Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!uc!uh.msc.umn.edu!jps
From: jps@uh.msc.umn.edu (Jeff P. Sorvik)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: PC Magazine's evaluation of Northgate
Keywords: northgate reliablity compatibility pc magazine
Message-ID: <1841@uc.msc.umn.edu>
Date: 25 May 90 13:18:21 GMT
References: <9871@chaph.usc.edu>
Sender: news@uc.msc.umn.edu
Reply-To: ken@msc.umn.edu
Organization: Minnesota Supercomputer Center
Lines: 37

I have an Elegance 386/25 machine and have been very pleased with both the
performance and compatibility of the machine.

In article <9871@chaph.usc.edu>, dwu@alcor.usc.edu (Daniel Wu) 
> 
> 	For instance if you choose to bypass the power-up self test (POST),
> 	the 600 MB hard disk doesn't have a chane ro come up to operational
> 	speed and will not boot the system. The solution: don't bypass the
> 	memory test.
> 
I have a 150 MB disk, not a 600 MB disk, but I can bypass the memory test 
without any troubles.  The machine has never failed to boot.

> 	[Next paragraph about machine failing to boot until memory chips
> 	were firmly re-seated...]
> 
I have never experienced this problem either.

> 	Compatibility testing also revealed some bugaboos.  I was unable to get
> 	a QMS JetScript add-in board to work. Lotus Express locked up the
> 	system every time I attempted to load it.  While I was unable to
> 	come up with a solution to the former problem, the latter was solved
> 	by running Express in a window under Microsoft Windows/386.
> 
I must confess, I havent added much in the way of additional hardware.  I 
have added a 80MB Internal Tape Backup and an internal modem.  Both of these
have worked fine.

I have yet to run into any software compatibility issues with software.

Overall, I have been very pleased with the quality and performance of the
machine.  I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone.  Good luck with
your decision.

Jeff S.
jps@uf.msc.edu
Minnesota Supercomputer Center.