Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!rex!ames!vsi1!indetech!daver!bungi.com!news From: Steven.D.Ligett@mac.dartmouth.edu Newsgroups: comp.sys.nsc.32k Subject: The PC532 Parts Kit News Message-ID: <2738597@mac.Dartmouth.EDU> Date: 14 Dec 90 05:02:29 GMT Sender: news@daver.bungi.com Lines: 52 Approved: news@daver.bungi.com Volume 2, Number 2 Oops, that reply that went out to the mailing list about not getting interest in parts kits was meant to go to the originator, sorry. However, I have been getting more interest since that went out! That's great! Memory Prices Last summer, when I started doing the earlier kits, everyone seemed happy with Toshiba memory. So, I didn't look for "cheap" memory this time. However, several people have written asking for less expensive memory, and pointing out the low prices on 3rd-party SIMMs. So, I went back to my most reasonable Toshiba distributor, and asked if prices had improved (since November) on 1 meg by 9, 70 or 80 ns SIMMs. Yesterday, they told me "no". Today, however, they called back, and said "yes"! So, kit #16, memory, is now 4 pieces of a Toshiba THM91000as-80, at $240 for the 4. (Note that this is 80 ns versus the 70 ns SIMMs I previously quoted.) If you've already sent me more for this, I will refund the extra, unless you want the 70 ns parts. There is cheaper memory available. In fact, until I got this quote, I was going to go to one of the memory suppliers that I use for Macintosh memory, and have them give me a quote for 1 meg by 9 SIMMs made with 70 ns Micron Technology parts, with gold plated pads, etc. If you are going to get this "cheap" kind of SIMM, from the back of PCWeek or MacWeek, get the 70 ns parts. What's a ds1216e? It's not in the parts list. It's a time-of-day clock made by Dallas Semiconductor, that goes between the eprom socket and the eprom. Bruce C. has posted some code that uses it, I recall, but I don't think it's required, even for Minix. Half a kit? Since some of this batch of pc532er's seems to be interested in saving money, I'll offer "half-kits" for kits 6, 7, and 14 for half price. This will give you only four serial ports instead of 8. Yikes! I've been getting express mail and overnight letters! You don't have to do that! If you want parts, please send me motification by December 19th (a two day extension), but I don't have to have the money in hand then. Just email the list of what you want, and send the money so it'll be here by, say, the 26th of December. Thanks I want to thank the first group of parts kit buyers. They were very patient and forgiving of my mistakes, which I'll try not to repaeat.