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Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Jim McMannis who wrote (28861)	2/25/1998 8:18:00 PM
From: Maverick	Respond to of 1573123

IBM's New Aptiva Breaks the $1000 Barrier using K6-166 MMX, Acer uses K6-233 by Aoife McEvoy DESKTOP IBM's PCs have a reputation for many things--quality, reliable components, respectable customer support--but competitive pricing hasn't been one of them. That's why PC World has usually recommended systems from reputable mail-order companies such as Dell and Micron over IBM's Aptiva line: Those companies tend to offer comparable products for lower prices. But even Big Blue has been unable to ignore the sub-$1000 PC stampede. At $799, the new Aptiva E16 is your cheapest ticket to the IBM name--if not to all the upscale components and features that characterize the more expensive Aptiva systems. For one thing, no monitor is included in the price (IBM displays start at $249 for a 14-incher, $349 for a 15-incher, and $649 for a 17-incher). And though it's housed in a full-size midtower with room to expand, the E16 is not black or sleek like its cousins; it's off-white, square, and rather unappealing. Finally, there's no Intel inside: The E16 is based on an Advanced Micro Devices K6-166 MMX processor. A shipping E16 unit performed at a satisfactory pace for its class, with a PC WorldBench score of 205--slightly ahead of the Pentium MMX-166-based Seanix Baby Grand CS ($999 with monitor), but slightly behind the similarly configured Gateway 2000 G5-166, which costs $1499 but comes with a monitor and color printer. These performance differences would not be noticeable in typical business applications. The E16's specs range from skimpy to adequate: 16MB of SDRAM, a 2.1GB hard disk, a 12X-20X CD-ROM drive, a 56-kilobits-per-second K56flex modem, an ATI Rage II 3D graphics card, and two Universal Serial Bus ports. The modest software bundle includes Lotus SmartSuite 97, Netscape Navigator 3.0, and trial memberships for a few online services, along with proprietary antivirus and diagnostic software. As an additional incentive for those who buy before March 1, IBM will waive the $100 first-year-membership fee for its Owner Privileges Program, which promises preferential customer service, deals on software and accessories, and enhanced technical assistance. (Annual renewal fees start at $20.)

To: Jim McMannis who wrote (28861)	2/25/1998 8:23:00 PM
From: Maverick	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1573123

IBM's Aptiva uses K6-166, CPQ's Presario uses K6-233, Acer's Aspire uses K6-233, Part II The E16 will have plenty of competition: By the time you read this, Acer, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, and Packard Bell should be shipping new sub-$1000 systems. Most are also without monitor--but not surprisingly, the more expensive ones offer heftier configurations.Acer's $999 Aspire 1810M (sold at Walmart only) is based on AMD's K6-233 processor and comes with a 2GB hard drive, 32MB of RAM, a 12X-24X CD-ROM drive, a 33.6-kbps modem, and a 14-inch monitor. Compaq's $999 Presario 4540 comes with an AMD K6-233 chip, a 3.2GB hard drive, and 32MB of RAM.Also, Monorail's $999 Model 7400 sports a Pentium MMX-166 processor and has a built-in SVGA color LCD screen with a 10.4-inch viewable area. Matching the E16 with $799 price tags (also sans monitor) are HP's Pentium MMX-200-based Pavilion 3260 and Acer's AMD K6-233-based Aspire 1822.Both have 16MB of RAM; the Pavilion comes with a 2.1GB hard drive, an 8X-16X CD-ROM drive, and a 56-kbps modem; the Aspire has a 2GB hard drive, a 12X-24X CD-ROM, and a 33.6-kbps modem. But if you've been waiting for an affordable IBM, the E16 fits the bill. Aptiva E16 PRO: IBM brand for breakthrough $799 price. CON: Doesn't include monitor, has limited software bundle. VALUE: Steady performer. IBM Corp. 800/426-7235 ext. 4340 Street price: $799 (without monitor)