dxxb@beta.lanl.gov (David W. Barts) (05/23/89)
Hello there, I have been thinking of getting an AT&T UNIX PC (for my own personal use) for some time now. I saw an ad in UNIX WORLD about a place called TRC (Technology Resource Center) in L.A. I have an few questions: 1. Anyone had any experiences (positive or negative) with this company? 2. Any other companies that accept non-local orders for the UNIX pc? (I live in a remote area - nothing other than a PC available locally.) 3. Software to buy - TRC's ad had a number of packages listed. As a minimum I'd want the full UNIX - C compiler, nroff, awk, all standard utilities. My guess is that purchasing `UNIX System V Release 3.51' and `UNIX Utilities 3.51' would provide this; correct me if I am wrong. The ad says the system is 10MHZ 68010 based. Prices thay give are about $1900 for a system with a 40Mb hard disk, $2400 for 60Mb. I realize that this is no longer considered state-of-the-art, but I don't have the $$$ for the latest AT&T, Sun, or NeXT box :-(. Reply directly to me and I will summarize to the net in a few weeks. David W. Barts, Ph. 509-376-1718 (FTS 444-1718), dxxb@beta.lanl.GOV
wtm@neoucom.UUCP (Bill Mayhew) (05/25/89)
I bought my Unix PC from Technology Resorce Center in October of 1987. I got the 2meg / 67 meg model and the Unix + Utilities. The whole tab came to ~$2150; the machine being $1500 and %650 for the software. They were willing to ship COD with no additional fee and instruct UPS to accept a personal check. This proved quite handy, as it obviated the need to go to the bank for a special money order. The TRC mahcines are drop shipped from a company named Elite Data Systems, which is another comany in California. I was somewhat surpirsed when I received a bill for $2150 from Elite Data Systems in March of 1988m, but one phone call was all that was necessary to straighten out the situation. There is a person at TRC named Ellis Goldberg who is reasonably knowledgeable about the Unix PC and can help you get the pieces that you want to get a reasonable system for your application. There are threee caviats: 1. TRC proved somewhat slow; about 1-1/2 months elasped between placing and receiving my order. They blamed it on a short supply of 67 meg machines and having misplaced the paperwork for my machine on one occasion. 2. There was some lack of communication between TRC and EDS which resulted in me being billed twice; though this was *very* quickly resolved. 3. TRCs prices for everything other than the Unix PC aren't very competitive. The advantage is that they are willing to set up a minimum-hassle COD delivery. I really do believe that UPS takes better care of COD orders, as they know that if your item arrives smashed-up that you probably aren't going to take delivery. I guess that about says it all. Bill wtm@impulse.UUCP
rk@bigbroth.UUCP (rohan kelley) (05/28/89)
In article <1645@neoucom.UUCP>, wtm@neoucom.UUCP (Bill Mayhew) writes: > > I bought my Unix PC from Technology Resorce Center in October of > 1987. I got the 2meg / 67 meg model and the Unix + Utilities. The > whole tab came to ~$2150; the machine being $1500 and %650 for the > software. Let me add my observations re dealing with TRC. If you're interested in mail order DOS & friends software, hardware, etc. buy computer shopper and shop for the lowest price. However, there is virtually nobody who speaks unix whom you can buy from at a discount. I used to think that their was no such word as discount in the unix language. TRC is an exception. I bought a 2meg/67meg unixpc from them and recently bought their own OEM equivalent of the Bell Tech MPE - 386/25, 389meg disk, 4 meg memory, etc. Their prices are the best around if you want unix stuff and they shipped promptly to me on both occasions. Ellis Goldberg, the fellow in charge, is knowledgable in unix and works hard to give good service and keep his prices rock bottom. Look at their latest ad in Unix World. No mail order house that works on minimum margins can give you the service and support you expect (but often don't get) from the local BIG-COMPUTER-STORE. If you don't need a lot of support and are satisfied to work with the manufacturer's warranty, go with TRC. Also, they just told me that on their 386 machines, they can now arrange on-location service through intel who manufacturers their OEM 386 box. Bill Mayhew mentioned a connection with Elite which had dropshipped his hardware and there had been some confusion. I happen to know that TRC no longer has any connnection with Elite. ======================================================================= Rohan Kelley -- UNIleX Systems, Inc. (Systems and software for lawyers) UUCP: ...{gatech!uflorida,ucf-cs}!novavax!bigbroth!rk (office) novavax!mdlbrotr!rk (home) ATTmail: attmail!bigbroth!rk 3365 Galt Ocean Drive, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308 Phone: (305) 563-1504 "Go first class or your heirs will" -somebodyelse =======================================================================
rusty@hodge.UUCP (Rusty H. Hodge) (05/31/89)
In article <1645@neoucom.UUCP>, wtm@neoucom.UUCP (Bill Mayhew) writes: > I really do believe that UPS takes better care of > COD orders, as they know that if your item arrives smashed-up that > you probably aren't going to take delivery. FYI, I recently sold my spare Unix PC to someone in Ohio, and COD'ed it to him. UPS really munged it up. Killed the Hard Disk and yanked the CRT yoke out of adjustment. Of course, it was insured. (Worth the extra $4) And they were reasonable good about getting us a check for the damage caused to it...