From: sip1@ellis.uchicago.edu (Timothy F. Sipples)
Subject: Re: Comments on my new machine
Reply-To: sip1@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: Dept. of Econ., Univ. of Chicago
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 02:09:55 GMT

In article <1993Jan27.002010.24288@aplcen.apl.jhu.edu> trankq1@procon.jhuapl.edu () writes:
>I recently ordered a PC from Zenon System.  I would like to have your comments,
>even though I already ordered it.  I would return it if it will not run OS/2.
>The system costs me $4,720 (including shipping and handling).Its configuration:
>* 486DX-33Mhz with 3 local bus slots
>* 256K cache and 16MB (70ns) RAM.

Plenty of memory.

>* UltraStor 34F (local bus,SCSI-2 controller) with 64K cache

Fine for hard disks with the IBMINT13.I13 driver.  UltraStor's native
OS/2 driver (which will be faster and add support for CD-ROM drives,
tape backup, etc) is still in beta testing, it should be noted.  You
can get the beta driver from ftp-os2.nmsu.edu via anonymous ftp.

>* 340MB Maxtor drive (12ms).

Good.  Plenty of space.  With OS/2 multimedia coming in Version 2.1,
the hard disk space will help if you want to get involved in that.

>* 17" monitor (MAG MX17F, 1028X1024, 0.26mm)

Nice.

>* local-bus video card (the new Orchid 1280 using S3c803??) with 2MB
>RAM.

Orchid has been pretty OS/2-savvy.  Their 1280 drivers are out now
(for 800x600 and 1024x768 in 256 colors), and they work reasonably
well.  They do not yet support "seamless Windows," but I'm sure that's
coming.

>* the fastest Texcel CD-ROM player (model 3024??, It's comparable to
>the NEC-74)

Very nice, but note the beta status of the SCSI adapter drivers.

>* PAP-16 sound card

MediaVision's drivers are in beta for this adapter.  This adapter also
has on board SCSI, so you have your choice as to which adapter you
wish to use to run the CD-ROM.

>* Labtec speakers and
>* 6 CD titles.
>* DOS 5.0 and Windows 3.1 (No extra software deals like Gateway has.) 

May become shelfware.  :-)

>Note that it is not a DX2-66Mhz system.  I guest the 33Mhz would be fine for 
>now.  I will upgrade to the 66 when needed; right now it would cost $300 more.

No problem -- I think you'll be more than happy.

>I ordered this system 2 weeks ago.  It should be here tomorrow.  I had chose
>Gateway but I could not get through their busy phone system.  I ordered from
>Zenon because I called several times to check on the systems and prices.  I got
>connected everytime within 4 rings.  And the sales staff is quite nice.
>What I need to know now is:
>1.  Is it a good value system?

No idea.

>2.  Have you had any experience with Zenon?

Not personally.

>3.  Will the system run OS/2?

Yes.  (Note the caveats, though.)

>4.  Is the Ultrastor controller popular and good with OS/2?  Is it really a 
>    local-bus SCSI-2 controller?  Should I replace it with a comparable Adaptec?  
>    It seems to me that the Adaptec controllers are more popular.

They are more popular, but UltraStor at least deserves some credit for
trying.

See how the beta drivers behave in your system.  If they don't, see
what UltraStor has to say.

>5.  How can I benchmark my system?  Where can I get the benchmark software?
>    I found the Winbench 2.5 from CICA.  It only does video tests.  I need 
>    a more complete test, including CPU, memory and I/O.

Look in mirrors/msdos on wuarchive.wustl.edu.  I can't recommend
anything specific, but you'll find something, I'm sure.

>6.  Is the 3 local bus feature an advantage?  As I understand, two slots are
>    used; one for video and one for the UltraStor SCSI controller.  One is
>    available for future use.

I think so -- it certainly can't hurt.

>7.  Can I find a similar system with a better price else where?

IBM systems aren't far off that mark, actually.  No Local Bus in the
ValuePoints, granted.  Generally speaking the gap between the first
tier machines and the second and third has narrowed considerably.

For comparison, here's a system I pieced together with the icpausa.zip
utility (available via anonymous ftp from ftp-os2.nmsu.edu).  Prices
are for educational customers (U.S. telephone 800-222-7257).  (I'm not
necessarily recommending this system, but here it is for comparison
purposes.  I'm sure Compaq, another top tier vendor, has very
competitive pricing as well.)

IBM PS/2 Model 9556-0BA.  IBM 486SLC2 25/50 processor (benchmarks peg
it as equivalent to a 486SX-33) (upgradeable when the 25/75 processor
is available), 8 MB RAM, 212 MB hard drive (12 ms), SCSI-2 bus
mastering adapter, XGA-2 busmastering coprocessed video, two DMA
serial ports, one DMA parallel port, 2.88 MB floppy
drive.		                                        $2190.00
[Part No. 95560BA.]

Includes IBM mouse, three year on-site warranty service, toll free
technical support, and 30-day money back guarantee.  Choice of
keyboard (space saver, standard 101 key, etc).

Upgrade to 16 MB RAM (*):				  520.00
[Part No. 6450130.]
9517 17 inch noninterlaced ISO compliant (incl. VGA) (*) 1102.00
.26 dot pitch, Trinitron picture tube
[Part No. 9517001.]
IBM M-Audio Capture and Playback Adapter (16-bit) (*)     222.00
[Part No. 92F3379.]
Sony Speaker System SRS-5 (*)                              16.75
[Part No. 95F1260.]
IBM Internal CD-ROM II drive (*)                          498.00
[Part No. 6451104.]
                                                         =======
                                                         4548.75

(*) These items need not be purchased from IBM.  Substitutions may be
made from other suppliers which will probably reduce the price.
Examples: the Mag 17F monitor you mention can be substituted for
IBM's, probably at considerable savings.  A SoundBlaster may be
substituted for the M-Audio (I wouldn't, though).  The Speaker System
may be swapped for an alternative.  Any external CD-ROM drive is
suitable as a replacement for IBM's.  One 8 MB PS/2 SIMM from a third
party supplier could be less than IBM's educational price.

Just as a hypothetical exercise (without much searching):

8 MB SIMM from Memory Superstore (800-800-7056):	$268.00.
Samsung 17" SyncMaster 4 (Kenosha, 800-255-2989)        $799.00.

Total Savings with these two substitutions:             $555.00.
New Package Price, with Substitutions:                 $3993.75.
Savings from Zenon Package Price:                       $726.25.
[May be less if there is a shipping cost involved.  Price before sales
tax.]

These systems are not directly comparable, naturally.  Here are the
differences (without substitutions):

Surpasses Zenon in these respects:

(1) Construction, warranty, reputation, reliability.
(2) OS/2 compatibility (you can't get better, obviously).  XGA-2 is
outstanding for OS/2.
(3) Monitor supports 72 Hz VGA modes (all modes flicker free, not just
high resolution.  Overall a better monitor.
(4) Footprint -- the Model 56 is very compact (but see below).
(5) 2.88 MB floppy drive.
(6) DMA parallel and serial (speeds things up dramatically and
offloads work from CPU).
(7) Lower price.
(8) A genuine IBM keyboard.

Does not surpass Zenon in these respects:

(1) Less hard drive capacity.
(2) While processor speed is comparable, there is no math coprocessor
included in this price.
(3) Maxes out at 16 MB RAM.
(4) XGA-2 contains 1 MB of VRAM, not 2 MB.
(5) PAS 16 adapter has primitive MIDI port which M-Audio lacks.
(6) Has fewer slots (two free in the above configuration).
(7) Fewer drive bays.  (But see above.)
(8) IBM CD-ROM drive a little less capable than the Texel (not double
speed, 330 ms average access; does support CD-ROM/XA).
(9) Lacks 5.25 inch disk drive in this configuration (which the Zenon
may have).

Differences that are roughly analogous (a draw between the two systems):

(1) The PS/2 has Microchannel slots (not AT bus/Local Bus
combination).

>8.  If I should return it, how should I do it without the need of begging for
>    the authorization.

Tell them it does not meet your needs.

>It is quite tough to find a good value multimedia PC that can run OS/2 well.
>I just hope that this system will do the job for me.

I think it'll be OK.  A lot of the drivers are still beta, granted.

-- 
Timothy F. Sipples      | READ the OS/2 FAQ List 2.0i, available from
sip1@ellis.uchicago.edu | 128.123.35.151, anonymous ftp, in /pub/os2/all/info
Dept. of Econ., Univ.   | /faq, or from LISTSERV@BLEKUL11.BITNET (send "HELP")
of Chicago, 60637       | [Post to ONE newsgroup only AFTER reading the List.]
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