sruli@dasys1.UUCP (Andrew L. Shaffren) (06/19/88)
A couple of weeks ago I posted a request for information about a laptop
PC compatable with a built-in printer. I'd like to summarize the replies and
thank those who responded now.
Dr. Michael R. Volow, <mvolo@ecsvax.uncecs.edu>,
John Levine, <johnl@ima.isc.com>,
Anders Wallgren, <arwall@athena.mit.edu>,
Joel Upchurch, <joel@peora.ccur.com>,
Michael Golden,
Alan Lustiger, <{AT&T Machines}!pruxc!alu>,
John Carter, <..ihnp4!ll1a!nesac2!jec>,
and
Don Stanwyck, <ihnp4!drutx!stanwyck>
all basically suggest either the Panasonic Senior Partner, the IBM PC
Convertable, or possibly the HP machine or the Amstrad machine if I *HAD*
to have the printer built in. (The Panasonic and PC Convertable were
unsuitable due to weight (though if no other solution had been available
I might have been forced to use one), and I didn't like the HP, and I
couldn't find enough info on the Amstrad machine.)
Other suggestions were made, but the one I liked best (thanks, John Levine)
was to stick a Toshiba and a Diconix in an attache case. After a bit of
research, I found a company that makes cases for the very purpose I had
in mind, i.e. a very light laptop and printer that can be carried and
operated as a single unit. The company told me that the case was about
4 lbs, and with the Diconix 150P, batteries for same, and the Toshiba 1000,
the whole package weighs in at ~15 lbs.
The nice thing about the case is that neither the printer nor computer need
be removed for them to operate, and there is even space for paper. Very
convienent, especially for my application. My client is an M.D. who makes
house calls, and needs to print insurance forms, bills, etc. on the spot,
and later enter the data on his main office system. Carrying around a black
bag is bad enough... adding two units for printer and computer, then fumbling
to thread the printer and connect it to the computer would have been too much.
In case anyone is interested, the company is Dealer Services in Moline (sp?)
Ill., and their number is (309) 797-3873. (No, I don't work for them, nor
are they paying me to say this, I just thought someone else might want this
info...) The case varied in price depending on the laptop and printer,
but the one I wanted cost $129.95. They had cases for many different
laptop/printer combinations, but none for the Toshiba 1000, though I intend
to get the one for the 1100 and stick in a piece of foam rubber, if
necessary.
Once again, thanks for the help.
--
Andrew L. Shaffren
Big Electric Cat Public UNIX
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