Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!mit-eddie!ll-xn!ames!elroy!mahendo!jplgodo!wlbr!etn-rad!rich From: rich@etn-rad.UUCP (Rich Pettit) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc Subject: Re: Which 80386 system to buy? Message-ID: <256@etn-rad.UUCP> Date: Thu, 20-Aug-87 12:06:22 EDT Article-I.D.: etn-rad.256 Posted: Thu Aug 20 12:06:22 1987 Date-Received: Sat, 22-Aug-87 11:52:26 EDT References: <133@ncrcpx.UUCP> Reply-To: rich@etn-rad.UUCP (Rich Pettit) Distribution: na Organization: Eaton Inc. IMSD, Westlake Village, CA Lines: 63 Keywords: 80386 systems In article <133@ncrcpx.UUCP> craig@ncrcpx.UUCP (R. Craig Peterson) writes: > >I'm considering the purchase of an 80386 system to do development >... IBM/PC MSDOS ... XENIX ... Wyse PC's (The 80386 is a nice processor. The machines that it is being put into is a crime. There is currently no '386 machine available that is worth spending non-company money on. If there was, I'd buy it.) 1) I have had SCO Xenix V running on a Wyse 386 buggy with 1Mb RAM 2) I wouldn't recommend it for what you're suggesting. 3) a) The best development environment for this machine would be to run one of the UNIX/DOS-in-one environments. (Why ?) b) Because, they allow you to run MS-DOS programs from the UNIX shell. Therefore, you could put together a System V makefile and specify the use of the MS-DOS C compiler (MSC, TCC, whathaveyou). You would never have to grit your teeth with COMMAND.COM. c) Then, after the compile is done, either run it from the UNIX shell, or bring up the pseudo-PC and run it from COMMAND.COM. 4) Get one of these systems from: a) Interactive Systems, Inc. Santa Monica, CA Their product is called VP/ix. This is a joint effort between Interactive and Phoenix. I seem to like this system the best. (opinion) (you have to be a VAR, OEM, or whatever, Joe Smith can't buy Q1 from IS). b) Microport Systems, Inc. Scotts Valley, CA Their product is called DOSMerge. This is a joint effort between Microport and Locus Computing. This system has some REAL nice features. c) Brand X vendors that are so small I never bothered looking at their product and they came into the game too late into my research project anyway. (Yes, I do this for a living). (So get to the point, Rich) Ok, if my arm was twisted behind my back right now and I had to make a decision......hmmmmm.... (long pause).... I'd get the MT386 from: Scientific Storage Technology One Butterfield Park, Spofford, NH 03462 (800) 255-0125 or (603) 363-4564 It has: 2 Mb RAM, 2 8 bit slots, 5 16 bit slots, 1 32 bit slot (filled with memory) Samsung Amber monitor, monochrome graphics card, 80Mb Seagate 28ms hard disk, 1.2M/360K floppy --- $2995. And they claim compatibility with the Compaq 386. My problem is that I've never heard of these people, and if you want to expand memory, you have to sell the 2Mb board and buy a 4Mb or 8Mb board, and you have to pay for it ahead of time, and they have to ship it from New Hampshire. Lots of bad vibes there. My second choice is definitely the Wyse. It's more expensive, but more standard, flexible, I've used the machine, they are close, I can pick it up with my car, etc. This is why I still don't have a '386 machine. (See first line of article). I hope you find yourself more decisive than I am. -- Richard L. Pettit, Jr. Software Engineer IR&D Eaton Inc., IMSD 31717 La Tienda Dr. Box 5009 MS #208 Westlake Village, CA 91359 { ihnp4,voder,trwrb,scgvaxd,jplgodo }!wlbr!etn-rad!rich