The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group
Editorial
Ash Nallawalla
 ash@melbpc.org.au

This Issue 

Welcome to another issue of PC Update. This time I am pleased to announce that I have absolutely nothing to whinge about.

The Previous Issue 

Due to a staff shortage in early January our printers were unable to print the previous issue in time for the February meeting. Apologies are extended for any inconvenience you may have suffered as a consequence.

Future Issues 

If I may suggest a theme once again, how about writing a collective article on 'Buying a PC' under three major headings:

  • Minimum
  • Average
  • Ultimate
I f you prefer, you may interpret the 'minimum' category as 'for home use', the 'average category' for simple 'business use', and the 'ultimate' category for the 'power user' with money to burn, or for serious developers and complex situations. Alternatively, the three categories could be based on price: Less than $1500, Between $1500 - $3500, and Over $3500.

Within each category you should try (only if you feel confident enough to do so) to include machines from the three major CPU groups: XT, AT and 386. Do not exclude other MS-DOS compatible CPUs.

Please try to explain why you have chosen a particular configuration, e.g. "You need 6 MB of RAM if you want to run Interleaf or 4 MB to run OS/2 comfortably."

The 'minimum' category should describe not merely the cheapest PC you can find, but a configuration that you consider the 'bare minimum'. For example, I would consider a PC with a composite monochrome monitor and CGA card below the 'bare minimum' rating, but a TTL monochrome monitor and a card with MDA, CGA and HGC emulations would probably fit my description. Sure, if you disagree we will publish both sides of the story. This category could also include a 386 unless you agree with me that a 386 would die of embarrassment unless it were configured to at least the 'average' level (and there aren't too many 386s below the $1500 mark).

The 'average' category should describe a 'comfortable', 'affordable' setup, be it an XT, AT or 386. This category would definitely include a 'reasonable' amount of hard disk disk storage (what is 'reasonable'?)

The 'ultimate' machine would probably have a tower case to accommodate every possible type of floppy disk drive, tape drive, SCSI or ESDI <28 ms hard disk, VGA etc. Fair enough, you may not find an XT in a tower case, but give it your best shot.

There is bound to be some interesting debate, provided at least a dozen people submit their contributions to Charles Wright. Different people will place a given PC in different categories. When Charles feels that he has enough material he will massage it into what should be a useful article. If any of these machines is available off the shelf, feel free to name the machine and where one may buy it (not limited to Melbourne or Australia). If you want to describe a machine in theoretical terms - if it is your own combination of features - go ahead. Please explain any acronym that you use - yes, some of you are probably wondering what SCSI or ESDI is.

Many of you are probably thinking of upgrading to the next level, such as a 286 or 386, so the finished article may help you make the right decision.

In case you feel that 'someone else' is going to write, I will narrow the possibilities by saying that members of the Hardware SIG and the hardware experts listed in the Dial Help page should start the ball rolling.

Overseas Trips? 

If you are thinking of travelling to Comdex Fall (USA) or some other exciting (read boring if you are a PC widow/er) event, feel free to submit a free ad if you would like to form a small group. I believe you need a group of at least 50 people before airlines talk about discounts, but give it a shot. This is not a club-organised activity - strictly do-it-yourself.

Free Ads 

For a trial period, subject to space, I will publish advertisements for PC-related jobs as I believe this is a service to members. Before you tell your personnel section to send off full page bromides, read on. Free ads will be published only if their text is sent on a 5.25" disk to the club address. The disk will not be returned. Newspaper-type ads will be charged at our normal rates.

The Questionnaire 

Please do not send in any more questionnaires (if winning a free disk is your motive) as the ones received are being processed by Tom Perrott, who has written a preliminary article in this issue.

Deadlines 

The closing date for the receipt of articles (direct to sub-editors) and advertisement space booking for the next issue is 1 March. Do not send articles directly to me, as I will merely re-direct them to the appropriate sub-editor.
 
Reprinted from the March 1989 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia

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