atk@tigger.colorado.edu (Alan T. Krantz) (11/07/89)
Howdy, I'm not sure if this is the best news group for this posting, but... I'm looking for a cheap lap top for word processing. Major features I'm looking for are: 1) Light weight (7/8 pounds would be great) 2) Nice keyboard 3) Nice screen (full size) 4) TTL, serial and parallel ports 5) Capable of running WordPefect or MsWords (I.e, close to Ibm compat but does not need to be perfect) 6) Cheap $600 or less would be great. So far the cloest machine I have found to the above specs is the Toshiba 1000. The only things I don't like about this machine are the small screen (eye strain) and not TTL port (it has a CGA port but I would prefer TTL). Please note that the machine need not be new. What I'm looking for are comments on other portables that might be worth looking at. I have gone to numerous computer stores in town, and while most would be willing to special order any machine of my choice, the only ones they seem to carry in stock are the Toshiba and Zenith. I know there are many more machines out there, Epson, Nec, Compaq to name a few. If you have any comments on any machine that might be worth looking into please let me know... Thanks, atk ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | Mail: 1830 22nd street mail: atk@boulder.colorado.edu | | Apt 16 Vmail: Home: (303) 939-8256 | | Boulder, Co 80302 Office: (303) 492-8115 | ------------------------------------------------------------------
allanon@ucrmath.UCR.EDU (Kenneth Leung) (11/08/89)
In article <13566@boulder.Colorado.EDU> atk@tigger.colorado.edu (Alan T. Krantz) writes: > >I'm looking for a cheap lap top for word processing. Major features I'm >looking for are: > 1) Light weight (7/8 pounds would be great) > 2) Nice keyboard > 3) Nice screen (full size) > 4) TTL, serial and parallel ports > 5) Capable of running WordPefect or MsWords > (I.e, close to Ibm compat but does not need to be > perfect) > 6) Cheap $600 or less would be great. After finishing my thesis which is on laptop computers in United States, I can tell you thatchoice 1-5 is relatively easy to satisfy, but 6 is a b*tch to find. In my study, the Toshiba T-1000 would be a good choice for you except for the screen. It will run Word Perfect but without the Static RAM upgrade the machine is a dog when running a word processor. WIth the RAM upgrade even on mail order $600 is very difficult if not impossible. Another choice would be the Zenith Supersport, depending on whether you have education discount it will xceed $1200 depending on hard drive or two floppy. The Minisport would be a good choice if you don't mind the non-standard 2.5" floppy. But again the price will DEFINITELY exceed $600 If you really need dirt cheap, try finding an IBM Convertible, they are cheap, not great processing power but they may serve you needs for a limited budget Another one to try is the Bondwell systems, I am not sure they are still around but in my research they showed up with a Bondwell B200 which retails for $1000 with removable Nicad battery, one 3.5" disk and 8 pounds. Good luck! Kenneth C.P. Leung University of California, Riverside CA 92521 UUCP: {ucsd, ucivax, ucbvax!ucdavis}!ucrmath!allanon Internet: ucrmath!allanon@ucsd.ucsd.EDU
crmeyer@voodoo.ucsb.edu (11/08/89)
-Message-Text-Follows- >In article <13566@boulder.Colorado.EDU> atk@tigger.colorado.edu (Alan T. Krantz) writes: >> >>I'm looking for a cheap lap top for word processing....... What about the DataView Spark? It can be configued in a wide array of configurations (two floppies, 1 floppy + hard disk, additional memory, extra batteries,etc) It also has a muck more readable screen and usable keyboard. Cost for one with 2 disk drives is around $950. PC Week had a review of available laptops recently which compared there and others.
bumby@math.rutgers.edu (Richard Bumby) (11/09/89)
In article <2927@hub.UUCP> crmeyer@voodoo.ucsb.edu writes: > In article <13566@boulder.Colorado.EDU> atk@tigger.colorado.edu > >(Alan T. Krantz) writes: > >> > >>I'm looking for a cheap lap top for word processing....... > > What about the DataView Spark? . . . When I was shopping for a laptop, I had a chance to see the Spark and the baby Toshiba side-by-side. Although the Toshiba screen has its faults, the T1000 seemed to be a better product. I bought the Toshiba. As another article mentioned, you REALLY need the extra memory. I use it mostly as "Hard RAM" (a battery-backed RAM disc -- it is not static RAM as described in the other article, just the next best thing), but there are other ways of configuring the system. -- --R. T. Bumby ** Math ** Rutgers ** New Brunswick ** NJ08903 ** USA -- above postal address abbreviated by internet to bumby@math.rutgers.edu voice communication unreliable -- telephone ignored -- please use Email