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From: japplega@csm9a.UUCP (Joe Applegate)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.tandy
Subject: Re: TANDY 1000 SX or TX
Message-ID: <550@csm9a.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 5-Oct-87 14:03:29 EDT
Article-I.D.: csm9a.550
Posted: Mon Oct  5 14:03:29 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 8-Oct-87 06:18:27 EDT
References: <2778@ihlpl.ATT.COM>
Organization: Colorado School of Mines
Lines: 55
Keywords: What's the scoop?

>I see a decent amount of griping about the Tandy 2000 computers.
>What about the 1000 series.
>Has anyone out there used any of these PC clones?
>If so how has it performed?
>How is Tandy's support?
>Can it run any IBM PC software or are there some incompatibilities?
>
>I would appreciate any input since I am currently shopping for a computer
>and the Tandy 1000 SX (and possibly TX) are in the running.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Mitch Gerdisch

From my experiance I would recommend you avoid Tandy like the plague!!!
First of all the 1000 series are fairly hardware INcompatible with the IBM!
Tandy appears to have designed them to work with ONLY Tandy peripherals and
boards.... not only are the slots limited to 10" in length but their brackets
are shorter than the industry standard and feature a "bent" end... the few
boards that work in my Tandy (most conflict with the motherboard) have required
a hacksaw and pliers to install... I would love to see the results of sending
in a board for warentee work after modifying it to work on Tandy's so-called
"Compatible"!!!

Furthermore, the monitor uses a non-standard scan line.... Tandy provides a
fix with software for standard monitors (which ARE FAR less expensive!)...
The printer connection is also non-standard requiring a Tandy cable that cost
more than any of the local PC stores in my area... it also does not work
properly with non-Tandy printers (such as EPSON's)... in order to use an
industry standard printer (which costs less and is supported by PC software)
I had to cover pin 14 of the cable with tape.  The joysticks are also non
standard and will not work with some games!

The biggest problem is the keyboard,  Though is has more keys than the old
IBM keyboard it is missing several keys that are required by certain programs
(Framework, Multimate, What's Best, Minix)... software patches have been
developed by several users to remap some of the other keys for these programs,
but why by a computer that is advertised as IBM compatible... gets no support
from it's vendor, and requires you to hunt on BBS' for patches to make it work!

Our user group has documented 37 hardware and software incompatiblities in
the 1000 series computer.  13 of them were improved in the SX, but 8 new ones
were introduced.  Tandy has repeatedly ignored us and refused to provide
service or answers... they have also refused to provide patches and fixes
for these problems to their customers or to allow posting of our 1000 support
group in their stores (which I view as the only 1000 support in the Denver
area!)

"Why buy Tandy, when there are so many better values"

    Joe Applegate - Colorado School of Mines Computing Center
        President of the Denver Metro MSDOS Users Group
            {seismo, hplabs}!hao!isis!csm9a!japplega
                              or
 SYSOP @ M.O.M. AI BBS - (303) 273-3989 - 300/1200/2400 8-N-1 24 hrs.