pollack@toto.cis.ohio-state.edu (Jordan B Pollack) (09/26/89)
I'd like propose the formation of comp.sys.laptops (or comp.sys.portables) for the unmoderated discussion of issues related to very portable computers. (This idea was posted about a week ago only in news.groups) On the one hand, comp.sys.ibm.pc is too voluminous and discriminates against non-dos machines, and on the other, comp.sys.handhelds has turned into a HP calculator forum. Comp.sys.zenith sports about 1 in 10 articles about their laptops, but excludes the 30 other laptop manufacturers. There are hardware issues: color screens, stationary pointing devices, projection technologies, cellular modems, miniature keyboards, ramcards, 2-inch floppies, floptical disks, etc. There are software issues: block-cursor TSRs, battery programs, color to grey scale mapping, screenshow utilities, etc. There are specific manufacturer issues: How can zenith advertise 640 by 400 CGA? When will Toshiba be un-disbarred from federal purchasing code? Who is really behind Dolch-Pac?, etc. There are lifestyle issues: can you whip out your machine in a public meeting? How to handle airport security guards who want to turn on your machine to see that its not a bomb? What if a colleague wants to borrow your security blanket? etc. The creation of a newgroup apparently requires vigorous public discussion as to its merit. However, please either email your comments to me, or FOLLOWUP ONLY IN NEWS.GROUPS. Besides, I can't afford to read the 100 messages a day in comp.sys.ibm.pc anymore. A vote will eventually be taken. Jordan Pollack CIS Dept. OSU