Computer Orders -- an Update

["Robert G. Brown" <bob@xxxxxxx>]

I have orders from the following people, who will receive acknowledgements
later today (along with terms, etc.):

    Clay Howe
    Matt Crampton
    Adam Williams
    Chris Gidman
    Mike List
    Kevin Mitchell

If you are not on this list, your order has NOT been received and will NOT be
honored; please resubmit NOW if you would like one (or more) of these.

If you would like one of these 486 machines for a mere $40.00 per machine,
please let me know how many you would like TODAY. I am making arrangements
with the seller and others to make the purchase, and I must provide the seller
with a machine count.

If you don't know what this is about, what follows is the text I posted to the 
mailing list on Saturday. There is still time to order NOW if you're interested!

There's a dealer who will be getting a large consignment (200) computers within
a week, which he will part with for $40.00 each. Details as follows:

     - 486 DX2 66 mHz 
     - 12 MB of memory
     - 170 mHz hard drives
     - 3.5" floppies, keyboard, mouse.
     - Mfg by Compaq; "slimline" cases (approx 12wx14dx4h) 
     - No monitor
     - Guaranteed to work.
     - NO MONITOR 

Now, I have a pair of 386SX-16mHz Compaq slimlines, and if the layout of these
486's are the same internally, they have three ISA slots, on-board VGA and disk
controllers. I bought some memory for these machines yesterday, and tried to
fire them up (and failed, they've been heavily cannibalized over time).

If these little 486's can run Linux at all they will be perfect for Internet 
gateway boxes. I'm considering purchasing at least one for that purpose, and 
may buy additonal units for other applications. These machines are at least 4
years old, and may be free of compatibility problems that some have mentioned 
regarding Linux and Compaq.

The Catch: This dealer is near Flint, and requests that any purchased machines
           be picked up. I'm not going to publish his name because I don't 
           want to advertise for him. However, I'm not acting as his agent,
           merely letting the group know about these machines. I can't say
           anything for sure about how useful you might find these machines,
           and my purchase is experimental.

Please let me know by personal email if you are interested in purchasing
one or more of these machines. I will contact this dealer on Thursday, and
will negotiate delivery and/or pickup at that time. Note that the more machines
ordered, the easier it will be to negotiate good delivery terms.