Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!husc6!think!ames!ptsfa!ihnp4!mhuxu!res1 From: res1@mhuxu.UUCP (Rick Stealey) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc Subject: Re: XT Clones: What's the best? Message-ID: <6640@mhuxu.UUCP> Date: Tue, 21-Jul-87 17:01:21 EDT Article-I.D.: mhuxu.6640 Posted: Tue Jul 21 17:01:21 1987 Date-Received: Thu, 23-Jul-87 07:09:59 EDT References: <64@sickkids.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill Lines: 43 Summary: Doesn't matter much > I would like information about the multitude of brands available, and > comments on their strong/weak points (i.e. avoid Fred's XT Clone > because the hard disk controller craps out too much). Are there any > brands I should avoid? Any considered better-than-average? Any > advantages to buying the original IBM? I purchased an XT clone this year (Fountain). It is equipped in a very straightforward fashion: 2 floppy drives 640 K on the motherboard multi I/O card (2 floppy controllers,game port, 2 serial ports, 1 par port, and a clock) Color graphics card which provides for RGB color and approximately 400 x 200 line text resolution Enhanced AT keyboard (with separate number pad and cursor keys) The computer is a Fountain. What does that mean? Nothing at all except some sort of dealer network with some possible value in terms of the guarantee. Every single item mentioned above, except for the drives HAS NO NAME ON IT AT ALL. This means every item is generic, they are packed in a brown box with the only label being "Made in Taiwan, R.O.C." The construction of the modules is outstanding. The boards are beautifully built, and the quality appears to be impeccable. What type of XT clone to buy? I don't think it makes any difference at all. I have seen Fountains, Beltrons, etc. sitting right next to clones with no label on the front panel at all and they are assembled with the identical modules. The computer takes on some identity after it is assembled and a nameplate is stuck on the front panel. I have studied prices of cards and modules vs completed systems from the same dealer and concluded that there is no difference in the "system" prices. Therefore, my advice is to buy a clone from a dealer who is competitive in price, will stand behind the product in case a warranty replacement is required, and has the stuff in stock. To plug my dealer, that is MIT Computers in Pennsauken, NJ. Good luck. -- Rick Stealey {ihnp4}!mhuxu!res1