Make that January, 1987! James Grebe R.P.T. of the P.T.G pianoman@inlink.com Creator of Handsome Hardwood Caster Cups and Practical Piano Peripherals in St. Louis, MO -----Original Message----- From: James Grebe <pianoman@inlink.com> To: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org> Date: Sunday, October 25, 1998 6:51 PM Subject: Re: Business Software Responses Gateway >Hi Jory, >I have a Gateway tower 200megHz with Crystal Scan 17" monitor since Jan, >98. Absolutely no problems whateso ever >James Grebe >R.P.T. of the P.T.G >pianoman@inlink.com >Creator of Handsome Hardwood Caster Cups and Practical Piano Peripherals in >St. Louis, MO >-----Original Message----- >From: Jory A. Olson <jory@teleport.com> >To: 'pianotech@ptg.org' <pianotech@ptg.org> >Date: Sunday, October 25, 1998 2:02 PM >Subject: Business Software Responses > > >>Dave, I think you're comparing the Dell consumer line to the Gateway >professional line. If you're buying a 400 or 450 MHz machine, both Gateway >and Dell will have what you're calling non-integrated solutions. >> >>About a year ago I purchased a new Dell D300 for $3500 (128 Meg RAM, 8.4 >Gbyte hard disk, Internal ZIP drive, graphics acceleration, etc). This same >system is now on sale at Dell for $1995. With the high-technology industry >in decline, Christmas coming, recent price reductions announced by Intel, it >is an excellent time to purchase a new computer if you happen to need one. >This past week Intel announced a price reduction on some PII chips from $270 >to $190. Gateway and Dell, due to their "build-to-order" philosophy will be >the first to be able to take advantage of this price reduction. >> >>One thing I would warn everybody about. Gateway systems, and their >monitors in particular are not as reliable as Dell, Compaq, HP, etc. My >employer purchases Gateway systems. I've been through no less than 4 >monitors in the past 5 years. One went up in flames! I would avoid Gateway >Crystal Scan monitors with a vengeance. The Vivitron (Trinitron) Gateway >monitors are better, but not great. I would also avoid Gateway machines >with the Western Digital disk drives. In the electrical engineering >department we had 6 out of 17 new systems crash with hard disk failures. >Admittedly, engineering CAD programs can be hard on the disk drive, but this >is ridiculous. See Consumer's Report latest computer ratings before you >buy. Their ratings mirror my experience closely. >> >>I could have got a Gateway system through my employer and they would have >given me $500 to offset the cost. I bought a Dell instead, because of the >problems I've seen with the Gateway machines. Another thing I dislike about >Gateway's is the Soundscape sound card. Few of my video games work well >with this card, and my MIDI keyboard doesn't like it much either. My Dell >system came with a Soundblaster sound card. If you're using the soundcard >for something other than beeps, and .WAV files, I suggest you consider an >upgrade from the Soundscape card. >> >>I have no money invested in either company. I work in the industry. I >personally bought a Dell and have been happy. >> >>The best "tip" I can give new computer buyer's is to buy more RAM than you >think you'll need. RAM is cheap and can partially offset slowness in the >processor and disk drive. If there's enough space to keep information in >RAM then the computer doesn't have to go and get it off the disk drive. >Since most programs a piano technicians uses are not computationally >intensive, the biggest time savings comes from not having to go to disk for >new information. More memory also allows you to leave a bunch of programs >up and running all the time so you can quickly switch between email, the >web, word processing, and the football game. I suggest 64 Mbytes as a >minimum for a new system. I also believe the new Universal Serial Bus (USB) >is a must on a system to intend to keep for 2-5 years. In a few years the >serial port, mouse port, parallel port, and such will be gone. >> >>One more tip....The new 400 and 450 machines have a 100 MHz internal bus. >Older machines, regardless of the processor speed, had a 66 MHz internal >bus. This will make a HUGH difference (1/3 increase) in speed. The PII >machines of 300 MHz or more have the new Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) >interface for your video card. If you enjoy video games you need AGP. >> >>Jory >>_____________________ >> >> >>Larry, >> >>I believe in your first post you had mentioned purchasing a Dell computer. >I thought I would at least throw another suggestion your way. My wife is >the head PC administrator for Seagate (the hard drive company) therefore >giving me alot of "insider" information on companies, policies, quality and >the like. You may (just a suggestion) want to check out Gateway. The >primary difference between these two machines is the use of "integrated" >boards. Most of the PC's sold in retail outlets like Compac or HP use >integrated boards...meaning that when wanting to upgrade or add peripherials >(sp?) it can be a difficult match as a result of the propriatory nature of >the systems. In some cases you won't have the luxury of going to a local >"Best Buy" and purchasing additional RAM and plugging it in. Gateway uses >non-integrated boards allowing for lots of "plug and play" additions such as >video cards, soundblaster cards, scanners, etc. The Gateways systems >generally are configured with! >> 1 asa slot and 4 pci slots, plus the RAM capabilities are great! >>My current system is a 300mhz, 64 mg RAM (expandable to 364...that's alot >of resident memory), 6.5 hard drive, 56k modem, soundblaster, 8 mg video >card, scanner, sound system (extremely modified..JBL), laser printer and Zip >drive with CD. This system can be upgraded with many more things as well as >2 more hard drives if desired. >>Now you can obtain a 400 mhz or 450 mhz with even yet more capabilities for >the same price (actually lower than what I paid in March). >>Like any tool used in our self employment venture, quality remains >paramount. Versatility, reliability, and craftsmanship must remain high >priority regarding our decisions. >>Just a thought...I wish you continued success. >>Dave Swartz, RPT >>dms2000@majesticpiano.com >> >
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC