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From: Joe Grace (jgrace@cc5.bbn.com.BBN.COM)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: (none)
Message-ID: <7871.1611.forumexp@mts.rpi.edu>
Date: Mon, 14-Sep-87 16:56:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: mts.7871.1611.forumexp
Posted: Mon Sep 14 16:56:00 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 19-Sep-87 01:55:31 EDT
Lines: 49

Entered: Bolt Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, MA  13:53 Mon Sep 14/87
Subject: Please recommend a $1200 PC workhorse.

=====

A friend and I are about (Friday, September 18, 1987) to buy a PC for
graduate school.  Primarily, it will be used for word processing.
What are the current best buys in PC hardware? 

Features we need (in order of importance):

0.  <= $1200 (or thereabouts) --- can't afford much more.
1.  reliability --- it needs to work well and be serviced easily.
2.  IBM compatibility --- Phoenix BIOS quality sounds good here.
3.  good screen --- amber monochrome sounds good (we have an EGA card, already,
    so PC must be able to use a standard IBM video card).
4.  good keyboard --- AT or enhanced AT layout, here.  Ideally, would
    have tactile feedback, e.g., IBM or Leading Edge Model D.
5.  Extra (but inexpensive) speed --- 8086 at 4.77/8.0 Mhz sounds good
    here. 
6.  80286 --- if an inexpensive, reliable machine exists.
    Reliability far outweighs this feature.

We are considering a few computers:
Leading Edge Model D:  very nice but maybe a faster (>4.77 Mhz) machine exists.

Epson Equity 1+: nice speed, soft (non-tactile) keyboard, IBM
  compatibility problems?, maybe a less expensive machine exists.

Fountain ?:  recommended by salesman, 8086 (at 8Mhz?), tactile feedback
  keyboard, high? (better than Epson?) compatibility, reliable?.

Others?:  please recommend.

Please send PC (mail-order and printer, too, if possible) related
messages, summaries, notes, comments, recommendations, tips, and
pointers to an e-mail address below:

    UUCP: {harvard, husc6, etc.}!bbn!jgrace
    ARPA: jgrace@bbn.com

Note: I know PCs technically, so please don't pull the technical punches.
I will summarize if enough others seem interested.

Thanks,

Joe Grace.
(617) 497-3648 (work)
(617) 628-6027 (home)