Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site bbncca.ARPA Path: utzoo!linus!bbncca!sdyer From: sdyer@bbncca.ARPA (Steve Dyer) Newsgroups: net.micro.pc Subject: PC Jr query Message-ID: <786@bbncca.ARPA> Date: Sun, 17-Jun-84 17:58:43 EDT Article-I.D.: bbncca.786 Posted: Sun Jun 17 17:58:43 1984 Date-Received: Mon, 18-Jun-84 00:15:11 EDT Organization: Bolt, Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, Ma. Lines: 25 I have heard next to nothing about the PC Jr in this newsgroup, presumably because of its almost universal loathing by the press and slow acceptance by the public. However, it has recently become much cheaper--for example, the Harvard Coop (of all places) is selling the expanded version for $899, which comes to about $809 with the Coop rebate. Suddenly, this begins to sound more attractive, especially because I have a spare DSDD floppy drive which could be used as drive B:, and Tecmar has introduced expansion memory cards for up to 640K. I'd be interested to hear of any positive experiences with the PC Jr or non-flaming reasons why it should be absolutely avoided. Sounds like a nice hacker's machine. Sure, this is old technology, but then so is the Apple IIc, which is even more crippled in the areas of expansion, address space and disk space. It isn't clear to me why the Apple is greeted with applause while the Jr is reviled. Both seem to have compromises which may be acceptable, given an appropriate audience. I know about the slower effective speed due to CPU/video contention, the poor keyboard and the lack of disk DMA. The keyboard problem can be solved with a replacement if necessary, but testimonials are welcome about the other misfeatures. An $1100 price difference can help one's patience. -- /Steve Dyer {decvax,linus,ima}!bbncca!sdyer sdyer@bbncca.ARPA