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From: toma@tekgvs.LABS.TEK.COM (Tom Almy)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.tandy,comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Is there really no better value?
Keywords: TANDY PRICES
Message-ID: <5001@tekgvs.LABS.TEK.COM>
Date: 25 Apr 89 15:18:12 GMT
References: <1454@csm9a.UUCP> <281@ncelvax.UUCP>
Reply-To: toma@tekgvs.LABS.TEK.COM (Tom Almy)
Followup-To: comp.sys.tandy
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton,  OR.
Lines: 35


My experience, having owned, or been close to, 5 Tandy computers, a True-Blue
IBM PC, numerous mail-order clones, and a mail-order CP/M machine. And also
having visited many computer stores contemplating computer purchases.

1. The mail order establishments are the most knowledgeable, followed by
   the Tandy Computer Centers, followed by the local computer stores.

2. Tandy computer repair is much less expensive than the competition, and
   faster as well.  Mail order repair is only competitive if the user has
   the expertise and the vendor agrees to cross-ship components.

3. No mater what the brand, you have less trouble (less finger pointing)
   if you buy from a single vendor, even though that typically costs more.

For these reasons, I had my father buy a Tandy computer years ago (a TRS-80,
Model III, this was before PC days), since he is a non-technical user who
wanted a box that worked, and if it didn't he could get fixed fast. They also
lived 3000 miles away, too far for me to help out.   He has had no regrets.
Years ago I bought a Tandy 1000 to do some contract software 
development on because I felt that the IBM-PC would be short lived (how 
wrong I was!) and I didn't want to waste time piecing together a super system.

But last fall my parents moved across the street.  My father needed a 
PC/AT clone, having outgrown the TRS-80 (he had four floppy drives on it!).
I built him a clone system, since he now has a knowledgeable vendor close by!

The moral of the story is: for those of us in the know (probably everybody
reading this) Tandy, IBM, and even Compaq, does not make much sense.  But
for the "unwashed masses" Tandy is a safe bet.  (Note that while no one
has ever been "fired" for buying IBM, plenty of people have been "burned").

Tom Almy
toma@tekgvs.labs.tek.com
Now, More Than Ever, Standard Disclaimers Apply