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From: ear@duke.UUCP (Eric A. Raymond)
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc
Subject: Hard Disks, Modems, & DOS
Message-ID: <6891@duke.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 7-Feb-86 16:46:56 EST
Article-I.D.: duke.6891
Posted: Fri Feb  7 16:46:56 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 9-Feb-86 08:42:31 EST
Organization: Duke University
Lines: 33


Three questions:

I am interested in buying a 20M hard disk for my PC-Compatible. 
Any suggestions?  I've noticed a number of ads for disk & controller
kits for around $450 from various mail order houses.  Should I be wary
of these budget deals?  Will they end up costing more in the long run?
What about ads in which no brand name is given?  What about Seagate
drives (i.e. the 225)?  Are there any problems with booting up from
the hard disk?  What software (i.e. installation and formatting) is
available? 


I am also interested in buying a modem.  Are there any differences
between the high priced brand names (i.e. Hayes) and the other brands
(i.e. Anchor, Smarteam).  What features do you find useful in a modem?
What features are useless?  Is it worthwhile to consider a 2400 baud
modem? 


Finally, what's going on with DOS.  I've heard that IBM and Microsoft
will introduce different versions of PC/MS-DOS.  IBM's will eventually
go to TopView and MSoft will go to windows.  Is this true?  If so,
what effect will this have on the IBM-Compatible market?  (i.e. PCDOS
uses ROM calls in BASICA and BASIC)  When are the new versions coming
out and what will be the differences with the old versions?  If I am
not interested in networking, does it pay to upgrade?


Thanx in advance...

-- 
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