From: lipsett@lido.camb.inmet.com (Roger Lipsett)
Subject: Gateway vs. Austin questions
Organization: Intermetrics, Inc.
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 14:43:06 GMT


I am in the process of shopping for a possible new clone.  I have called
both GW2000 and Austin computers, and they have offered me the following
alleged deals:

Austin: 486 DX2/50, 8Mb, 210Mb WD hard disk, WD Paradise card (1024x768x256
NI, "GUI accelerated"), and a CTX 14: CPS5468NI (upgrade to 15" flat-screen
CPS1560 for $150).  Price is $2386 plus shipping with the 14" monitor.  I
would almost certainly get the 15" monitor, which would make the price $2536
plus shipping.

Gateway: 486 DX2/50, 8Mb, 250Mb WD hard disk (local bus IDE), ATI Ultra Pro
local bus video, 15" Mag flat-screen MX15 without autosizing (this,
according to the GW salesperson, is the only difference between the GW 15"
monitor and the standard MX15, and "it's no big deal").  Price is $2695 plus
shipping. 

I am (perhaps overly, perhaps not) worried about monitor clarity and
quality, having been burned by my first purchase, the standard GW2000
Crystal Scan 1024NI, which is, putting it politely, not very good.

So, in addition to soliciting general advice about these two systems, I have
the following specific questions:
1.  Is the ATI Ultra Pro card the same as the ATI Graphics Ultra Pro?  I
    assume not, but it's impossible to tell from the advertising.  If not,
    what are the differences?
2.  How does GUI acceleration compare to local bus implementations in terms
    of overall Windows performance?  My family tends to be rather heavy
    Windows users.  Another question:  how stable are the VESA local bus
    standards, and do they really provide enough end-user benefit that they
    will survive even for the presumed useful life of this machine?
3.  How is the WD Paradise card compared to the ATI Ultra Pro card?
    Interesting comparisons are: performance, RAM, refresh rates,
    resolutions, etc. 
4.  How about the monitors?  I have seen the CTX 15" at a store, and it
    appeared to be pretty good in terms of clarity.  I've never seen the MAG
    15".  What I really want is an NEC 3FG (or 4FG), but probably can't
    afford it.  Does anyone have experience with both of these monitors?
    How do they compare for clarity, reliability, etc.?  Should I try to
    stretch to a 3FG?

Finally, I more or less know what I'm getting from Gateway - I already have
one of their systems.  How is Austin as a company?  Do they have decent tech
support?  My experience with GW has been that I generally know more about
the problem than the person to whom I end up speaking, but they have been
responsive in terms of sending out updated drivers, mounting rails, etc.
Their hold time problems seem to be much better these days too.

Are there any other mail-order companies I should be looking at?

Thanks in advance.  If I get substantial responses via e-mail, I will
summarize and repost here.

Roger Lipsett
733 Concord Ave.
Intermetrics, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02138

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