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From: Ghenis.pasa@XEROX.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: Word processor for a college freshman
Message-ID: <551@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Thu, 8-Aug-85 19:30:53 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.551
Posted: Thu Aug  8 19:30:53 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 11-Aug-85 07:28:37 EDT
Sender: news@brl-tgr.ARPA
Lines: 21

DO NOT GET AN ELECTRONIC TYPEWRITER!!!! With a word processor you can
save your work on disk, then go back and change it around. This saves
hundreds of drudge-filled unproductive hours of hard work. Your son will
get to spend his time on things that really matter (or maybe just relax
and play more).

DO NOT GET A COMMODORE 64!!!! By the time you get a disk drive or two
(you really need two) and some accessory to make it display 80
characters across (hopefully with lower case),  a monitor and some
SOFTWARE, you will have spent $800 AT LEAST. The Commodore trap is to
give away the processor, then kill you with the accessories.

My advice on affordable systems is to get a portable CP/M system. For
example, look at the basic Kaypro: for $695 you get a complete system
with a 9" monitor, TWO disk drives and all essential software:
word-processor, spreadsheet, database, BASIC, communications, utilities.
Even if your son only uses the word-processor (I'll bet he gets curious
about the other stuff eventually) this will serve him better than any
other choice for the money. 

Hope this helps.