell you that it "Performs like a 15mhz 8086, because of the increased speed of te V20. Acording to test results from Norton's SI program." I personally think that this is disgusting marketing, since the computer doesn't actuall run at 15mz, and as we all know, Norton's program is not a real good measure of the porformance. I would tell your friend not to buy that make of machine, if that is the case. -- Arthur J. Byrnes UUCP: ...!mcnc!ge-rtp!ge-dab!byrnes GEnet: byrnes@advax Disclaimer; These views are those only of the author, Arthur.
jpdres13@usl-pc.usl.edu (John Joubert) (11/12/88)
-- I am thinking of buying a computer from PC BRAND. Has anyone had any bad luck with these things? Better yet, if anyone has one of these, please let me know what you think. This computer was one of the featured items on the cover of the all-ad-magazine Computer Shopper. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Joubert | /\ | /\ | _ jpdres13@usl-pc.USL or ... | \|<>|>|> \|<>|>|><`|`| ut-sally!usl!usl-pc!jpdres13 |-----/|-------/|---------------------- GEnie: J.JOUBERT Delphi: JoubertJV | \/ \/ -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
rhm@cadnetix.COM (Richard Maglione) (11/19/88)
A (computer novice) friend of mine bought a PC BRAND V20 XT clone. Here are my experiences with him so far. He asked for the machine to be shipped to him on a particular date that was BEYOND their shipping estimate because he was going to be out of town. They shipped it and charged his credit card as soon as the machine was available anyway. He did call when he got back and they extended the 30 day money- back offer two weeks since they shipped two weeks early. He ordered the ST238/RLL drive package which they wanted $50 to install. I put it in for him but they sent ZERO documentation for the low level format. I had saved some documentation on building up an HD with a WD controller and was able to prep the drive for fdisk and format through debug on the first attempt. If not for that, it would have been tech-line time. They also did not deliver the printer cable he ordered. His Magnavox EGA monitor had bad color separation toward the edges and he is in the process of sending that back for replacement. That`s all I tell you so far except that otherwise the box is performing as expected.