[comp.sys.ibm.pc] XT compatible STandard/10

djr2@watdcsu.waterloo.edu (D.Roulston - Electrical Engineering) (04/11/88)

 I would like to know if anyone has had any experience with the
 Standard xt clones advertised by Compu-Add in Texas.

 Does anybody know if any reviews have been done recently or do you
 have any personal experience with this product (specifically the 10Meg
 Turbo clone ) or this company.
 
Thanks in advance.....
 James

emp@ut-emx.UUCP (naDev~tlhIngan~putulu) (04/12/88)

In article <4619@watdcsu.waterloo.edu>, djr2@watdcsu.waterloo.edu (D.Roulston - Electrical Engineering) writes:
> 
>  I would like to know if anyone has had any experience with the
>  Standard xt clones advertised by Compu-Add in Texas.
> 
>  Does anybody know if any reviews have been done recently or do you
>  have any personal experience with this product (specifically the 10Meg
>  Turbo clone ) or this company.
>  
> Thanks in advance.....
>  James

...I've had one since October, and have benn thoroughly pleased with it's
performance. I have had a few problems with the system, tho:

1) I am using a surplus IBM KB, which has an intermittent interrupt problem
that occurs during bootup, specifically a warm reboot. What occurs is the
usual K-B Error ! message that ERSO Bios gives when keys are pressed during 
bootup, but this occurs when NO keys are pressed. It's annoying (the beep),
and every once in a while it prevents manual speed switch until you enter some
sort of DOS command, but it's livable...

2) I'm using C-A's EGA card & Samsung monitor (the one Computer Shopper so
highly touted), and about once a month or so, it will lose synch for no reason.
all I have to do is have it switch modes (Go from Qmodem to Pathminder, for 
example), and the problem is cleared. I've spoken with the C-A people, and
they assured me they're aware of the problem, and it's being looked into.

3) the hard drive access light is designed to be hardwired to the drive. It
does not use interrupt calls to detect drive access, which would have been
a better way (and would have helped prevent you from voiding the warranty
on your HD). But then again, this is a minor nit-pick.

4) The ERSO Bios seems to prevent Ramkey from working. If anyone has any
ideas about how to fix this, I would appreciate it. (Please, don't suggest
I use Vampire and steal someone's BIOS. I don't have a burner...)


Overall, this is a superior '86 clone, and I highly reccommend it. The guys
at Compu-Add were most supportive with my querys, and when the Samsung EGA
monitor decided to smoke last December, they gladly replaced it with the 
next higher-up model, since they were out of the kind I originally got.


Hope this helps


						OM

john@bby-bc.UUCP (john) (04/12/88)

> 
>  I would like to know if anyone has had any experience with the
>  Standard xt clones advertised by Compu-Add in Texas.
> 

I have one of their standard-10 AT clones.  Good product & good service.

PC Mag. had reviews about a year ago - the AT clone was an editors choice.


john