🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1h2r5bINNqv5@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> aa399@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Len Stys) writes:

>Ed, I can buy a 386 DX 25 MHz clone with an 85 meg HD, 8 expansion slots,
>a 3.5" 1.4 meg drive, a 5.25" 1.2 meg drive, and a SVGA monitor for
>$799.

My guess is this $799 mix-n-match computer you mention has many shortcomings.

What is the maximum transfer rate between the clone and the hard disk? Probably
not impressive. If you buy a hard disk capable of transfering 2 megs per sec.
to the computer, will it be able to handle that?

Is the graphics card (if any, you did not mention one) attached directly to
main memory (32 bit memory?), therefore letting the CPU work on the graphics
data directly, or must things pass through a slow 8Mhz bus or some other hack?

Does this clone have a fast RS-232 port cabable of at least 256,000bps? Can
you plug in joysticks and play games? Analog joysticks? Does it have MIDI?
Does it have a network port? Whenever you may feel the need for any of these
things you will have to dish out money you know. Does it have a battery backed
clock? Does it have SCSI or SCSI-II connectors? Dream on.

Does this clone have sound capability beyond that of a 1985 Amiga/ST?
(It obviously is nowhere near the Falcon's. Even with the SB Pro, at extra
expense, it wouldn't. Of course, I am ignoring the DSP for your sake)

Does it come with a mouse? Is mouse support automatic in all programs?

My fellow, you will have to fill up those '8 expansion slots' if you want
to get similar performance as a Falcon does out of your machine. Cards don't
grow on trees, btw.

>No, Atari's needs an edge besides the DSP.

You have overlooked too many things. For one, the Falcon with it's Multitos
should run quite smoothly. I have heard the opposite claim many times for
386 PC's using windows. The Falcon is also a COMPLETE  computer with quite
some performance in many respects. That's the edge.
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