Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!ucsd!ucsdhub!hp-sdd!apollo!nelson_p
From: nelson_p@apollo.HP.COM (Peter Nelson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Door #1 or Door #2
Message-ID: <48a4ddd8.20b6d@apollo.HP.COM>
Date: 14 Feb 90 19:43:00 GMT
Sender: root@apollo.HP.COM
Distribution: usa
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Apollo Division - Chelmsford, MA
Lines: 28



    After comparing the dismal performance of my XT-clone 
    to a friend's 286-based system I thought I would consider
    an upgrade.   I thought that a 386SX might be a good
    target.

    I can buy an HP 80386SX-based computer with 14" monitor,
    5.25" FD, 3.5" FD, 42M (19 ms) HD, and 16-color VGA card for 
    around $2700 + tax through the company.   Such a deal!   8-( .    

    Or I can buy a similarly-configured system only with a
    65MB (28mS Seagate) HD from White Mountain computer in
    Nashua NH for $2065.   They use a generic motherboard made
    by a Taiwanese maker, Magitronics, and use mostly name-brand 
    (Paradise, Seagate) peripherals.   The difference in price,
    especially when you figure sales tax, is almost enough to
    buy a Laserjet IIP, through the company.

    But is it worth it?    Will the White Mt. computer blow
    up in a spectacular display of sparks and repair bills the
    day the warranty runs out?   Will an HP computer (by then sold
    to someone else) be heard at that very moment snickering quietly
    to itself?   Money IS an object but so is reliability and
    satisfaction of use.    Thoughts?  Dire predictions?  Soothing
    reassurances?   I'll accept them all with gratitude.

                                               ---Peter