Path: utzoo!mnetor!tmsoft!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!hsdndev!husc6!encore!pinocchio!schwalbe From: schwalbe@pinocchio.Encore.COM (Jim Schwalbe) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc Subject: Re: CD ROM / Ziff Davis Computer Library Message-ID: <13615@encore.Encore.COM> Date: 20 Dec 90 20:16:50 GMT References: Sender: news@Encore.COM Reply-To: schwalbe@pinocchio.UUCP (Jim Schwalbe) Distribution: comp Organization: Encore Computer Corp, Marlboro, MA Lines: 44 In article jon_sree@world.std.com (Jon Sreekanth) writes: > >Thanks to Rick Carle and John Stanley for the info about the DAK offer. >It was one of the choices I was considering. > >Question is : if the software is only marginally useful, is $699 + $19 S&H >a reasonable price for the hardware only ? The picture in the ad shows >that the external drive is Sony, but I could not see any model number. >What is the model number, and what are the specs ? (such as seek time, >people's experiences about reliability, etc.) > >Ziff Davis themselves offer a combo deal. They told me I could get a >Sony CDU 6101 for $640. Is this a good price for the specific model ? > The external CD-ROM drive which DAK is selling is the CDU 6201. The cheapest I've seen that for sale in the Computer Shopper is $650. If someone told you that the 6 CDs that come with the offer are not worth another $50, IMHO they are sorely mistaken. While some of the programs do have their shortcomings, I would pay the price for the SW alone. The Library of the Future and the Encyclopedia are worth the price by themselves. The Software Toolworks Reference Library (similar to Microsoft Bookshelf) is easily worth it. While the Language Translator interface is a little (OK, maybe a lot) lame, its translation of phrases, idioms, and colloquialisms is very impressive. Not for everyone however. The World and US Atlas you can think of as just being thrown in for good measure. I've been very pleased with the package and feel it is well worth the money if you're ready to go CD. I shopped around a *long* time and I can tell you this is by far the best package out there. If you're thinking of buying a drive separately now and CD's separately, be prepared to pay handsomely for the CD's. They're new enough that they are still commanding a premium. Look for the prices to drop dramatically as more and more stuff comes out on CD. I just got my Microsoft C 6.0a upgrade on CD. Beats having a dozen floppies hanging around. [Just the opinions of a satisfied customer] .---------------------------------------------------------------------------. : Jim Schwalbe .----------------. "Half of what I say is : : Hardware Research Group .--+-------------. | meaningless; but I say it : : Encore Computer Corp. | | E N C O R E | | so that the other half may : : Mail: | `-------------+--' reach you." : : schwalbe@encore.com `----------------' - Kahil Gibran : `---------------------------------------------------------------------------'