Article-I.D.: mcnc.514
Posted: Fri Apr 26 19:09:05 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 28-Apr-85 23:28:47 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: Microelectronics Center of NC; RTP, NC
Lines: 19



I have a 64K ATR8000 CP/M 80 machine, and someone has just come
out with a hard disk drive for it.  The drive can store 8 Mb, and 
costs $895.00  .  That is almost as much as the cost of the computer
and two 5.25" floppy drives, and I'm wondering if it is worth putting
in all that money for the hard disk.  Never having used one before, I
have no basis for judgement.  I'm pretty happy with the system itself,
I run a fair bit of stuff on it (Wordstar, Turbo and C, terminal emulation
and so on), and I'm trying to get ZCPR3 cranked up on it.  But I have
been asked if I can justify spending another $1000 on a system that appears
to be obsolete, and I'm finding it hard to say very much.  I would
appreciate comments from any of you 'out there in netland'.
Is it convinient enough to be worth the cost?  Is it worth investing
in this system?   Everything will be appreciated.  Thanks,

                .........ravi     ( ..decvax!mcnc!ravi)

ps: please reply by mail.

Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.10267
Posted: Mon Apr 29 08:28:14 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 30-Apr-85 02:37:14 EDT
Sender: news@brl-tgr.ARPA
Lines: 12

With respect to the cost of the hard drive, if the $895 includes the 
controller and the 8mb is formatted, then the price does not seem to be
too out-of-line, just a little high.

Regarding the question about obsolescence, I think that if you like a system
(i.e., it does almost everything you want) and don't think that you will be
replacing it anytime in the near to mid future (1 to 3 years) then it doesn't
really matter if the system is not "state-of-the-art".  If it's functional, use
it; if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Jeff Edelheit
(edelheit@mitre)

Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.10271
Posted: Mon Apr 29 11:57:30 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 30-Apr-85 04:09:23 EDT
Sender: news@brl-tgr.ARPA
Lines: 21

A computer system is only obsolete when you have progressed past it's
inherent capabilities, (i.e. Not enough memory space, not enough disk
space, processor to slow, screen to small and not expandable). In your
case it appears that you are still developing on your system and that it
is still a useful tool. Like any tool, your system becomes more useful
when it's easier or faster after an enhancement is added. In this case
(adding a rigid) you will find 2x to 10x improvement in disk bound
processing, plus the added convienence of all your files directly
accessable without swapping disks...The added enhancement of ZCPR will
make your system feel like an extension of your own thought cataloging
method. 
I have added a rigid to my XEROX 820-II and now am hardly able to stand
the use of a floppy system, in fact I got so hooked that I hacked around
the system and added another TW0 8 meg rigids to the system giving me 24
megs of online storage..A bit of over kill, but It allows me do do
anything I want in terms of segmenting my work. $1000 dollars will be
well spent to keep a friendly, familiar piece of equipment from
becomming 'obsolete', after all a computer only processes bits, it's the
human perception that makes one computer better than another...

Russ