Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!wugate!uunet!algor2.algorists.com!jeffrey From: jeffrey@algor2.algorists.com (Jeffrey Kegler) Newsgroups: comp.unix.wizards Subject: Re: Workstation pricing, Sun vs. ISA Summary: Welcome to the NFL Message-ID: <1989Sep1.014205.12901@algor2.algorists.com> Date: 1 Sep 89 01:42:05 GMT References: <1989Aug30.204441.3294@algor2.algorists.com> <836@pitstop.West.Sun.COM> Reply-To: jeffrey@algor2.UUCP (Jeffrey Kegler) Organization: Algorists, Inc. Lines: 69 In article <836@pitstop.West.Sun.COM> lwake@sun.com (Larry Wake) writes: >First off, as Mr. Kegler himself states, using the 386i as a comparision >box for a UNIX-only environment is less than fair. Call me Jeffrey. Anyway, if you don't want it compared with 80386 boxes why do you ship the 386i? Because the architecture is so much more wonderful than SPARC? :-) > [ On resale, what is a DOS using buyer ] going to do with the other > stuff you bought, that doesn't really work too well under DOS? The other stuff all works under DOS--in fact that how the diagnostics run. The only item not built with DOS primarily in mind is the BLIT monitor. The DPT controller, cartidge tape, mouse, etc. were all made for the very aggressive DOS market. You got crazy dudes out there running DOS on all sorts of major metal. >Even in your comparision, which by your admission chose a slightly >more expensive Sun with no effort to mitigate the price, against a >system that I would imagine took a bit of shopping around to assemble >(by either you or the integrator who is packaging it), the difference >is not tremendous. "My admission"? Am I on trial because I look at prices? This is what it is like on the street. My clients sure shop around and when I whine about it, they just laugh. Welcome to the NFL. Don't forget your helmet. The "difference is not tremendous" because it is not a concocted example. I just report the facts. The Sun box was picked because it is the most obvious comparison to the one I own. The prices for Sun were picked out of this book I found. It had "Sun Price List" on the cover. If these prices are such an injustice to Sun, why do they print the book? Sun either has a meaningful printed price list or it doesn't. Nobody in this argument is entitled to more than one set of facts. In comparison with the quality differences, the price difference is in fact not only "not tremendous", but insignificant. >You'd also still be missing (uh oh, here it comes...) Sun. We may >not be perfect, but we're here...rather than buying off-the-shelf >pieces, you're buying a system that was designed from the bottom up >to work as a unit. Sun is a high quality outfit. Why do you think I picked them for the comparison? I could have done the comparison with some other vendors who are not as good, but what would that prove? >The intent of your entries, although muted a bit ... I mellow as I age :-). My "intent" is to get the best price/performance I can. You got a problem with that, you got a problem with a lot of other dudes. I have no stake in any of the vendors and you work for one of them. I don't try to guess or question your intentions and you would be well advised to leave the subject entirely alone. Working for one of the parties involved simply makes you a more informed participant, as far as I am concerned. I did not find that my price comparison conclusively supported either side. So if I concocted it, I sure did a lousy job of it. -- Jeffrey Kegler, Independent UNIX Consultant, Algorists, Inc. jeffrey@algor2.ALGORISTS.COM or uunet!algor2!jeffrey 1762 Wainwright DR, Reston VA 22090