[1] A configuration with 512 KB of RAM, an Intel 8086 processor, Microsoft Xenix, and 10 MB hard drive cost about US$8,000.

[2] 3Com offered this Altos 586 product as a file server for their IBM PC networking solution in spring 1983.

The magazine reported that a US$10,000 (equivalent to $29,300 in 2023)[3] Altos with 512 KB RAM and 40 MB hard drive "under moderate load approaches DEC VAX performance for most tasks that a user would normally invoke.

The author reported that his 586 had run a multiuser bulletin board system 24 hours a day for more than two years with no hardware failures.

He concluded that "Very few UNIX or XENIX computers can provide all of the features of the 586 for $8990", especially for multiuser turnkey business users.