From: utzoo!decvax!cca!hplabs!menlo70!sytek!msm@sri-unix
Newsgroups: net.micro
Title: Inexpensive System
Article-I.D.: sytek.177
Posted: Tue Jun 29 22:58:48 1982
Received: Fri Jul  2 02:08:57 1982

Regarding presby!aron's request for information on an inexpensive computer
system, I have a recommendation if you don't mind doing the integration
yourself.

Try a CAL-TEX (San Jose, CA:  408/942-1424) "Big Board" (The new version with
64K, CRT controller, disk controller, serial and parallel I/O, DMA --
$895 assembled and tested).  This requires a power supply, monitor, keyboard,
and floppy disk drives which can be obtained at competitive prices
anywhere.

I have put together a "big board" system (using an interim Big Board I until
the new Big Board II arrives later this month), 2 floppies (8") and 
a terminal "shell" (monitor, keyboard, power supply (which also powers the
cpu board) in a nice enclosure) for about $2,000.  Admitedly, there were
some bargans obtained (like the terminal shell, and one of the floppy
drives) locally, but I don't think that this figure is unrealistic.

The system as described was easy to integrate.  That consisted of just
cabling together -- all the individual components were already assembled.


Michael S. Maiten
Silicon Gulch, California