sandro@nlm-mcs.arpa (Michael D'Alessandro) (02/11/90)
Here is the info on how to buy a Z88 from the UK - I ordered mine from Lion COmputers, 778 Borough Road, Birkenhead, Merceyside L42 9JG Telephone is 051-608-0435. Basically we called the proprieter, and put it all on our VISA. We paid roughly $450 for the whole lot - including the Z88, 128K of RAM, and a carrying case and powersupply. The $450 included shipping and customs. Note that you can't use the powersupply that comes with the Z88 - you must goto Radio Shack and buy one and then do some sort of switch-o-roo with its wires so you don't blow up the Z88 when you plug it in. I didn't do the wiring, my friend did... I got a piece of shareware for my Mac that lets me transfer files between it and my Z88, and made a cable for $15 to connect the two - the cable diagram is in the shareware software manual. Note that if you buy a Z88 from the UK it is grey market and not FCC approved. For warranty repair you'd have to ship it back to the UK. The U.S. Postal Service acted as our Customs Broker, procuring clearance of the Z88 through U.S. Customs, paying the duty on it in advance. U.S.P.S. charges $3.25 for this brokerage service. Customs duty is 3.9% plus $5/package. Buying through the UK is a bit of a pain - as you can see. My friend did it, so it was painless to me. At the time I bought my mahcine, 2 months ago Cambridge US was selling the same hardware for about $600. Now, I have heard that they have dropped their price to $499. At this price I would buy though them in order to avoid the grief of shipping and customs. Also, if you buy though Cambridge US your machine is FCC certified and and you have a good warranty. I would have bought through them if their price had been this two months ago. Sorry, but I don't have their phone number handy. Feel free to ask any other questiosn.... -- Michael D'Alessandro M.D. The National Library of Medicine Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications Educational Technology Branch Internet: sandro@mcs.nlm.nih.gov
sandro@nlm-mcs.arpa (Michael D'Alessandro) (02/11/90)
Whoops - I made a bit of a mistake. Cambridge US is still selling the machine for $599, so you can still save $150 by ordering from the UK. Again - call Lion Computers, and tell them you want to order one and have it shipped via normal Airmail to you. Ask them to open it and test it before shipping so you won't have to deal with the problems of a DOA machine. Use the U.S. Postal Service as your customs broker - it costs $3.25 and they will clear the package through U.S. Customs for you. Duty is 3.9% plus $5 /package. Then goto Radio Shack and get a power supply for a Model 100, and then switch the wires on the power supply, as the Z88 needs this as if you use the Tandy power supply with its wires unswitched you can blow up the Z88. If you need more details I can get them from my friend. Make yourself and nullmodem cable, and you are set! The whole thing cost me $450, including a years supply of batteries I bought in a store. The address again is Lion Computers 778 Borough Road, Birkenhead, Merseyside L42 9JG 051-608-0435 We just called and put it on the VISAcard. What you want is the package that includes the Z88, 128K RAM pack, carrying case and UK power supply. Again note that this machine is not FCC certified and I don't know if it comes with any warranty.... Sorry for mixing up the original posting and for taking so long on this. I'll get back to any further questions more quickly... -- Michael D'Alessandro M.D. The National Library of Medicine Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications Educational Technology Branch Internet: sandro@mcs.nlm.nih.gov