Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cunixf.cc.columbia.edu!cunixb.cc.columbia.edu!wln From: wln@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (William L Nussbaum) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware Subject: Re: New Mac Frustrations Message-ID: <1990Nov11.074529.11452@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu> Date: 11 Nov 90 07:45:29 GMT References: <1990Nov9.172342.7363@umiami.ir.miami.edu> <11200@goofy.Apple.COM> <1990Nov10.191823.7366@umiami.ir.miami.edu> Sender: news@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu (The Daily News) Organization: Columbia University Lines: 63 In article <1990Nov10.191823.7366@umiami.ir.miami.edu> gross@umiami.ir.miami.edu (Mondo) writes: >In article <11200@goofy.Apple.COM>, rmh@apple.com (Rick Holzgrafe) writes: >> In article <1990Nov9.172342.7363@umiami.ir.miami.edu> >> gross@umiami.ir.miami.edu (Mondo) writes: >>> But the biggest annoyance of all is the lack of slots. Once again, Apple >>> is beaten in cost because cheap-o PC clones and Amigas come with at least >>> 3 slots. >> >> I'm curious, and I really don't know. Do the cheap-o machines mentioned >> come with built-in video, SCSI port, modem port, printer/network port, >> external floppy drive port, and mouse port? Or do some of their slots have >> to be used for these things (if you want them)? > >I understand this argument, but what if you want ethernet and a video frame >grabber and 24-bit video. Sorry, you only get one. > >The Mac does come with more stuff built-in, but that stuff becomes the >near-limit of what you can add. Machines with more slot at least have the >capacity to add other stuff. > >All I'm saying is that looking at all the new Macs, it seems that the only >way Apple can reduce costs is to just give you what you need and nothing >more. I would've loved to see a 20MHz IIcx-type machine with maybe >one PDS and two NuBus slots. > >Oh well. :) ...if you want Ethernet, frame grabbing, and 24-bit video, you probably ought to be using a more powerful system than a IIsi. If you chose to stay with the less-expensive machines (which, given that it will be hindering your speed, probably isn't a great idea for work that requires all this...) you have a number of options: 1. Get an LC, add the VRAM simm to give you 16-bit video (which, though not 24-bit, should be sufficient for anything except final professional work to go to 1" video: slides & such don't rely on the computer's video capabilities, only on the specification), add SCSI ethernet, as you would do on a Plus/Classic/SE/SE/30, and add a PDS/20 frame grabber when available (dunno if it's going to happen, given the expectations mentioned above, but it might...), which would provide what you would be asking for, or: 2. Get a IIsi and a third-party 4-slot chassis, and throw 3 full-featured cards into it. Yes, the chassis will cost a few hundred, but if you're concerned enough to not go with the ci (despite the fact that you'll be spending a couple thousand on the cards...) the $400 to $600 additional (I can't imagine a 4-slot chassis would be any more expensive than that) will save you $400 to $600 off a ci. Maybe. It's going to bring you to almost the price of a ci, though, and strain the si, as the prior arrangement would do to the LC. 3. Get the ci. As I've already said, if your needs require more than one _card_, you're probably trying to cut corners where it just doesn't make sense to do so. Just some thoughts on the subject... - Lee | William illiam Lee Nussbaum, Jr. | >> InterNet: wln@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu | >> CompuServe: 72401.3554 (@compuserve.com) |