HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: Dave Filpus <filpus@bnr.ca>
Subject: Re: Pros & Cons of switching to SCSI for a PC.
Organization: BNR
X-Useragent: Nuntius v1.1
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 13:42:21 GMT

From: Mahesh Bagade, c23mkb@kocrsv01.delcoelect.com
In article <1992Dec15.134452.4165@kocrsv01.delcoelect.com> Mahesh Bagade,
c23mkb@kocrsv01.delcoelect.com writes:
>Hi Netters!
>
>I am planning to purchase a pc and hence I am involved in some research
>as to what I should be looking for.
>
>Can gurus on the net give me an idea of what SCSI is and it's pros &
Cons?
>All I know is that, it is an interface which will provide multiple
expansion
>slots.
SCSI is a parallel interface designed by an ANSI committee, starting with
Shugart's SASI interface, back in 1984.  It was designed to facilitate
interoperability of devices by multiple vendors.  It allows up to eight
devices on a single cable, including the host computer.  It allows data
exchange rates up to 5 Megabytes/second between devices.  It has a
command structure that requires a certain amount of intelligence in the
device.

>
>Are there any standards?
Plain vanilla SCSI is ANSI standard X3.131-1986.  There are newer
flavors, SCSI-2 is in the publishing process.  SCSI-3 is in the
committee, ANSC X3T9.2. 

>It is widely supported?
It is very widely supported.  There are whole classes of devices for
which SCSI is the only supported interface.  There are many SCSI disks. 
The problem is that the controller is not built into PC's (as it is in
Mac's and PS/2's), so there is an extra controller cost. 

>Are there any compatibility problems?
The idea of SCSI was to eliminate compatibility issues.   SCSI-1 allowed
too many vendor options.  SCSI-2 is better.  There are problems with
cabling and termination which plague the interface to this day.  Both Mac
and PS/2 use nonstandard cables and termination.  However, with a little
intelligent engineering by the vendors and good support, you will find
that SCSI devices will be compatible with each other.   

>Will I face any problems in future?
As in any technology, your SCSI devices will be outmoded, but your SCSI
controller should not be.  It should be posssible to just buy a larger or
faster device compatible with your SCSI controller.    There will be
devices built that will require SCSI-2 or SCSI-3, so you may want to
upgrade your controller in the future.

>
>Thanks for all the responses in advance....
>
>Mahesh
From: Andrew.Stratton@cm.cf.ac.uk (Andrew F Stratton)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: HELP : How can I connect SCART to SVGA monitor?
Date: 14 Dec 92 11:39:32 GMT
Organization: University of Wales College of Cardiff


  Please could someone let me know how to connect a SCART video recorder
(which I haven't yet bought) to a 14" svga monitor for an IBM PC.  I
will also be wiring the sound through my HiFi (but I have done the
latter before).

  I would like to do this - because I already have a colour svga
monitor - the quality should be a lot better than a TV - and I do not
want even more boxes strewn around the place.  I am a dab hand at
soldering - so I am ok to wire my own plugs.

Thanks in advance,
  Andy Stratton.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: NO Product support. BOYCOTT?
From: djlewis@ualr.edu
Date: 14 Dec 92 12:45:41 GMT
Organization: University of Arkansas at Little Rock

I am sure that most everyone that purchases a lot of pc hardware has noticed
by now that many product suppliers are NOT printing in any form thier company's
home or subsidary addresses or phone numbers.
	I have seen this on new motherboards and video cards and I/O cards
many times. 
	It is my opionion that the supplier should include addresses and 
phone numbers but I am willing to forgo this at times, depending on the 
bargain, as I am comfortable. 
	Do you , the people of netland, have any recommendations that could
be put into a bill and given to congress? Is this important to you? Should
we the people boycott the said products?
	I feel that any vendor that sells their product without the information
(address/phone) included is probably not intending to support the product and
may be a "Fly By Night" company just out for the quick cash.

any comments?
Don Lewis
djlewis@ualr.edu
djlewis@spider.ualr.edu
From: sinster@cse.ucsc.edu (Darren Senn)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: SCSI+ESDI on ISA bus?
Date: 17 Dec 1992 21:36:39 GMT
Organization: University of California, Santa Cruz
Distribution: na
NNTP-Posting-Host: tioga.ucsc.edu
Summary: I know it's possible, how to do it?

I have a machine (486/25, OPTI chipset, AMI BIOS, ISA bus) with an ESDI
controller installed.  I want to switch to SCSI, but I'd rather not lose
my ESDI drive immediately.  I know that installing a SCSI controller without
twiddling with the cards will create a conflict between IRQ's and I/O
addresses; however, I've heard of people who've installed both types of
controller on the same bus by changing the IRQ and I/O assignments on one
or both cards.

Does anyone know a good IRQ and I/O address assignment (= lowest possibility
for conflict with my other cards -- a ThunderBoard, VGA card, and standard
multi-I/O card) for this?  Also, does anyone know a good SCSI adaptor for
this kind of thing (= has jumpers or DIP switches with a wide range of values)?

Are there any other problems I might run into?  Don't worry about any
problems that DOS will have with this; I stopped using that travesty last
year.

Please email responses to sinster@scintilla.capitola.ca.us, since I don't
read this newsgroup.

Thanks in advance.

P.S.: It's alright if I can't boot from the SCSI drive(s).
-- 
Darren Senn                                            Phone:    (408) 454-9074
sinster@scintilla.capitola.ca.us                       Snail:     129 Goss Ave.
Wasurenaide -- doko e itte mo soko ni anata wa iru yo.     Santa Cruz, Ca 95065
From: ah157@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Rob Henry)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: WANTED -> Old floppy drives and controller cards
Date: 12 Dec 1992 22:48:41 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: ah157@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Rob Henry)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc10.ins.cwru.edu



WANTED

Working floppy disk drives
5.25 or 3.5
also looking for controller cards.

Will pay $5 for RLL card

Will pay $3 for 360k drives
         $10 for 720k
         $20 for 1.2 M

Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: palane@IASTATE.EDU (Paul A. Lane)
Subject: Re: Recommendations on PC companies (FastMicro and Midwest Micro)
Reply-To: palane@IASTATE.EDU (Paul A. Lane)
Organization: Iowa State University
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 05:20:23 GMT

In article <1992Dec7.165401.833@news.columbia.edu>,
jbaltz@hebrew.cc.columbia.edu (Jerry B. Altzman) writes:

> I'm sure this is an FAQ, but here goes anyway...
> 
> I'm looking for anyone who has had experience with either Midwest Micro
> PC's (the "elite" series) or the FastMicro PC's. Since these aren't GW2K,
> Zeos or Dell, I don't see their names mentioned anywhere, but their prices
> aren't too bad (and I'm on a reasonably tight budget)

FastMicro just showed up in a PC World review of 386/40 and 486SX/25 machines.
It was also recently reviewed in PC Sources. The machines appear to be well-
made, however (as of the time of the review, probably last summer), there had
been a number of complaints about FastMicro service and support. In other
words,
cheap but don't expect any help.

FastMicro has recently taken home a number of Computer Shopper awards for soft-
ware mail order, mainly because of their prices. If you don't worry about
support, they're probably a good pick. If you want a low price, but better 
support, you might want to consider USA Flex. Prices are fairly low, but 
service is rated highly. I'm consider purchasing a 486/33 with VESA local bus.
Here are my three contenders:

USA Flex:  64K cache, 4 MB memory, 210 MB hard drive, VESA accelerated video,
   $1999   14" NI monitor, DOS, Windows, and a mouse.

Fast Micro: 128K cache, 8 MB memory, 212 MB hard drive, VESA accelerated video,
     $1999  14" NI monitor, DOS, Windows, Microsoft mouse, 2 applications.

Gateway 4DX-33V: 64K cache, 8 MB memory, 250 MB hard drive, VESA ATI Ultra Pro,
          $2495  15" Mag Innovision monitor, DOS, Windows, mouse, utility soft-
                 ware and one application.

The choice between USA Flex and Fast Micro is service and support vs stuff
(4 MB memory and 2 applications [Quattro Pro/Win, WordPerfect/Win, Paradox and
a few others are the choices]).

The Gateway is more expensive than either, but comes with by far the best
video.
A friend of mine just purchased a Value Line FastMicro and I'm planning on
doing a little discrete calling. My expectation is that service stinks. You
get what you pay for.

I hope this was helpful. If and when I purchase (I still might get a Mac),
I'll let you know my experiences.

Paul

Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: mpalmer@encore.com (Mike Palmer)
Subject: Re: Question about the NEC 3FGX
Organization: Encore Computer Corporation
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 16:30:17 GMT
Keywords: monitor NEC

jjctc@lhdsy1.lahabra.chevron.com (James C. Tsiao) writes:

>Hello folks.  I'm hoping to get some quick advice about the NEC monitor.
>One of our groups is going to buy a monitor tomorrow, and I would like
>to be able to present them with some pros and cons.

>    1.  What is the specification for the NEC 3FGX?  Is it 14" or 15"?
>        What's the max resolution (interlaced and non-interlaced)?  What
>        is its scan frequencies?  Does it have auto sizing?  Etc., etc.

>    2.  What about reliability and satisfaction?  Is the image quality
>        good?  Is the picture stable?  Do you like it?  Any problems?

>Sorry to sound so clueless about this monitor, but the group leader saw
>an ad for it and asked me if it is a good deal.  He (nor the ad) provided
>me with any additional info.

>BTW, I'm suggesting the Orchid Fahrenheit 1280 as a video card.  So that's
>probably what the monitor will be attached to.

Diamond 24X would be better.
From: bsardis@netcom.com (Barry Sardis)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: External case for devices (SCSI)
Date: 14 Dec 92 18:02:19 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest)

williams@herky.cs.uiowa.edu (Kent Williams) writes:

>From article <104479@bu.edu>, by edwong@bu.edu (Edward Wong):
>> Does anyone know where I can get external case for some SCSI devices?  I am
>> going to buy a new SCSI drive, and I am also running out of drive bay, so I
>> am thinking of buying external cases. Thanks.
>> 
>> --
>> 8)
>>   _               _     | user's name:  Edward Wong
>>  |_ |\ \   / /\  |_) |\ | ARPA:     edwong@acs.bu.edu	
>>  |_ |/  \^/ /==\ | \ |/ | UUCP:     acs.bu.edu!edwong	

>Buy a cheap case/power-supply combo.  Better yet, buy a humongous tower
>case and transfer your system into it.

>When I've asked various vendors about an 'external SCSI case' they've
>always come back with a price in the 200$ range, which is more than
>enough to buy a deluxe tower/PS combo.
>--
>Kent Williams -- williams@cs.uiowa.edu Work(335-4496) Home(338-6053)
>There used to be an inflammatory quote here.

I bought an external SCSI case from a local supplier of hard disks for ~$100.
I believe that you can also find them readily at some retailers of Macs. You 
can also get mini-towers for about the same money.
-- 
Barry Sardis		| Home:   (408) 448-1589
1241 Laurie Avenue	| Office: (408) 448-7404
San Jose, CA 95125	| Fax:    (408) 448-7404
Email: bsardis@netcom.COM or 70105.1210@compuserve.COM
From: dbr@ocf.berkeley.edu (Daniel Rosler)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: Leaving machine on 24hrs??
Date: 15 Dec 1992 10:09:45 GMT
Organization: U. C. Berkeley Open Computing Facility
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: monsoon.berkeley.edu

In article <2B2D2A03.23733@news.service.uci.edu> eapu168@orion.oac.uci.edu (Lee Furnival) writes:
>	Should the system be left on 24 hours a day?
>
>Will I be testing the bounds of "MTBF" ratings by leaving everything on?

An article in PC Mag a while back showed that the life of a hard drive and its
MFBF places it far beyond its usefulness.  I don't remember the exact statis-
tics, but basically, if you leave the system on 24 hours/day, by the time it 
would fail, the hard drive would be between 6(7) years at the earliest, and as 
old as 12 years old.  Now really, do you think you'll be using the drive in 
2005 when a gigabyte drive might fit on a pixel size chip of chocolate :)?


-- 

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dan Rosler                       Internet: dbr@ocf.berkeley.edu
Because you never get a third chance to make a second impression.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
From: huub@dutetvd.tudelft.nl (Huub van Roosmalen)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Dynalink modem experiences wanted
Date: 20 Dec 92 14:17:01 GMT
Organization: Delft University of Technology

Anybody have any experience with Dynalink modems and in particular
their 14k4 external model (P1496MX)? I can get a good deal on it,
but I haven't found any reviews on it yet.

Huub van Roosmalen (huub@dutetvd.et.tudelft.nl)  {$I disclaimer_song_&_dance}
Xref: sparky comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware:33699 comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc:16010
From: levinson@vax.sonoma.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,comp.windows.ms
Subject: Re: Internal 14.4K Modems
Date: 19 Dec 92 04:00:25 GMT
Organization: Sonoma State University

In article <1992Dec14.214713.15837@nosc.mil>, mitch@nosc.mil (Ray Mitchell) writes:
> 
> I'm in the process of buying a 14.4K internal modem and need some guidance.
> The brands I have had recommended include Intel, USR, Complete Comp,
> Practical Comp, MACS, and Boca.  Excuse misspellings because all of these
> have been phone discussions.  Price is an object but it doesn't outweigh
> reliability.  A FAX feature is desirable but not a must if the price is
> right.  The best price I found was on a Boca 14.4K FAX modem but one
> source told me they do not run reliably at 14.4K because they lack a
> UART, and one can't be added.
> 
> Any and all recommendations, insights, and horror stories will be
> appreciated.  Please get technical about various features, problems,
> etc.  Please e-mail.
> 
> Thanks in advance
> Ray Mitchell
> mitch@nosc.mil

I just ordered the Eagle external modem thru Prodigy.  It sells for $199 and it
comes with v32bis.  I have not received it yet, but was wondering if anyone
else has this modem and can compare it to other ones that are available.  I was
browsing thru a catalog and noticed that most of the 9600 V32bis modems are
well over $250 for internals, and was wondering if the $199 price compromises
other features.

Please respond to me at the home computer address, as the VAX will be out of
service during the winter break.

 
--
Eric Levinson
rcisnet2!root@moon.nbn.com	|  Home computer (UUCP)
levinson@vax.sonoma.edu		|  Vax
I can also be reached on my BBS system, Color Galaxy Milky Way (415) 883-0696
From: root@cibbs.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Contacting ATI via email
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 92 12:18:22 EST
Organization: DataSoft Consulting (Toronto, Ont. Canada)

Just to let everyone know, you can reach ATI's Customer Support via email. Use
the following address -

ATI Customer Support via email:

74740.667@compserve.com

Mark

----
Club InSaNiTy BBS   |   BBS:+1 416 691 0679 |   root@cibbs.UUCP
DataSoft Consulting | Voice:+1 416 691 5529 |   uunorth!cibbs!root
Mark Buckaway       | Toronto, Ont. CANADA  |   1@4653 (WWIVnet)
From: lewis@oasys.dt.navy.mil (William Lewis)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: MAG Montitor by Innovision ..??
Date: 15 Dec 92 12:18:47 GMT
Reply-To: lewis@oasys.dt.navy.mil (William Lewis)
Organization: Carderock Division, NSWC, Bethesda, MD

In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware, stellabo@phage.cshl.org (Fred Stellabotte) writes:
 >Does anyone have any experience with the MAG Multisync
 >Monitors by Innovision ..??
 >
 >I am considering the 17" version of this monitor ..
 >Also .. any ideas on a  good Windows Acceraltor
 >card ..??
 >
 >Thanks in advance ...
 >
 >-Fred
    >| ====  Fred J. Stellabotte                     stellabo@cshl.org
 >  >| ====  Computer Systems Manager
 >  >| ====  CFI-IA SEL MEL Commerical Instrument
 >  >| ==== ___________________________________________________________
 >  >| ====  Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory         Voice: (516)367-8420
 >  >| ====  1 Bungtown Road                         Fax: (516)367-8845
 >  >| ====  Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724

I have the Mag 17F Monitor at work. in fact, We have four of them.
We have not encountered any problems as of yet (only about 3 mos. old)
For the most part they are very good monitors, and noone in our group
seems unhappy with them. There's only one complaint that I have about
the monitor: In windows at 1024x768, in the upper left corner, the images
are slightly  blurry. I have not checked this out on the other monitors
more than casually, but it doesn't seem to occur on them.

You might also consider the Viewsonic 7 a friend of mine has one and
Its just as sharp. It has fewer bells and whistles but probably a lower
price (at least lower than the 17"F" by Mag)

If you've been impressed by the Mag, and can get a good price, buy it.
It's a good monitor.
just my opinion though...

Bill Lewis
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: bsardis@netcom.com (Barry Sardis)
Subject: Re: Everex Efax4
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 06:34:55 GMT

gilf@vms.huji.ac.il (Gil Freund) writes:

>Does anyone one on this list use the Everex Fax/Modem with EFAX4?,
>If so, could you tell me how you feel about it. I am now considering
>whether to replace my the fax card (to an Intel satisFaxion) or just
>to upgrade the software.

>Thanks
>--
>==========================================================================
>Gil Freund                                             GILF@VMS.HUJI.AC.IL
>==========================================================================

I didn't like it. I was using it (ver C) with an external Class 2 modem. 
It seemed to put a real heavy load on windows all the time when it was 
just listening and most of it was still a DOS program. I got WinFAX Pro 
which I am very happy with.

-- 
Barry Sardis		| Home:   (408) 448-1589
1241 Laurie Avenue	| Office: (408) 448-7404
San Jose, CA 95125	| Fax:    (408) 448-7404
Email: bsardis@netcom.COM or 70105.1210@compuserve.COM
From: coulman@cs.Usask.CA (Randy Coulman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: ...? Gate2K 486-66 VLB ??
Date: 11 Dec 1992 19:16:10 GMT
Organization: University of Saskatchewan
Distribution: na
Reply-To: coulman@cs.Usask.CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: skorpio.usask.ca

In article <1992Dec6.234551.952@bnr.ca>, tracyb@bnr.ca (Tracy Blomquist) writes:
>I'm considering buying a Gateway 2000 486-66 VLB with the ATI Pro
>and all the other goodies.  I called them and had a chat with a
>rep re the machine.  Some questions arose which I would like to
>get straight answers to:
>
I just ordered the DX-33V system, so I can answer at least one of 
your questions.

>1. The rep said the integrated serial ports use either the 8250 or
>16450 UARTs (both 1 byte buffers).  Can these [easily] be replaced
>by 16550s?  Have they gone and integrated the UART, tranceivers, etc.
>into some type of single package that prevents you from replacing 
>the UARTS?
>

I asked about this.  My rep said that the 16450 was socketed and thus
easily replaceable.  If this turns out to not be true, I'll be very
upset.

>2. Is the integrated parallel port bi-directional?
>

I have no idea about this one.

>2a. Are the serial/parallel ports really even integrated into the
>motherboard as the rep stated?
>

Or this one.

>3. Does/Can it use standard 4Mx9 SIMMs?
>

I assume this is possible, but I'm not positive.  I was quoted a price
of $350 for an extra 8MB in my system (just over $40/MB) which I thought
was quite good considering the recent price hikes and the like.

>4. Overall, is it good, or no?
>

I think they're good.  They seem to be the only computer manufacturer 
that is expanding rather than cutting back these days.

>--
>Thanks,
>,----------------------,------------------------.---------------------,
>| Karl Tracy Blomquist | E-MAIL: tracyb@bnr.ca  | Fax: 1-613-765-4018 |
>| P.S.C. Consultant    | ENVOY: T.BLOMQUIST     | Ph:  1-613-765-4886 |
>`----------------------'------------------------'---------------------'
>| Bell-Northern Research, P.O.Box 3511, Stn C, Ottawa, Ont., K1Y-4H7  |
>`---------------------------------------------------------------------'


Hope this helps,
Randy
-- 
Randy A. Coulman                |       ARIES Laboratory
Research Assistant              |       Department of Computational Science
                                |       University of Saskatchewan
coulman@cs.Usask.ca             |       Saskatoon, SK   S7N 0W0
From: jbodnar@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (John Bodnar)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: Cyrix "486" cpu really compatible ?
Date: 20 Dec 92 08:59:29 GMT
Reply-To: jbodnar@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (John Bodnar)
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX

According to charles@gremlin.muug.mb.ca (Charles):
>You're quite close minded.  Whoever said anything about BSD386?  
>But since you mentioned it, what about all the thousands of people still
>running Unix SysVR3.2 variants? Has IBM or MS pledged to turn this cache
>on with OS/2 or NT?  

Cyrix has produced an OS/2 driver to enable the 486D/SLC onboard cache.
It's really a rather trivial piece of code.  I'm sure that if Cyrix could
set up a system with a particular OS, it wouldn't take them but a day to
get a cache enabling driver written.
-- 
John Bodnar                          : Friends don't let friends use Windows!
The University of Texas at Austin    : But I'm still waiting for Microsoft
Internet: jbodnar@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu : Solitaire NT!  Heaven forbid, another
UUCP: ....!cs.utexas!ut-ccwf!jbodnar : productive user of OS/2 v2.0!
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc