nuckolls.bob(at)cox.net
Guest
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 Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 3:43 pm Post subject: Becoming CAD-proficient to a practical level of usefulness |
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At 08:01 AM 10/22/2007 -0700, you wrote:
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> About 1985, I was where you are today. I had a PC-XT, 20Mb
> hard drive, yellow screen computer with the grand total of
> 640K of ram. I think the thing ran at the blazing speed
> of 4MHz.
Bob,
4.77 MHz. You must have been a rich man. That system isn't far from $10k
when you add it up. A box of 5 1/4" diskettes was $50.
See: http://www.periheliondesign.com/downloads/tandy1989.pdf
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Actually, just over a $grand$. We had a "policy" at
Beech that said "NO IBM clones . . . you never know
when IBM might be in the market for a stable of King
Airs". When we became Raytheon, I heard through the
grapevine that Raytheon MASS put out yearly contracts
for clone suppliers. I got the name of the present
favored supplier and called them. I told them we were
Raytheon WICHITA and wanted a quote on what a PC-XT
would cost us. They asked, "How many" . . ." Hmmmm . . .
dunno. . . how about 25? "Okay, call you back."
An hour later he called to quote $1050+UPS. Okay, I
circulated a sign-up sheet in the Targets Group
and two days later I had 27 checks in my hot little
fist. About 10 days later this UPS guy backs up
to my garage and is looking at his COD delivery ticket
with some incredulity . . . "That will be $28,000
please."
Biggest check I ever wrote in my life. I became the local
warranty service rep for the Bit Bucket of N. Newton, MA
and over the next 4 years, built up a rather interesting,
very educational, and mildly profitable computer business.
Got out when the local store fronts began selling clones
at a few hundred over my costs.
Most of my personal computer upgrades were trade-ins
from my customers. Got to massage my own computer
usage on the coat-tails of the business. I've probably
owned 40 computers over the years! The most I ever
paid for one was $2700 for the latest and greatest,
20 MHz 286 machine . . . boy, was that a learning
experience! The same machine was half that price a
year later. I've since adopted a purchasing philosophy
that upgrades my computers AFTER the next generation
machines come out. You get 'last years' model for
peanuts. Nowadays, I seldom drop more than $600
on any CPU purchase. My lab test drivers come off
ebay for under $150.
Now, if only we could purchase last year's model
hip replacement in the same free-market,
consumer-supplier driven environment . . .
Bob . . .
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