AT VS 3B1

[Dave Burton]

In article <4833 at macom1.UUCP> larry at macom1.UUCP (Larry Taborek) writes:
|I this
|months computer shopper (May 1989) the following adds appear:
|
|(I only scanned it quickly for these prices)
|Page 473, MICA System 386 25MHz, $1525.
|Page 455, Competitive System 386 16MHz, $1177.
					 ^^^^^^ caveat emptor
|Page 379, Pacer 386 Motherboard, 20MHz, $859.
|Page 259, CDS Ad, X386 Motherboard, 16MHz, $795 (several others
|	under $1000)
|Page 25, Top Gun 386 Tower System, 33MHz, $1795.
|
|Add a 40MB disk & controller, ENIX, and add on about $600 to the
|systems above and you have a UNIX computer.  For the Competitive
|that would be around $1800.  A ways from $1000, to be sure, but
                       ^^^^
		       nope. see below.
|you could also put one together for less, or pick up a used one.
				 ^^^^^^^^
				 doubtful.

The "Competitive" system will go for a *bit* more than the $1800
you suggest. A quick look at the add shows the system is not complete.
You need to buy the "Enhanced 386" to get such optional features as
floppy disk drives, hard/floppy controllers, video card (no monitor
mentioned!), printer port, and keyboard. This runs $1769.00.

The "Professional 386" @ $2143.00 gives you: Licensed U.S.A BIOS,
A Seagate 40mb (sic) hard drive, plus some other motherboard features
(like coprocessor support, shadow RAM, ...).

Then (for the Professional), you add:
	100.00	Monochrome monitor (they didn't say you got one)
	399.00	Enix (that's what I just paid)
comp.unix.xenix folk: (see, relevance :-)
	~1300.00 for the 'complete' Xenix/386
and you have a system price of ~2650.00 ($3550 with Xenix),
less shipping & handling, VISA|Mastercard surcharges, etc.
This is a far cry from $1000, or $1800.

Oh, yeah, don't forget to buy another megabyte of RAM, as ENIX,
Xenix, UNIX won't run with just 1 Meg - especially with shadow RAM.
Depending upon the type of RAM needed, that's anywhere from $300-$500.

The 3b1's are complete (with operating system) at <$1000 locally.
If memory serves, it's $795. This includes a bit mapped display,
mouse, 40meg hard drive, 360k floppy, 1 meg ram, UNIX "3.51" (V.2).
For an additional $350 (I think), you can get the UNIX Software
Development System. Initial investment-wise, the 3b1 is vastly superior
to a 386/AT. And if you're just interested in getting into UNIX
for a minimum cost, this is a deal.

More relevence for comp.unix.xenix:

I bought the Top Gun system mentioned (for $1895),
added one meg of RAM ($400) and a 71MB hard drive ($550).
My total cost was ~2900 (after shipping & handling charges).
It runs Xenix 386 v2.3 just fine. This price is close to as
low as you can go (but it doesn't include the *IX).
-- 
Dave Burton		| ``/* You are not expected to understand this. */''
{spl1,sun}!laidbak!daveb|
(312) 505-9100 x325	| Disclaimer: I channel only for myself.