More on HW Question

[Gregory=Kushmerek%AcctgMed%FIN -at- HUMRES-SERVER -dot- NET -dot- TUFTS -dot- EDU]

First a personal statement: I don't think that this topic (PCs to buy)
_truly_ belongs on the tech writing list as there are plenty of lists
that discuss this kind of thing.  Still the topic came up and I'm a
sucker for this.

Caryn Rizell (caryn -at- HPPTC95 -dot- ROSE -dot- HP -dot- COM) wrote:

> give me the most flexibility to run lots of different software
> to accomodate clients' needs.

This is critical in evaluating your needs.  While I agree with
comments made about the Mac Power PC (they've flip-flopped on
what it will do at what cost -- now you essentially need a software
extendor to make it run like a 386 for DOS/WIN products), if you
need to run a truly *wide* range of apps, Mac Power PC runs two
spectrums worth.

> 2)  What about UNIX?  What is the best way to run on unix from
>    a mac or pc?

Don't even try running UNIX on a Mac.  Get a PC and run BSD, LINUX,
Solaris, NextStep 486 (not really recommended), SCO, or UNIXware from
USL/Novell.  These are all ports of UNIX that work on an Intel-based
platform.  If you do this, though, get 16 M RAM minimum.  The power
of your UNIX is best determined by the RAM on your system.

Of course, if you don't have limited startup capital: buy a used
SPARCstation.  They're cheap (like an expensive PC), run UNIX, and
there's lots of support out there on the net for them.

> 3)  How much memory do I need, megabytes, etc?

I agree with earlier posts: 8 is an absolute minimum and get a board
with expandibility.

> 4)  What about os/2?  Is anyone finding a need to have that
>     installed?

I am an OS/2 fanatic.  I use it at work and at home.  I run DOS, MS-Windows,
and OS/2 native applications seamlessly.  They run protected from each
other; I'm on a network, and I have no difficulties with it.  Thanks to
the people at IBM and JCI who pointed out that OS/2 is growing; it is
because it's a good product.  I'm stopping right here -- follow up
on this to comp.os.os2.advocacy or send me e-mail.  This is *religious
war* material.  ;-)

> What would be a basic setup?  What would be the like to have setup?

You'd better lay out your requirements first: how many applications
are you running?  How much do you know or are willing to learn about
a computer?

Considering the market, now is NOT the time to buy.  Intel has just
announced price drops on the Pentium, and IBM just came out with the
clock-trippling chip.  This means that 486DX-33 systems will be dirt
cheap in no time while everyone flocks to 486DX4-99 systems.  RAM
prices are due to come down IMO.  So buy now only if you need it now.

What people haven't mentioned here that you MUST consider are the
type of bus you use (ISA-VLB?  EISA?), the controller you use (I'd
use a cached SCSI-2 personally), and the video you use (S3 is nice).
Your CPU gets to be a minor consideration when you factor in these
other items.  I mean, you can have a Pentium idling away cycles
while the data is bogged down in your IDE controller.  This is not
practical.

BTW -- get a CD-ROM and multimedia setup.  At the bare minimum,
you'll be able to come up with some slick multimedia presentations
that can woo clients (OS/2 shines here -- ok, ok ;-).

> Any input would be greatly appreciated.  If there is another,
> more appropriate list that I should be writing to, please let me
> know.  ( I just tried to sign on to the consultants list from
> mcgill, but the address changed, and I don't know the new one.)

Get on USENET and scan through the comp. hierarchy.  There are some
hardware.ibm groups that have lots of good information.

Please follow up to me on this.

--gk

Greg Kushmerek
gwk -at- world -dot- std -dot- com
gkushmerek -at- acctg -dot- fin -dot- tufts -dot- edu