Re: Xywrite 4 manual

[Leslie Bialler lb136@xxxxxxxx]

From: Wendell Cochran 
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Even if you're determined to buy a readymade in a sealed carton --
_act as if_ you're building your own.

You will save money, & you will know exactly what's inside.

This scheme I adapted from one by Eric S. Raymnond, principal
evangelist for Linux & Open Source.

Learn to identify these components:

1 Case & power supply
2 Motherboard
3 Central Processing Unit
4 RAM
5 SCSI card (optional)
6 hard drive
7 CD-ROM drive
8 Floppy drive
9 video card
10 monitor
11 mouse
12 modem
13 surge box

Already you're ahead of the run-of-the-shop salesjerk.

Skim adverts till you're familiar with the jargon.

Learn enough about each component to make a preliminary choice of
brand, model, & specifications.

Explore URLs. Catalog sites often have FAQ files, tutorials, etc.
(That's cheaper than phone support, & more reliable.)

Note prices, & keep a running total.

When the total & your budget match, build or buy.

Actually ESR did not recommend building your own. He advocated
negotiations with a shop selling a readymade nearest your specs --
arguing that anyone in the business of building boxes can get
wholesale prices & customize. Either way works out about the same.

I bought parts from 8 different shops, & paid an expert $250 to put
them together. Like Carl, I saved perhaps $500 on a box that
otherwise would have cost $2K. (I went for SCSI, which is pricier
than standard architecture but is faster & simpler.)

If you consider one of the new bargain boxes ($699! $499!! $299!!!
& even FREE!!!!), beware. Discount CPU speed & HD capacity (do you
need 450MHZ or 10GB?). . . . Look hard at power supply, RAM slots, &
modem. Insist on 250W & potential for 128Mb; reject any 'winmodem'
(which only passes the buck to your CPU). Examine _each_ component,
look ahead to upgrading, & think in terms of Parts & Labor.

Wendell Cochran
West Seattle