grahamf@hparc0.HP.COM (Graham Fraser) (02/26/91)
Someone Let the Cat Out of the Bag!! The following article about HP's new palmtop computer appeared on the front page of PC WEEK (Australia) recently. Thought you might be interested.... --------------------------------------------------------------------------- HP AND LOTUS TEST PALMTOP Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Lotus are readying a featherweight, DOS-compatible palmtop that will run Lotus 1-2-3 Release 2.2 at the touch of a calculator key, claim sources close to both firms. Code-named "JAGUAR" and small enough to fit in a shirt pocket, the 8088- based PC offers a display about the size of a Rolodex card (40chars x 16- lines - gf) and weighs less than 500g with batteries and an industry standard, 1M RAM card installed, the sources said. Expected to cost about US$750 and debut in April, the machine also features 512K of internal memory and comes with Lotus' 1-2-3 2.2 and Metro desktop manager loaded into ROM, the sources said. Users can bring up 1-2-3 and the Metro memopad, appointment book and calendar software by pressing calculator buttons, and issue commands with a QWERTY keyboard, according to sources who have seen the product. The RAM card replaces a hard disc drive for data storage, the sources said. In the future, the slot housing the RAM card could be used for extra storage, or to connect a fax, modem or flash RAM. The machine will offer the full range of HP business calculator mathematics. Users of 1-2-3 will have access to all the core graphing and spreadsheet capabilities found in Release 2.2, sources said. In addition, data entered into one area of the Metro memopad software can be cut and pasted into other areas, they said. Add-ins such as Lotus' Allways, a program that allows users to intergrate graphics into spreadsheets, however, are not included, the sources said. Currently the logos of both HP and Lotus are emblazoned on the product, said sources who have seen the machine, and the display of graphics and numbers on the screen is crisp and easy to read. A serial port and infrared technology will allow users to transfer data to and from desktop machines, the sources said. "This is the first true handheld DOS computer," claimed one source who has seen the machine. "With the Poqet PC, you can't hold it in your hand and type, and [it] offers a poor subset of DOS. This product should takeoff like a shot, because there are two huge installed bases that will be interested - 1-2-3 DOS users, and the accountants and real estate people who use HP calculators." Analysts said the joint development bodes well for both companies. "Lotus has been very keen on doing OEM deals like this with various manufacturers, to protect its current DOS base and exploit an emerging market. HP, mean- while, gets good software technology on a small form," said John Dunkle, president of market researcher WorkGroup Technologies. Lotus is currently negotiating with other manufacturers, including several Asian companies, on similar joint development, Mr Dunkle said. ____________________________________________________________________________ Graham Fraser CocoNut => HalfNut =>Titan => Orlando => Paladin => Charlemagne => ?????? ____________________________________________________________________________ Disclaimer: I do not work for Hewlett-Packard. These notes are derived from my own private sources, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of, or information from Hewlett-Packard. ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________