From: jaffray@herb-ox.berkeley.edu (Alan Jaffray)
Newsgroups: ba.market.computers
Subject: INFO: Reasonable prices
Date: 21 Jul 92 19:27:00 GMT
Organization: U.C. Berkeley Math. Department.
NNTP-Posting-Host: herb-ox.berkeley.edu


   I've decided to scrap the "stupid computer" idea, and splurge on a
486.  As a result, I've spent an annoying amount of time paging through
the ads in a MicroTimes looking for good deals on systems, hard drives,
modems, etc.  Since it is very easy to pay too much for computer stuff
buying at the wrong place (I got severely ripped off a few years ago) 
I'm posting what I found out in hopes others will find it 
useful.  PLEASE post if you know of better deals on the same equipment,
or if you don't think these are good places to buy -- this is just the
result of my scanning, I have little info beyond the advertised price.

   For new computer systems and hard drives, the cheapest place to buy
appears to be Hi-Tech USA, in Milpitas and San Carlos, and they advertise
that they sell to lots of places like Lawrence Lab, NASA, UC Berkeley,
Sun, PG&E, etc., etc. so they should be somewhat reputable dealers.
For a 486/33 with 4MB RAM, 64K cache, SVGA 0.28mm non-interlaced monitor, 
one 1.44M floppy drive, and 120MB hard drive, they quoted me a price of
$1358.  For only 1MB RAM and a normal SVGA monitor, it would be $1144.
Add $340 for a 50 MHz system, subtract $244 for a 386/40, subtract 
$320 for a 386SX/25.  For only a 80MB HD, subtract $50; for 40MB, subtract
$120.

   Prices for hard drives: 40MB/28ms is $170, 80MB/18ms is $238,
100MB/18ms is $268, 120MB/16ms is $288, 130MB/15ms is $298,
170MB/15ms is $332, 200MB/16ms is $448, 240MB/15ms is $558,
340MB/15ms is $748.  Those are all IDE, they also sell a 
200MB/16ms SCSI drive for $564 and a 676MB/16ms SCSI drive for
$1218.  (Can someone explain the difference? I don't know).

   Hi-Tech also had a 101 key keyboard for $20, and a 3-button mouse
for $14, but IMHO it's worth spending a little extra on input devices
for comfort...

   For floppy drives, most inexpensive places have about the same prices
on them.  One place that had them cheaply (also good prices on systems)
was PanPacific Computer Corporation in Sunnyvale -- Teac 1.44M for $53,
1.2M for $58, 2.88M (3.5") for $95 (but the 2.88M disks are very expensive).

   For modems, Hi-Tech had an internal 2400 baud model for $34, and a 
2400/9600 fax modem for $58.  On the high-speed end, a friend of mine
mail-ordered a 14.4 kbaud fax/modem from Dallas Fax for $250, but others
have told me that Dallas Fax isn't the most reliable brand.  Access (in
Santa Clara) sells the U.S. Robotics Sportster (14.4 kbaud with v.32bis,
v.42bis) for $310 (add $20 for fax, add $50 for external), which is what
I'm getting.  Anova (in San Carlos) sells a 9600 baud internal modem
with v.32 for $200, unknown brand though...

   For getting floppy disks, the best place I've found is mail-order from
MEI, but I don't have the phone# with me.  They had 3.5" DD floppies for
$0.35 and 3.5" HD floppies for $0.65 (in lots of 25) the last time I 
checked, but they were also out of stock the last time I checked.

   Anyway, hope that's useful to someone...  If nothing else it's useful
as a guideline for scanning this group.  My feeling is that I wouldn't
pay more than 70% of the new price for a used system or component,
having been bitten by Murphy once too often, but your mileage may vary.

   Happy shopping,

   Alan
Newsgroups: ba.market.computers