[net.consumers] Need advice on a *very* portable PC

rosen@gypsy.UUCP (07/29/85)

/* Written  3:06 pm  Jul 29, 1985 by rosen@gypsy in gypsy:net.micro */
/* ---------- "Need advice on a *very* portable PC" ---------- */

[...]

I would like some help in trying to find an extremely portable personal
computer for a friend of mine.  This computer is going to be dragged around
a fair bit (but not an extreme amount) on airplanes and through Europe and
in college dorms and such.  The first thing that comes to mind is a lap-top.
This would probably be ideal if it had a floppy disk drive and a readable
display (I've heard bad things about the displays on some lap-tops) and a
reasonable amount of memory.  Anything that is PC compatible would be really
great.  I should say that this computer will be used primarily for word
processing of semi-large documents (10 pages and more at least).

Some lap-tops that I have seen in ads, but not in stores, include the Data
General 1, and other lap-tops by TI, HP, Ericsson (sp?), Apricot and a
couple others.  I would really like some suggestions and feedback about
theses machines (and others) since I can't seem to find them in stores.  I
have to admit that I haven't been looking very hard yet.  General prices
would be useful too.  They also seem to be getting a premium price.

I've started looking around and I sense that the marketing of this type of
computer leaves something to be desired.  I went in a couple large personal
computer stores and when I mentioned lap-top they looked at me like I was
from another Galaxy.  "We've never heard of anybody using a lap-top computer
before..." and "Whadda' ya mean you don't want an IBM PC, what else if
there?"  I know that these things have a very narrow market share and they
may not be totally desireable to most people, but I would at least like to
find some place that sells them so I can determine that for myself.

Another thing that I should say is that I am not locked into finding a
lap-top.  Something that is at least 'draggable' would do as a good second
choice.  A regular IBM PC is almost defintely out because is not very
portable.  I have seen Compaqs and the Panasonic Sr. Partner but I was
wandering what else falls in these lines.  Any information about these types
of machines is welcomed too.  Thanks in advance.


Steve Rosen
Siemens Research and Technology Laboratories
Princeton, NJ

USENET: {ihnp4|princeton|adrvax}!siemens!rosen
ARPA:   siemens!rosen@TOPAZ






/* End of text from gypsy:net.micro */

tmoody@sjuvax.UUCP (T. Moody) (08/04/85)

> 
> /* Written  3:06 pm  Jul 29, 1985 by rosen@gypsy in gypsy:net.micro */
> /* ---------- "Need advice on a *very* portable PC" ---------- */
> 
> I would like some help in trying to find an extremely portable personal
> computer for a friend of mine.  
> Steve Rosen
[]
You might take a look at the new Kaypro 2000 lap-top.  I got a chance to
play with one in the store yesterday.  First, it's *very* portable; I
think it weighs 11 pounds.  It's fully PC compatible, has 256K of RAM
and that can be expanded to over 700K.  It has one 3.5 inch disk drive,
with about 720K capacity.  The screen is a 25X80 LCD job.  Now, there
are indeed not the greatest, but they are light and don't eat much
power.  As soon as you get into a regular cathode ray screen, you're
talking about seriously diminished portability.  My Kaypro II weighs 26
pounds and is bulky.

If you got the 2000 with the expanded memory, you would need only the
one disk drive.  You could use part of the RAM as a high-speed simulated
disk.  Therefore, it would be no problem to edit files up to a couple of
hundred pages in length.

The basic Kaypro 2000 goes for about $2000.  I'm sure that the extra RAM
means extra bucks.  Kaypro is also going to market a "base station" for
the unit.  This would have a 5.25 inch disk drive (so you could swap
files from the more common floppies) and, I think, a bigger monitor.
The base station is going to cost another $800.

Go take a look at one.  I've looked at the Sharp lap-top, and there's no
comparison.

Todd Moody       {allegra|astrovax|bpa|burdvax}!sjuvax!tmoody