mfolivo@sactoh0.UUCP (Mark F. Olivo) (05/08/89)
It seems that we have a Mr. Downer leaving his impressions on a computer (the PC Folio) that he has not even used (so it seems) and bases the future of the computer on the performance of a much less capable system (Timex Sinclair 1000) I would rather read news and comments about a system *after* they have tried it, not *guess* what the capabilites are before they even see it. He forgets *completely* at what segment of the market the PC Portfolio is aimed at. It is not a replacement for a desktop system! It was never meant to replace your PCx! It is (in my opinion) a supplement to your system, be it a PCx or ST. I work at an electronics store (the good guys!) and we sell quite a few of the Sharp Wizards. Now if you've ever seen them, they are practically computers, using ROM/RAMCards for programs and information storage. I have mentioned the PC Portfolio to a few customers, and the interest is there (Atari, are you listening? Talk to our buyers!! The malcontent moans about the method to connect it to PCs. Heck, I have customers asking me every other week if we have the PC Link cable/software interface for the Sharp Wizard to connect to a PC or a Macintosh! Listen, if you could carry a computer in your pocket, rather than taking up all the room in your briefcase, wouldn't you rather have the Portfolio? Again, I have business customers that come back, and mention about the Sharp Wizard being more convienent than carrying around those book-like organizers. And the Portfolio is certainly more convienent than a briefcase-size computer. I was glad to see someone at Atari speak up for the Portfolio. Of course he has the better information, and I think he answered the percieved criticisms of the computer. Mark Newton-John -- ############################################################# # PRIVATE # SAC-UNIX, Sacramento, Ca. # # PARKING # UUCP=...pacbell!sactoh0 # #############################################################
Bob_BobR_Retelle@cup.portal.com (05/13/89)
Mark Newton-John had a few comments about my assesment of the Atari Portfolio (which were contained in an answer to a question about the capabilities of the machine). Of course I haven't used the Portfolio yet. My comments are based on the Press coverage the machine has been getting. This coverage, from the information released by Atari, has been playing up the MS-DOS compatibility without also covering the limitations. Far from forgetting the market the Portfolio *should* be targeted for, I'm well aware of what that market should be. The Portfolio could be thought of as a "peripherial" for an existing PC system, for use by salesmen in the field, for transporting files between work and home PCs, and as a compact "electronic notepad" that's easily transportable. Unfortunately, so far, that is NOT the impression being given to the public. We'll have to wait and see if Atari defines the marketplace for the Portfolio, or tries to sell it as a general purpose computer. (Incidentally, I think that the Portfolio is quite a technical accomplishment in reducing a 640K PC compatible system to such a small size. If it could be released along with the interfaces needed to connect it to the outside world, along with software in its RAM-card format, it could be quite a successful computer *in its own niche*.) BobR