skiena@uiucdcsb.UUCP (10/16/84)
Model 100 help wanted...
Does anybody on the net have a termcap for the Radio Shack
Model 100? I am considering getting one largely for use as a
portable terminal and have borrowed one to play with for a while.
Comments about or programs for the machine will be appreciated.
I'll post anything interesting. Thanks.
Steven Skiena
uiucdcs!skienajoelt@azure.UUCP (Joel Thorson) (10/25/84)
STOP! Before you make the mistake of buying a Model 100, be SURE to check out the Epson Geneval PX-8. It blows all previous laptops (<$1K class) completely out of the water. In fact, it's in my opinion the first laptop in this price range worth owning. I was considering the NEC counterpart when the Geneva came on the market, and I ended up spending more than twice the money, but got n times the computer, where n is VERY large. The extra outlay buys me the capability of running a world of existing software from the realm of CP/M 2.2 (say what you will about CP/M, it enjoys a huge installed base and lots of proven software, including 100M+ of free public domain stuff, and that means it's going to be around for a while). The Geneva has 64K of RAM (63.5K for transient programs), two slots for custom 64K ROM capsules configured like read-only floppy drives (the following come bundled: Portable WordStar, Portable Calc, MSBasic, CP/M utilities and an appointments calendar), a built-in microcassette recorder for backup storage, an 8x80 character LCD display with bit-mapped graphics capability, built-in re- chargeable NiCad batteries, an excellent full ASCII keyboard with five function keys and cursor control keys, optional floppy drives and modem, and various expansion options. (I went for the 128K RAM expansion unit, which configures as a RAM disk, providing a portable 120K file system which stays around as long as I keep the batteries faithfully recharged; once a week or so for eight hours would suffice.) The whole unit is equivalent in size to an 8 1/2x11 ring binder. I have no relationship to Epson except that of a satisfied owner of one of their computers and one of their printers. They shape up in my estimation of the Toyota of personal computing. I like my Toyota too. CP/M is a trademark etc. The views of my employer do not necessarily reflect my own etc.