Xref: utzoo comp.sys.ibm.pc:9643 alt.flame:998
Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!rutgers!ncsuvx!mcnc!decvax!decwrl!sun!pitstop!sundc!netxcom!jallen
From: jallen@netxcom.UUCP (John Allen)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc,alt.flame
Subject: Re: No problem AT clones (Flame on Compaq)
Keywords: clones ruinous hardware tweaks doom frustration exasperation
Message-ID: <593@netxcom.UUCP>
Date: 17 Dec 87 19:42:23 GMT
References: <2001@briar.Philips.Com> <3151@bnrmtv.UUCP> <636@qetzal.UUCP>
Reply-To: jallen@netxcom.UUCP (John Allen)
Organization: NetExpress Communications, Inc., Vienna, VA
Lines: 37

In article <636@qetzal.UUCP> rcw@qetzal.UUCP (Robert C. White) writes:
>In article <3151@bnrmtv.UUCP>, perkins@bnrmtv.UUCP (Henry Perkins) writes:
>> Compaqs are quite reliable, guaranteed to be IBM-compatible, and
>> give better-than-IBM performance.  They're also not cheap.
>
>FLAME ON
>
> [Stuff about floppy trouble, incompatible HD interface,
>  Compaq price gouging, etc.]
>
>... but was able to hardwire
>it to the trusty Microport IMS clone and transfer my 14 megabyte 
>data file. Whew. 

Contains mild IMS flames...

Sorry, but this is where I really get lost.  I own a clone.  I now
use several varieties of clone at the office as well.  Two of the
ones at the office are IMS machines, and we have Microport running
(sort of) on an NCR.  The IMS has been the very least compatible with
respect to the floppy.  We can also cause its keyboard to hang *at will*.
The Compaq machines, while they may not be physically hardware compatible,
are a much higher quality machine than the IMS.  Further, the hardware
differences would all appear to have been included for performance,
and *not* for pricing.  Do you really think the PC market is sophisticated
enough to need that type of justification for Compaq's price structure?
I don't.  In short, I wouldn't buy one for home, but the Compaq is the
best match for some jobs.

BTW, specifics about our IMS troubles are available on request.

John Allen
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