Xref: utzoo comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware:130 comp.sys.ibm.pc:53545 Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!motcid!smithju From: smithju@motcid.UUCP (Justin A. Smith) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.pc Subject: Re: Opinion on Amstrad Computers please! Message-ID: <3809@galena2.UUCP> Date: 3 Jul 90 15:29:00 GMT References: <23723@uflorida.cis.ufl.EDU> Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Div., Arlington Heights, IL Lines: 51 ss2@beach.cis.ufl.edu (SKS) writes: >Dear Netters > > I am thinking of purchasing an Amstrad 386 20MHZ computer with >multilevel cache built in for $1999 (VGA card and hires monitor and >other goodies) from a local vendor. If there are anybody in the netland >who has this machine or who knows something about Amstrad computers, I >would like to hear from them. I used several of the Amstrad machines when i was in the UK. They were all 8086 (or 8088 i forget) based. I was reasonably impressed, they ran all the software i tried to run. Overall i think they were reasonably good value, it was possible to pick up better deals form other clone manufacturers but you had to be prepared to hunt around, and know a bit about what you wanted. Most people did not know much about PC's and so it was very easy to go into a high street store and buy one off the shelf with all the software configured. > Also, the machine has a lot of stuff built into the motherboard >like the VGA card etc. although it provides 5 standard expansion slots. >Has this kind of configuration caused problems to anybody? I added a couple of cards on odd occasions, and found no probelm. In the UK there is alot of software written especially for Amstrads, and uses the little differences that exist. > Amstrad claims that they are the largest sellers of PC compatible >machines in Europe and that they outsell IBM. Is there any truth in that? >Somebody in Europe should be able to confirm this. I would not be at all surprised. PCs are making there way into homes and small busineses in europe, and i think a great deal are Amstrad, due to the fact that they are easy to buy, and Amstrad is a well known name. >P.S. Anybody tried running OS/2 or UN*X on Amstrad machines? Fraid not. Overall they are pretty good i believe, if i had the money i probably would buy elsewhere, and get a better deal. but if i did not want the hassle then i would just walk into a shop and buy one. Justin Smith. -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Justin Smith SYSOP- Orange Crush BBS (708) 359-5379 24 Hours USRobotics HST14400/V.32 Email UUNET smithju@motcid.uu.net INTERNET motcid!smithju@chg.mcd.mot.com