RE: the next new pc

["Tom Robertson" t1r@xxxxxxxx]

To your list, add a keyboard and backup, e.g., the new USB Iomega
250 Mb Zip drive.

Remember, this is after all, the XyWrite site. You gotta have a
keyboard to customize.

I also have a portable 100 Mb Zip drive that holds a full setup
for the program. When traveling, all I need to do is find someone
who will let me use their computer and I can plug it in and start
writing. It also has all my addresses and notes for the past ten
years

I hope with the newly released 250 Mb version of the Zip drive, I
will be able to also include and use within XyWrite, the 1991
version of Microsoft Bookshelf that I also load so I can use its
thesaurus, dictionary, quotes, etc. (I will be glad to post how
anyone can do this if there is interest.)

While this is the XyWrite list, we still use computers to run the
program. It is interesting to see how our hardware can be set up
to work best for us.

TR...

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-xywrite@xxxxxxxx
> [mailto:owner-xywrite@xxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of
> Wendell Cochran
> Sent: Sunday, September 19, 1999 1:06 PM
> To: xywrite@xxxxxxxx
> Subject: the next new pc
>
>
> 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
>