kehr@felix.UUCP (Shirley Kehr) (05/02/89)
MacWeek has a picture of the new kit that allows you to build your own "laptop." Actually it's called a modular portable. It looks like one of those standing billboards you see outside smalltown restaurants or one of the road construction warnings with the yellow light on top. The screen display looks yellow; I think something is displayed but it didn't come out in the photo. You supply the logic board, a diskette drive, and other items to build the 12 by 14 by 3-inch unit, then attach your keyboard and mouse. They supply a super-twist, back-lit LCD display monitor with a resolution of 640 by 400 pixels at 72 dpi. It also provides a video interface, rechargeable battery pack and AC/DC adapter, 2400-bps modem, connector port for an overhead projector plate and carrying case. The logic board can be from any compact Mac and the diskette can be any of the three types. All standard Mac ports as well as the SE expansion slot will be available. The unit is 12 pounds and you can get an optional 40-Mbyte internal hard disk. They say a battery charge will last up to four hours with a low- power hard disk. The kit is supposed to be out by the end of the month. It is built by NexSys 296 Elizabeth St New York, N.Y. 10012 (212) 995-2224 My first concern would be whether the carrying case provides space for the keyboard and mouse. Otherwise it seems easier to carry it around in the old (though heavier) format where everything fits in one bag. Oh, by the way, list price for the kit is $1,595. Shirley Kehr