mc4c+@andrew.cmu.edu (Mark Choi) (04/04/91)
You want constructive, TRH? Here it is.
You have power problems with external video? Well, since external video
would most likely only be used at a station that has wall power, why not
power the circuitry direct from the power line input. When there was not
power line input, ie, when you are using battery power, the circuitry is
off, and takes no power. Or the jack could act as a switch. When the
plug was in, then power would go tho this circuitry, other wise it would
not. This could work on either the monitor connection, thus allowing
battery powered operation for those who want it, or on the power jack.
When there is no external monitor connected, then it reverts back to the
original machine., so you have the best of both worlds. Battery life and
external video, or at least the choice.
The same thing can apply to the floppy. Put a switch on the drive that
allows it to power on when there is a disk inserted. Have a capacitor
set up so that on initial power on, it draws power from the capictors,
thus avoiding a spike in the power coming from the battery sort of like
an electronic fly-wheel. Also, while talking about floppy sensing, when
the heck will Atari connect the drive sense line, so that the cpu REALLY
knows when there is a disk inserted, and things like GCR can work
porperly. It would be great if the desktop could automatically update
windows when a new disk was inserted.
Back to the notebook, why not include the battery powered drive
mentioned by TRH internally, and give an extra door on the bottom for
the seperate battery power for the floppy, if one is going to use it. I
prefer the above solution, but this is better than nothing.
As for the backlighting. No if's and's or but's. Not having a backlight
is a fatal mistake. I do not care how great the contrast is. Will it be
better than an active matrix display? Unless Atari has a new marvel in
LCD technology, I doubt it. Why did Apple have to redisign the mac
portable? Because of overwhelming complaints about the lack of a
backlight. Even with the incredible contrast of the active matrix
display on the mac, it was all but unusable in many conditions. Add a
stage light? By the time one finishes adding on all the things one needs
to use it, it will be just as huge as the STacy. Working in a lab with
diffuse overhead flouresent lighting will work fine. But for a machine
that is supposed to move around as much as a notebook, I do not think
that you can rely on good lighting being available. Innovative power?
How about this. Run a line from the hottest part of the circuit board up
to the corner of the display, probably the coolest, and use the heat
differential to create a current to power the backlight. I do not know
if the power will be enough, but it is an idea, anyway.
I also agree with whoever it was that said that external pointer device
support was essential. If I am and artist, I do not want to use an
iso-point type device to draw, or is the noebook not for artists? If I
am a musician, and am drawing waveforms for my dx-7 i do would rather
use a mouse. Or is this not for musicians? Actually, a mouse is useful
for just about everyone. I understand the space/power problems, but see
above for potential solutions, or try this one on for size. The mouse
connector could be modified to provide power TO the computer, and the
mouse would have it's own batteries. The mouse would power its own
controller, not the other way 'round. This could work on a redesigned
(simple) monitor connection as well. Also, why not design it so that the
LCD screen can open 180 degrees to the keyboard, and lock there, and can
also lock into any other angle as well, and use the touchscreen device
in the pad. Better for artist, musicians, and not that much more
intrusive that taking your hands off the keyboard to use the iso-point
like thingy. In fact I think it would be even better than the mouse, and
since such an input device is supposedly already running on the ST Pad,
the hardware is all but done. Add the handwriting recognition too, and
WOW!!! While you are at it, let the LCD seperate from the CPU/Keyboard,
and it would be incredible. You could set it up anywhere, just like a
monitor. Even hang it on the wall in front of your desk! :^)
Yes, I am asking a lot, but am I asking too much? Think about it.
These things are very small hacks, of a mechanical nature (the seperable
locking LCD) and would be easy for any ID person. I will even do it! The
locking mechanism would double for the release mechanism that lets the
LCD separate. The cable coils into a slot in the cpu base. If great
distance is wanted, a longer cable will have to be bought, of course.
Third party people may even design an LCD connector To allow for this,
both ends of the connector must terminate in a plug. There is a small
easle, like on the back of a small picture frame, that allows the LCD to
stand on its own. Thus, you have a "seperable keyboard" setup, just like
the MEGA. Using a computer on your lap, even if it weighs next to
nothing, makes porblems like carpal tunnel syndrom look like a small
bruise. It is very difficult. The above set up alone would sell these
things to PC and Mac people like hotcakes to the famished. This machine
can be everything! And it would be a marketing dream if handled well. PC
ditto in ROM!!!! Yeah!
[How about adding foot pedals so that we can skip the batteries and
generate our own power :^)]
There are a lot of ideas that one can use to have one's cake, and eat a
large portion of it as well. I just do not see why it is absolutely
necessary to gut the machine to get more power. Why not try to get both
a full function machine, and more power? Don't tell me it is impossible.
When the mac notebook comes out, I'll prove you wrong! As it is, that
beast of a machine gets up to twelve hours of power. A smaller more
efficient machine.... We need to get the jump on the market, or else you
may find that the market has gotten away.
Comments sugestions, post them wherever the hell you want. I'll read
'em, or I won't. Just like everyone else. Just quit a jumpin' down my
throat, especially those who do not know about what they are speaking.
I love you all.
Peace,
-geisha-grahamt@syma.sussex.ac.uk (Graham S Thomas) (04/05/91)
From article <UbyaIxC00UhBE0ynEu@andrew.cmu.edu>, by mc4c+@andrew.cmu.edu (Mark Choi): > You want constructive, TRH? Here it is. > It's nice to see what started as a bit of a slanging match ending (I hope) in a constructive dialogue. I'm not competent to evaluate them, but there were certainly some interesting suggestions in Mark's article. > We need to get the jump on the market, or else you > may find that the market has gotten away. It may interest/sadden people to know that Atari UK's marketing manager (Peter Stadden, if I've remembered his name correctly), in an interview published in the UK weekly 'New Computer Express' dated April 6th, was hoping that the machines shown at CeBIT would be with UK dealers in 18 months. I don't know what the market for handwriting recognition will be in October 1992, but I'd expect the notebook market to have moved on a bit from the current ST_Book spec by then. Perhaps Peter Stadden is just being conservative (or perhaps Atari UK has slipped down the pecking order for new product releases). Most of the rest of the interview was about how Atari UK are trying to move from a games image to that of a company supporting serious applications on its 680x0 range. I hope the company succeeds, but I can't help feeling that the move is at least three years too late. I should stop at this point, as I started out by praising Mark for being constructive, and I can feel myself sliding into doom 'n gloom mode... Graham -- Graham Thomas, SPRU, Mantell Building, U of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9RF, UK INTERNET: grahamt@syma.sussex.ac.uk JANET: grahamt@uk.ac.sussex.syma BITNET: grahamt%sussex.syma@UKACRL UUCP: grahamt%sussex.syma@ukc.uucp Phone: +44 273 678165 Fax: +44 273 685865