Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!rutgers!dayton!meccts!zeke!stag!trb
From: trb@stag.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions
Subject: Re: Cheap wonderful UNIX boxes (Sun 3/50)
Message-ID: <117@stag.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 17-Apr-87 13:37:36 EST
Article-I.D.: stag.117
Posted: Fri Apr 17 13:37:36 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 18-Apr-87 08:42:28 EST
References: <791@kodak.UUCP> <6402@bu-cs.BU.EDU> <607@elmgate.UUCP>
Reply-To: trb@stag.UUCP ( Todd Burkey )
Organization: Mindtools ST Access Group, Plymouth, MN
Lines: 32

I tend to agree with the previous comments about getting a Sun for
$4995. It is a heck of a deal, but I also haven't ever been too happy
about upgrade and repair costs on Sun workstations (I used to work for
CV who used Sun's quite extensively.) I waded through a lot of options
before choosing my Symmetrics 375 system (also $4,995 interestingly
enough.) It comes complete except for a terminal, but I already had a
Wyse which works great at 38,400 baud and an Atari ST for all my
graphics needs (the unit even came with uw and uwtools to allow me to
configure my ST as a multi-window device.) I put a lot of value on
getting a BSD 4.2 system as opposed to a sys V system (I know...boo
hiss), but I still don't feel comfortable with the system V systems
and the lack of all the utilities and features of the berkley
workbench (I am sure they will be indistinguishable soon).

One thing I like about the Symmetrics is that it comes with 4 RS232
ports and a parallel printer port, all of which were quickly utilized
(i.e. 2 ports for modems, one for the st, and one for the wyse...) It
also had an ST506 port as well as a SCSI port. Personally, the ST506
port is all I think most of you will ever need. You can pick up a 80
meg bare drive for around 900 (i.e. seagates new 25 ms one) and case
and PS for another 150 and you are way ahead of where you would be
putting a SCSI of the same size on. Software-wise, the symmetrics
comes standard with everything that comes standard on a VAX version of
BSD 4.2...about 3,000 files worth of stuff.

  -Todd Burkey
  ...ihnp4!meccts!zeke!stag!trb

I am not affiliated in any way with Symmetrics...and I will be a
satisfied customer when they finally ship my manuals and documentation
for this system (ever try to get a system up and running using just
the man pages?!)