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From: amichiel@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Allen J Michielsen)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: EISA vs. ISA
Message-ID: <1990Dec15.231354.10723@rodan.acs.syr.edu>
Date: 15 Dec 90 23:13:54 GMT
References: <51097@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> <2636@sixhub.UUCP>
Sender: amichiel@sunrise.acs.syr.edu
Distribution: usa
Organization: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
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In article <2636@sixhub.UUCP> davidsen@sixhub.UUCP (bill davidsen) writes:
>In article <51097@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> v127p9xg@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu
>| 2)  If you do go MCA, remember that you will haveto replace all your current
>|     cards. With EISA you would not have to do this. Also note that MCA cards
>|     are more expensive than ISA cards.. 
>
>  This is true, but after looking at what people do when they buy a new
>system (as opposed to an upgrade), I think most people buy what they
>need new rather than use old boards and break up an existing system.
>Specialty boards are an exception, and some people cut corners, but in
>general that's true.

   While I agree in you generally,...
1. I feel it is VERY common for any system to have 1 add in card.
   (2400 baud modem, special modem, 9600 baud modem, fax modem, IEEE-488, I/O)
2. Most people would be comparing the cost of a clone (cheap--generallly)
   to IBM (expensive--always), and while a MMNP modem with 7 year warr can be
   had in ISA form for possibly $100, the cheapest, rated mca modem pc magazine
   tested for the mcs bus was $ 500.  This difference is serious,...   I feel
   that the extra $400 would probably turn the tide making the choice of a
   'real thing' just too expensive.
3. Most people that do buy IBM's, either because of the name or because of the
   advanced features of the MCA bus are having their money stolen from them.
   The advantages of the MCA bus are many, BUT for a average user & especially
   a home user, the cost difference isn't worth it at all.
al

-- 
Al. Michielsen, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Syracuse University
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