Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!super!udel!rochester!pt.cs.cmu.edu!andrew.cmu.edu!mp1u+ From: mp1u+@andrew.cmu.edu (Michael Portuesi) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Re: Microbotics Stardrive questions Message-ID: Date: 11 Nov 88 19:57:29 GMT References: <6080008@hpcupt1.HP.COM> , <1147@cseg.uucp> Organization: Carnegie Mellon Lines: 43 In-Reply-To: <1147@cseg.uucp> > *Excerpts from ext.nn.comp.sys.amiga: 11-Nov-88 Re: Microbotics Stardrive q..* > *Greg M. Garner@hcx.uucp (1607)* > I am _VERY_ impressed with the supra controller, its construction, its > manual, its performance, in short, everything about it. I am glad > I decided to get this combination over the starboard scsi, as I have > no complaints about Supra. > . I also managed to get a 65 meg setup > for less than 800 Clams, including blue label UPS shipping. > The hard drive came from Lyco Computers, costing me in the end > 464.00 with shipping. The Supra interface came directly from > Supra, 205.00$$$. and a hard drive enclosure from wetek, for > 90.00 rounds it out. Try it, you'll like it! For $337 I got a Starboard II + SCSI controller + 512K memory on board (InterComputing, Dallas TX, (800) 531-4747) and sockets for another 512K worth of chips. I purchased a Seagate ST-157N from FirstStop Computer ((800) 832-4322) for $430, and I purchased a 3 1/2" HD enclosure + power supply from IB Computing in Oregon ((503) 297-8425) for about $90. Total cost of my HD setup is about $857, not including cable (which I haven't done anything about yet). Compared to the Supra controller setup, I paid about $100 more for 512K of memory plus the option to add another 512K simply by purchasing the chips, not to mention the fact that the Starboard also takes an additional $35 1 MB option card (sans chips, of course). I don't know if the Supra controller has this option, but the Starboard SCSI module also has a battery-backed clock. My HD is 48 meg, but FirstStop offers the ST-277N for less money than Lyco. You are also more likely to get the drive if you order from FirstStop -- I originally had my drive on order from Lyco, and they billed my Visa card despite the fact they STILL hadn't shipped the drive TWO WEEKS after I ordered it. I cancelled my order and placed it with FirstStop. With the exception of the support software and documentation (the Supra sounds definitely superior to the dreck Microbotics gave me), I think the Starboard is a better buy. I still don't have my HD yet, but the memory expansion and the clock aboard the SCSI module work flawlessly. --M Michael Portuesi / Information Technology Center / Carnegie Mellon University ARPA: mp1u+@andrew.cmu.edu BITNET: mp1u+%andrew.cmu.edu@cmccvb UUCP: ...harvard!andrew.cmu.edu!mp1u+ "my friends say she's a dumb blonde, but they don't know she dyes her hair"