Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!crdgw1!sixhub!davidsen
From: davidsen@sixhub.UUCP (Wm E. Davidsen Jr)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: 486/33's any favorites?
Keywords: 486 33 MHz computer favorites anecdotes, etc.
Message-ID: <3573@sixhub.UUCP>
Date: 31 Mar 91 00:40:22 GMT
References: <1444@aoa.UUCP>
Reply-To: davidsen@sixhub.UUCP (bill davidsen)
Distribution: usa
Organization: *IX Public Access UNIX, Schenectady NY
Lines: 40

In article <1444@aoa.UUCP> rich@aoa.UUCP (Rich Snow) writes:

| I am trying to avoid sticker shock and may go with a Gateway
| or Dell or Zeos, but am considering also AST and HP (if I can find
| a local dealer).

  Dell is a bunch cheaper than HP at list. We use Dell at work and they
have been very reliable. And the one year on site warranty is a nice
bonus, too.

  There are lots of clone makers selling computers cheaper than Dell and
HP, but Dell is very close to the bottom of the price list for companies
who design and manufacture (or at least specify and QC) their own
motherboard. 

| Requirements:
| 160 Mb IDE drive.
| 16 Mb ON THE MOTHERBOARD
| Wietek slot
| reasonably well known BIOS

  If you go with a clone maker I would stick with a well known
motherboard and BIOS. In particular I like AMI, because they support
what they sell. I bought my first 386 at home in 1986, with 16MHz and
1MB on the motherboard. It was cheaper than the Compaq and had cahce. I
got a BIOS update less than a year ago, still available, and I could get
the 4MB upgrade (requires a few traces cut) if I wanted. My friend has a
two year old Micronics and they don't make the 32 bit memory cards
anymore, he's limited to 8MB.

For MB I like AMI, Micronics, and Mylex. For BIOS I like AMI, Award, and
Pheonix. That doesn't mean that other vendors don't make good stuff,
just that I think these guys make good stuff.

  Sorry I couldn't mail, my map doesn't know your site.
-- 
bill davidsen - davidsen@sixhub.uucp (uunet!crdgw1!sixhub!davidsen)
    sysop *IX BBS and Public Access UNIX
    moderator of comp.binaries.ibm.pc and 80386 mailing list
"Stupidity, like virtue, is its own reward" -me