🚀 go-pugleaf

/* Written  8:46 pm  Aug  8, 1990 by nol2321@dsacg2.dsac.dla.mil in S55:comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc */
/* ---------- "Re: Buying a 386, please HELP!?!" ---------- */

Here is a small summary of my needs:

	o   386 cpu, running at 16Mhz, or 20Mhz
	o   SuperEGA, VGA, or SuperVGA monitor
	o   40+ Meg harddrive
	o   5-1/4" and 3-1/2" High density floppy drives
	o   (extra bay for 360K floppy drive...)
	o   keyboard, duh?
	o   2400 Baud Modem, with 4800 Baud FAX if possible

	o   1 HP Laserjet with Postscript, or close...
	o   1 HP DeskJet Plus with Postscript, or close...

--
 Jim Dunn:  jdunn@dsac.dla.mil; AV 850-9713; ATT 614-238-9713; FAX 614-238-9936
 U.S.Mail:  P.O. Box 1007, Hebron, Ohio 43025  FTP: 131.78.1.1 /ibm.pc, 5pm-8am
 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son that whosoever
 believes on Him should NOT perish, but have EVERLASTING LIFE." -John 3:16 KJV.
/* End of text from S55:comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc */

Lets address these one at a time:

386:  I would recomend a 386SX, especially if you plan on running MS-DOS on it.
      Memory upgrades will be cheaper (because you can upgrade in 1/2 the
      increments a full 386 needs (16 bit memory vs 32 bit memory).

      If you need a full 32 bit 386, then go with either a memory cache (32K or
      64K, you probably won't notice the difference) or dual bank interleaved
      memory (most cached machines run 25-33 Mhz).  Your memory will act faster
      than it really is because one bank can be refreshing while the other is
      being accessed.

video:  Go with VGA or SuperVGA.  EGA is digital, and you will probably need
        an anolog monitor if you ever decide to upgrade anyways.  Go with
        SuperVGA right away if you will be using a windowing package
        (MS-WINDOWS, X-Windows, Deskview, etc.).  You'll appreciate the higher
        resolutions.

HD:  I personally think that 40MB is small by todays standards.  I bought a
     60MB with my first system, and its full already!  Besides, if you want to
     run a UNIX on it, you'll need 100MB minimum.  Be careful of the case you
     buy too.  Be sure you have room for expansion drives (HD, Tape Backup,
     etc).  I would recommend a Tower case with 4 or 5 HH slots in the front
     (2 or 3 for floppies, one for Tape Backup).  The desktop cases with
     3 HH slots, and one FH HD slot just don't cut it when you add disk
     storage.

FD:  Definitely go with the 1.2MB 5 1/4" and a 1.44MB 3 1/2" drive.  I don't
     think you will need a 360K drive unless you are transporting software
     to XT generation machines.

KB:  Go with whatever feels good to you.  Side functions keys, top funtions
     keys, (both?).  Don't underestimate the importance of feeling good about
     the keyboard!

MD:  2400 bps modems are standard (V.22bis).  Get MNP-5 support if you have
     an old telephone switch to help with any noise problems (you'll like
     the conpression too!).  If you HAVE to have a FAX, get one with the
     modem built in.  Why waste a slot?

PRN:  I'd go with a REAL postscript printer instead of a postscript addon,
      but by laser only if you can afford it.  And if you do get a laser,
      get one with a common engine so your toner/developer/drum replacements
      are easy to buy/replace.  Canon engines are common, HP is the standard.

Of course these are my opinions, and are heavily influences buy my own
extravegent set of values.  Good luck on your impending purchase/investment!



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Kevin J. Cummings                       Prime Computer Inc.
20 Briarwood Road                       500 Old Connecticut Path
Framingham, Mass.                       Framingham, Mass.

InterNet:  CUMMINGS@S55.Prime.COM
CSNet:     CUMMINGS%S55.Prime.COM@RELAY.CS.NET
UUCP:      {uunet, csnet-relay}!S55.Prime.COM!CUMMINGS

Std. Disclaimer: "Mr. McKittrick, after careful consideration, I've come
                  to the conclusion that your new defense system SUCKS..."
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