Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cornell!rochester!rutgers!mcnc!ecsvax!msewil
From: msewil@ecsvax.UUCP (Charles R. Ward)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: to Tandy Bashing
Keywords: ibm,tandy
Message-ID: <6885@ecsvax.UUCP>
Date: 26 Apr 89 01:36:56 GMT
Organization: UNC Educational Computing Service
Lines: 50


There are 3 things no computer buyer in his/her right mind would do.

   1) Pay retail for Tandy stuff.
   2) Buy hard disks from Tandy (too expensive even at discount).
   3) Buy an IBM PS/2 -30/286 over a Tandy 3000NL.

Let me elaborate.  Tandy equipment is available in EVERY computer
magazine from legitimate mail-order dealers offering discounts of
25-30%.  When purchased by mail, the equipment can still be taken
into ANY Tandy outlet for service (part of the purchase price, even
at discount, goes to this nation-wide service feature).  By the way, 
my extensive experience dealing with dealers has shown that Tandy
sales reps are no less informed that the average shmoo in Computerland,
Entre, etc.

I think you guys that are comparing the IBM-PS/2 30 to the Tandy 1000TL
are making the wrong comparison.  You should compare it too the Tandy 
3000NL.  You can buy this computer from dozens of mail-order dealers
for about $1000.  It comes with:

     a) 10MHz 80286
     b) serial & parallel ports
     c) 1.44M / 1.2M / 720K / 360K floppy controller
     d) 1 - 1.44M floppy
     e) hi speed RAM slot
     f) accepts BOTH 5 1/4 AND 3 1/2 devices (up to 4 total)
     g) will take ANYBODY's hard disk
     h) 7 FULL-SIZE ISA slots (3-8 bit, 4-16 bit)
     i) all of this in a box only marginally larger than the PS/2

This is more machine than the PS/2-50Z for a lot less money.  It is well
built and very reliable.  Now, you don't want to buy the peripherals 
from Tandy.  They are expensive because Tandy doesn't make them.  Buy
your VGA and Seagate HD from CompuADD or elsewhere.  Anyway you do it,
you'll wind up with a very nice computer for under $2200 (640K, analog
VGA, 40Meg Seagate ST251-1).

Another nice Tandy buy for the jet set is the Tandy 4000.  This 80386
machine with 1Meg RAM can be had for $1890 (and serviced at over 6000
stores worldwide).  You have to look hard to find even a Korean clone
that goes this cheap with the same standard features (1.44M floppy, 
1Meg RAM, serial & parallel ports, true 32-bit Intel 80386 with socket
for 80387 or Weitek).

No, I'm not a Tandy rep.  I direct an office that uses both IBM and 
Tandy equipment.  In our area (remote SE NC), we get better service
and performance from the Tandy equipment than from IBM.  Sure, Tandy
can be bashed for a lot of things, but there are some excellent buys
out there if you look for them.