jon@qusavx.UUCP (Jon Lewis) (09/21/84)
Could anyone supply me with information about the Heath-Zenith
machines? Everything I have heard about them so far makes them
out to be just short of the perfect, definitive IBM compatible.
However, I need more information about two things:
1) Are they very difficult to assemble? I mean for someone who has
very limited experience with a soldering iron.
2) Can the kits be found in discount houses for even greater price
savings? I know that makes me sound extremely parsimonious,
but are they cheaper through some outlets than through others?
Thanks for the advice.dwight@timeb.UUCP (Dwight Ernest) (09/22/84)
No, Heath machines are NOT difficult to assemble, even for someone who hase very limited experience with a soldering iron. If I can do it, anyone can do it. They make it pretty easy, with large, easy-to-attach cable busses and the like. No, as far as I know, Heathkits cannot be found in any outlet other than through their mail order catalog, or through your local Heathkit Electronic Center (HEC), if there is one near you. -- --Dwight Ernest KA2CNN \ Usenet:...vax135!timeinc!dwight Time Inc. Editorial Technology Group, New York City Voice: (212) 554-5061 \ Compuserve: 70210,523 \ EIES: 1228 Telemail: EDPISG/TIMEINC \ MCI: DERNEST
kfl@hoxna.UUCP (Kenton Lee) (09/22/84)
xxx I built a Heathkit H100 computer about 2 years ago. It went together in about 10 hours. Only the floppy disk controller card required soldering. The motherboard and video board were pre-assembled and tested. I had no problems, everything worked the first time. I bought the kit from my local Heathkit dealer. A friend of mine bought one with me, so we got a 10% discount for two. Heathkit also offers discounts (10 or 20%) to Heath Users Group members. You can ask at any Heathkit store about membership, I think it runs $10 or $15 per year. I know of no discount houses that sell the kit computers. I hear that the H150 and H160 computers are very IBM compatible, for about $1000 savings. If compatibility is important to you, these are good buys. The H100 has better graphics, a S100 bus, and build in dual 8088 (16 bit) and 8085 (8 bit) microprocessors for about the same price, which makes it a better buy in my mind. -- Kenton Lee, Bell Labs - WB wb3g!kfl or hoxna!kfl
henry@utzoo.UUCP (Henry Spencer) (09/26/84)
Heathkit is famous for writing assembly manuals that even a chimp
could follow successfully. (Well, that's a slight exaggeration...)
I built a Heathkit lab-grade oscilloscope when I was about 13; I turned
it on and it worked. I have complaints about one or two details of
some kits -- the final assembly for their cheaper frequency counter
is mechanically, uh, awkward in spots -- but on the whole their kits
are outstanding. It's routine for even absolute beginners to build
things like TV sets with no problem. If you follow the instructions
carefully and take your time, you should find it easy.
You're most unlikely to find any source of Heathkit stuff other than
Heathkit themselves.
Note that Heathkit equipment is often not all that cheap, although I
have not priced their computers. Quality and hands-on experience
are more significant reasons for buying Heathkit than lowest possible
price.
--
Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology
{allegra,ihnp4,linus,decvax}!utzoo!henry