On Sun, 28 Apr 2002, Richard Erlacher wrote:
> You, 'bear,' need to go back and reread what you've previously written. The
> 25MHz NEAT clone I bought in '89 was a '286, which, as I explained, was chosen
> because it was slightly faster than the much more costly '386's of the time,
> but cost MUCH less. It was, by the way, acquired through an ad in the
> Computer Shopper, which I followed closely when I was shopping for a "deal"
> since they didn't have an eBay yet.
Dick, if I had any free coupons for reading comprehension lessons at the
Sylvan Learning Center of your choice, I'd give them to you. I had not,
until now, contributed further to this thread, and if you'd actually paid
the slightest bit of attention you would have seen that it is GLEN
GOODWIN's article you have responded to---as witnessed by the header you
yourself included, even.
> I often found decent prices in Computer Shopper, and seldom even bothered to
FWIW I read Computer Shopper myself quite a lot at that time, cover to
cover even, because I was 12 and given over to such things. My memory does
not bear out your case, but it's notoriously flaky and I do not have the
magazines around anymore.
I did find some notes I---in a fit of wishful thinking---made about that
time (based on doodles I remember drawing to cheer up a friend (ah, the
heated war between Amiga and Macintosh), and other pages nearby with
actual dates on them) with the following notes culled directly from
Computer Shopper ads:
* Orchid Pro Designer Plus: $339, p.30 $299, p.208
* Miniscribe M3085; 70 MB, 18 msec. HD: $569, p. 56 $549, p.112
Price from a local shop; the best I remember finding anywhere:
* Barebones 16 MHz 286 (MB, case, PSU), $475 from Northwest Computer Outlet
A few tens of pages later, representing fall 1990, and irrelevant to the
discussion, but perhaps interesting to somebody:
* GVP 28MHz accelerator for Amiga 2000: ~$775
* 2 MB RAM expansion board for Amiga 2000, fully populated: ~$450
These would've been from AmigaWorld. The next page bears some more
Computer Shopper fruit:
* Seagate ST1144A, kit: $469, p.298
* ATI VGA Wonder Plus, 512k: $229
* Sound Blaster: $149
* USR Courier HST (14.4kbps): $539
* NEC CDR3501 external CD-ROM, with interface: $549
So I _still_ find your claim highly specious, though I lack primary
sources at the moment to back it up further.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Glen Goodwin" <acme_ent_at_bellsouth.net>
> To: <classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
> Sent: Saturday, April 27, 2002 11:47 PM
> Subject: BS al a Erlacher
Look! Do try to pay attention, please.
> except perhaps in that I had the information and you didn't. I don't always
> read the posts on the list as thoroughly and completely as I should, before
> reacting, and it's clear I'm not alone in that.
Yes. Painfully clear.
I don't know what to say on the availability of 25 MHz 80286 parts. As I
recall I stated quite clearly in the original message that my statement
was just that; a feeling. As it turns out I did find something out about
it in the meanwhile:
http://www.fortunecity.com/marina/reach/435/comphis6.html
"1989 (spring) Harris Semiconductor introduces a 25 MHz version of the
80286. Price is US $142 each in quantities of 1000."
Not exactly a primary source, no, but it is something to chew on.
ok
r.
Received on Mon Apr 29 2002 - 00:41:35 BST