🚀 go-pugleaf

  Well the time is here.

  I NEED a computer at home.  Naturally I am looking for the biggest
  fastest newest machine for the tinyest little price tag.
  (hopefully around $2k)

  I have spent many hours reading my "Computer Shopper" and "The Inputer",
  have read many articles about clone /vs/ major and spent some time 
  thinking about what I would like. (I mean NEED. :-)

  What I think I would like is :   (er NEED)
     286 based machine (386 YES! 386 price tag UGH! NO! CHOKE!)
        10 or 12 MHZ
     0 wait states     (seems to make good fast sense to me)
     1 meg memory      (2 meg .. 3 meg .. AH HA HA HA!!)
     40 meg HD
     1.2 meg FD
     modem
     Clock/cal
     serial
     parallel
     Mono      (I really like EGA though. For sure someday)
     cheap dot matrix printer (can do NLQ and graphics)

  My questions to the net :
     I have looked at some clones - Universal Microsystem
                                    Master systems
                                    Clone
       Does anyone out there own one of these?
       And would you buy one again?

     Does the speed of memory 80ns /vs/ 100ns /vs/ 120ns make enough of
     a difference to warrent the extra cost? IOW, If I have a 286 with
     0 wait states would it need to 'wait' for 120/100/80 or is the
     speed of the bus slow (?) enough that 120/100/80 look the same to
     the CPU? (I don't want to just assume faster memory gets me a faster
     computer)

     What do the different data coding techniques (RLL etc.) mean?
     And what do they get me for the money?
     If I get a 40meg 28ms drive, is it the same speed for each technique
     above?

     What is in a BIOS?  No, really, what is IN a BIOS, I only have ideas, 
     I really don't know?

     Lastly, to all those people who build their own :
       case
       power supply
       motherboard (hopefully clock/ser/par on board)
       memory
       BIOS
       HD and controller
       FD and controller
       Monitor and card  
       keyboard

       Am I forgetting anything?
       Can it be built cheaper?
                    Note* I am aware warranties are scarce with this route.
       Can you suggest any makes for any of the above?
        (particularly motherboards)
       Can I build a 386 (include all above) for less than
       (or very very very close to) $2k?


If it sounds like I am new to the net.  I am.
If it sounds like I am weary of sales hype. Again I am. (I bought a TI-99/4a
for $300, showed it to a friend, only to have her buy one at Target for under
$50 a few months later.  I still wimper in my sleep over that one.)
Any one know what to do with a TI-99/4a?

Please email all flames to :  /dev/null
 (unless of course there is some constructive criticism contained, then)

email replies to me at :    UUCP : ncr-sd!ncrwic!wbcs!p91206


I thank you for your time (and space)

John Flaherty
  
  PS   If you are a Motarola fan and can make a good case against a 286
       and for one of your own, fire away (email), I am open to archetectures.
       (remember cost/perf) 

Something cute goes here.