Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!mcvax!ukc!stl!stc!idec!camcon!mrh
From: mrh@camcon.uucp (Mark Hughes)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: AMSTRAD PC1512
Message-ID: <1160@titan.camcon.uucp>
Date: 11 Jan 88 10:35:33 GMT
References: <2322@ihuxv.ATT.COM>
Organization: Cambridge Consultants Ltd., Cambridge, UK
Lines: 48

in article <2322@ihuxv.ATT.COM>, arb1@ihuxv.ATT.COM (Blackburn) says:
> 
> Has anyone heard anything good or bad about the Amstrad PC1512.
> It it pretty cheap in comparison to other XT compatibles and has
> an 8086 rather than the 8088 which is a plus.
> 
This reply was written on a PC1512 of some 18 months standing. First let me
qualify what follows by saying that I don't have significant hands on 
experience of other compatibles or indeed originals.

The PC1512 is a very good clone. Both from my own experience (including pulling
lots of code of the net) and from comments made by reviewers it is one of 
*the* most compatible compatibles. The only problems I have encountered have
been with occaisional (and obscure) public domain games programs or due to
the fact that the 1512 runs abouut twice as fast as the standard ibm which
can be a problem with some software. (e.g. the help.com voice synth 
recently posted).

Some people react adversly to the quality of display, but it is more than
adequate from my point of view. If you really value crisp clear graphics then
I might suggets the PC1640 (which I also use). The latter has excellent
(EGA) compatible display and an extra (short) expansion slot as well as 640K RAM
as standard. (Upgrading the 1512 to 640K is simple and costs about 20 pounds.)

Re: Expansion slots - The Amstrad hard disc machine takes up only one slot
(on the UK version at least) although a hard *card* will take up 1.5 slots
as reported above. I have one machine using an Amstrad HD and another using
a tandon 20Mbyte hardcard. (Both do in fact use the same Tandon drive,
although the latter is a significantly cheaper way of obtaining a 20Meg pc).

As for shortage of expansion slots, this is not a problem on a machine that
includes (fully compatible) serial and parallel ports and CGA graphics. (EGA for
the 1640).

There were teething  problems with early UK machines (as always) but these
will have been sorted out long ago.

There you go. Hope this is of use. 

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|   Mark Hughes   |  Telex:   265871 ref:MAG70076
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-------------------  Teleph:  Cambridge (UK) (0)223-358855
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-------------------  UUCP:    mrh@camcon.uucp  / ..uunet!mcvax!ukc!camcon!mrh
|   Mark Hughes   |  Telex:   265871 ref:MAG70076
|(Compware . CCL) |  BT Gold: 72:MAG70076
-------------------  Teleph:  Cambridge (UK) (0)223-358855