🚀 go-pugleaf

I am in the market for a PC. I don't want a Mac (I has a nice user interface
but the things are too slow by todays standards). I'm not sure on what to
buy but I have been looking around and obviously want to get the most for
my money. What I have in mind is the following:

486DX / 256 Mb cache
at least 8 Mb Ram
a 200 Mb HD + the usual 2 FD.
SVGA / 1 Mb-Vram
14 or 17" monitor (which??)

Now I've looked in the local magazines and found a lot of vendors that sell
these systems but for a big price difference. They range from 1700 to 2500+.
The Dell's are recommended but they are expensive - why? It's basically the
same system. Are the small local vendors reliable? Or is the adage 'You get
what you pay for' working here. What should I look out for? Any traps?

I have read the thread on 'the war is over'. Is it really. A friend suggested 
that I wait until Dec and but then because he thinks that the prices will
continue to drop. And they will drop even more when the 586 comes out - wait
till then. (I could wait until the fastest, most powerful system arrives, but
that wait it too long). I work on a Dec 5000/200 daily in software development
so I know something about hardware and software - but I've mostly looked at
the Workstation market and not the pc market.

If you have any mail order vendors that you'd reccommend, I'd be happy.
Any other comments would be welcomed.

Thanks,
-- 

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Bill Volz
Chevron Oil Field Research Co.
Exploration Research/Geophysics Division.
P.O. Box 446, La Habra, CA 90633-0446
Phone: (310) 694-9340