CompuServe Messages

Hi & Welcome Stephen! I am looking at getting a Windows NT platform for two reasons, one to network together all of my various clones and Amigas, and two for the speed. There seem to me to be at least three ways that I can go. 1) A Raptor product (which I consider to be like a DEC/MIPS Clone) 2) A DEC Alpha 3) A MIPS (whatever they may call their complete workstations) 4) A board like the Shablaam that puts MIPS processing power on a VESA Local-Bus card for a clone. I am leaning towards a DEC brand-name Alpha just because I think I might have better support and future upgradeability from the company DEC than from these "little" companies that are putting together solutions around the DEC Microprocessor. The Shablaam board or something similar would be my second choice because of the low starting price, just over $2k plus a decent clone, but I feel that it might limit me in my need for speed/ram/other goodies. I wonder about the Raptor people and how they can compete with somebody like a DEC. I mean aren't they just buying the components from DEC, putting them in their own box, and then marking them up just one more time? Anyway, the short of it is, If you were to go out and buy again today, do you think you would go with a Raptor again or with some of the other possibilities I have outlined? Thanks for your input! -John