.ig 0214 IBM              VERS:- 00.00  DATE:- 02/14/84  TIME:- 12:41:31 PM
.. Addendum to memo on department computer, summarizing conversation with
.. Jim Maginnis of UA Microtech Center.
..**********MEMO/DOCUMENT ON U OF A LETTERHEAD WITH ENVELOPE, 8-1/2 x 11
.mt 8
.mb 6
.op
G. ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF THE IBM-PC
     The U of A Microtech Center strongly favors the IBM-PC, 
because the software and hardware support are and will be full, 
owing to:
     executive and business orientation of the IBM, implying that 
          it is bound to work well;
     large number of machines sold, and thus extensive support on 
          campus and locally;
     pleasing software and hardware expectations;
     networking about to be available.
     In contrast, S-100 bus machines, although older and 
generally preferred as development machines, are less common and 
the users, or at least one user in the group, must be familiar 
with the systems and must oversee repair, maintenance, and 
modification of software.
     Selection of an IBM-based departmental system would mean 
retaining the current separation between the individual 
laboratories' North Star systems and the departmental machine 
(the Wang).  Integration would be possible through hard-wiring 
one North Star to an IBM, so all other North Stars could read 
their files to the IBM through this one.  
     Even if the integration were not carried out, the advantages 
of the IBM may be sufficient to favor it -- we would be no worse 
off than at present.  
     If there were no set of North Stars, IBM would be 
recommended by most observers.  
     If the department members with North Stars do not intend to 
use a central departmental system, then probably IBM is the 
proper choice.
.pa
     The following gives costs for typical IBM systems.
1. IBM-PC-XT:                           about $5500
     MS-DOS operating system
     8088 cpu
     6 or 7 slot bus
     monochrome display (9x11 dot matrix in 11x16 square
     1 x dsdd 5 inch floppy
     10 mbyte hard disk
     512k RAM
     3 or 4 serial ports
     1 or 2 parallel ports
Printers, modems, etc extra as for Morrow.
Thus price about $1500 higher than for Morrow Decision 1.
There are adaptations for other processors and operating systems.
2. IBM-PC:                              about $3000
     MS-DOS operating system
     8088 cpu
     3 or 4 slot bus
     monochrome display
     2 x dsdd 5 inch floppies
     128k RAM
     1 parallel port
Additional 256k RAM, 2 serial ports and 1 parallel port: $650.
3. Networking (PC-NET, by ORCA??)       about $1200/machine