CompuServe Messages

I actually did try to purchase a 486BB. I waited more than 5 months for one (2 1/2 months for a 386BB to become available and 2 1/2 to have it converted to a 486BB) and then finally gave up. The only 486BB currently available is the Vortex. Messages here indicate a problem with the serial ports. The 286BB (Janus) has a bug with the AMOUSE driver and the multiI/O board I have, though functional, does have wierd IRQ's for the second serial port which makes it very limited in what software will operate with it. For $1000 I can get a 486 Vortex with a Cyrix SLC 25MHz, 2MB RAM, no hard drive, no floppy drive and no software. (Price quote from TriState Computers) For the exact SAME PRICE I can get a COMPUDYNE IBM clone with an Intel 486SX 33MHz, 4MB RAM, floppy drive, 170 MB hard drive, MS DOS 6, Windows 3.1, a Super I/O board with serial ports that work properly and a mouse that also works properly. (Advertisement in PC Magazine, Sept 28, 1993, p.170) In my opinion the Vortex is maybe a $600 value compared to the clone. So that's $400 to save desk space (if I keep my A2000) and then still have an inferior product (slower with buggy serial ports). I can't justify it.