info-cpm (12/08/82)
>From POURNE@Mit-Mc Tue Dec 7 23:08:16 1982
To: info-cpm@BRL
Via: Mit-Mc; 7 Dec 82 4:59-EST
Via: Brl; 7 Dec 82 6:25-EST
Via: Brl-Bmd; 7 Dec 82 6:47-EST
Date: 7-Dec-82 01:54:59-PST (Tue)
From: MAILER-DAEMON at Berkeley (Mail Delivery Subsystem)
To: POURNE
Re: Unable to deliver mail
----- Transcript of session follows -----
azure!tekcrd!teklabs!ucbcad!ucbvax.info-cpm... Connecting to azure.uucp...
bad system name: azure
azure!tekcrd!teklabs!ucbcad!ucbvax.info-cpm... Service unavailable
POURNE@MIT-MC... Connecting to mit-mc.arpa...
----- Unsent message follows -----
Date: 7 December 1982 04:48-EST
From: Jerry E. Pournelle <POURNE@MIT-MC>
Subject: id A11717; 4-Dec-82 05:26:42-PST (Sat)
Message-Id: <8211070954.6705@UCBVAX.BERKELEY.ARPA>
Received: by UCBVAX.BERKELEY.ARPA (3.227 [10/22/82])
id A06705; 7-Dec-82 01:54:59-PST (Tue)
To: teklabs!tekcrd!tekmdp!scotth@UCB-C70
Cc: azure!tekcrd!teklabs!ucbcad!ucbvax.info-cpm@UCB-C70
The Osborne is the VW of the portables, and features
good introductory documentation, a GOOD dealer net with service
etc., and very vanilla hardware features. Lots of bundled
software all good.
The KayPro is a good machine, hardware speaking, but
hasn't much good software with it. The screen flickers; try it
first,, you may no be able to stand it. The KayPro screen is
big enough to use alone; both Osborne and Otrona will require a
larger monitor for on-station use.
The Otrona is the BMW of the portables, and I agree with
the referenced message about it; darned good machine. I have
one. The dealer and service net is growing and well done also.
But you will need a larger screen; fortunately there is a video
out on the back for putting it on a monitor.
You can use Otrona wihtout monitor, of course, and for a
day or two is no problem; but I would hate to have to do it all
the time.
I carry an Otrona to all the co,puter shows; I can have my
choice of a lot of them.
There is a new machine, ZORBA, out at COMDEX; looked good,
competitively priced with Osborne and Kaypro. Don't know about
dealers, software, or service.
Hyperion is interesting; as is the new Teleray small computer
which has a 4-line liquid crystal screen (and a video outlet;
the 4 lines are a window into a 24 line display of course). It
looks good and should not be ignored.info-cpm (12/09/82)
>From teklabs!tektronix!tekmdp!scotth@Ucb-C70 Wed Dec 8 22:29:19 1982
Received: from UCBCAD.BERKELEY.ARPA by UCBVAX.BERKELEY.ARPA (3.227 [10/22/82])
id A19115; 8-Dec-82 14:46:02-PST (Wed)
Received: by UCBVAX.BERKELEY.ARPA (3.227 [10/22/82])
id A28745; 8-Dec-82 22:34:38-PST (Wed)
To: azure!tektroni!teklabs!ucbcad!ucbvax.info-cpm@Ucb-C70
In-Reply-To: Your news article ucbvax.269 of Tue Dec 7 23:13:11 1982
Via: Mit-Ai; 8 Dec 82 17:48-EST
Via: Brl; 8 Dec 82 17:58-EST
Via: Brl-Bmd; 8 Dec 82 18:15-EST
I hope this gets to Jerry Pournelle and others interested in portables--
I am a neophyte on the net, and am not sure just what's happenin' here...
Kaypro:
The Kaypro screen flicker and terrible character set has
a hardware solution (so I here from a friend that has one).
The solution is a character ROM originally built for the
BigBoard from Digital Research Computers (of Texas, not the
folks of CP/M). It's available from the folks at Micro-
Cornucopia in Bend, Oregon. $25.00 US price, or $5.00
each if you send a fast ROM and prepaid return mailing.
This ROM should get rid of the flicker and give a better
character set (lower-case descenders, real semi-colon...)
Their address:
MICRO CORNUCOPIA
PO Box 223
Bend, Oregon 97709
They also have a lot other neat things which go well with
the KayPro, especially their magazine ``Micro Cornucopia--
the Single Board Systems Journal'', which means Xerox 820, too.
Otrona:
For a lot of people (I know at least five!) the Otrona screen
is ``just right.'' The normal distance one sits from the screen
makes the characters just a shade larger than what you see when
reading the newspaper at normal distance. For me, the only time
I'll need a larger monitor is for demonstrations, and working with
more than one other person. The reason for the success of Otrona's
screen is its high resolution. The characters are clear (unlike
some other 5" screens). If the Otrona is called a
``portable'', then anything else (I have seen) is merely
``movable.''
Does anyone else have a problem with the clips on the south
corners of the keyboard (used to hold the keyboard in place
when closed) ? They dig into the fleshy parts below by little
fingers when I place my hands on the keyboard in my usual way.info-cpm (12/10/82)
>From RMS.G.BANDY.MIT-OZ@Mit-Mc Fri Dec 10 00:32:15 1982
To: teklabs!tektronix!tekmdp!scotth@Ucb-C70
Cc: info-cpm@BRL
In-Reply-To: Your message of 9-Dec-82 0126-EST
Via: Mit-Mc; 9 Dec 82 20:50-EST
Via: Brl; 9 Dec 82 21:02-EST
Via: Brl-Bmd; 9 Dec 82 21:19-EST
by `other' 5" screens, i assume you mean the osborne...
the osborne is MORE readable than the otrona, 'cause the
characters are bigger, and therefore clearer.
yes, both the little keyboard and the clips on it give me pains
within 5 mins of use oof the little bugger. otherwise,
it's a VERY good machine (GREAT graphics).
-andy
-------info-cpm (12/15/82)
>From POURNE@Mit-Mc Mon Dec 13 01:31:57 1982
To: RMS.G.BANDY.MIT-OZ@Mit-Mc
Cc: info-cpm@BRL, teklabs!tektronix!tekmdp!scotth@Ucb-C70
Via: Mit-Mc; 11 Dec 82 2:55-EST
Via: Brl; 11 Dec 82 3:09-EST
Via: Brl-Bmd; 11 Dec 82 3:19-EST
cannot agree that Osborne is more readable than Otrona. I have
both. Otrona, especially with the new screen (all the ones sold
now will have it) is VERY readable, so much so that my assistant
editor has decided that he doesn't want me to hook up the
monitor because the Otrona screen is good enough.