pjd@alpha.ces.cwru.edu (dr. funk) (11/10/89)
I am evaluating several alternatives for a "notebook" size
machine primarily for notetaking at meetings, etc. The
Atari Portfolio looks interesting and was fun to play with.
The other major contender is the Radio Shack (!) WP-2 word
processor. Here's just a few observations...
I would have bought the Portfolio on the spot IF the built-in
software supported file transfer via the serial port. It does
not and as a Mac user (no parallel port on an SE!) this will
create a pain in the neck. I want a simple, direct transfer
capability. The keyboard is not bad for a two finger typist
(which I am), but forget touch typing. Finally, the RAM cards
are Mitsubishi (sic) format and are available elsewhere albeit
in small quantities.
The WP-2 is not in the stores yet, but "any day now." Although
this is a larger format machine, the keyboard is full size with
certain keys in the right places and an 8 line by 80 column
display. It will include a word processor, calendar, etc. but
no spreadsheet. It will also have a RAM/ROM card capability.
RS-232 and parallel port will be built-in. 32Kb is built-in
with a 32Kb expansion option for $50. (Cheesh! Let's find out
what chip and skip this crapola.)
A recent article in the Tandy rag (PCM ?) states that the WP-2
is Z-80 based (5 MHz) and will be able to execute programs from
RAM/ROM card. (Anybody got any old Z-80 code laying around?)
The machine appeared in a sales flyer here at a sale price of $300.
Not bad, but I seem to be suffering from a case of the "vapours."
paul j. drongowski usenet: {decvax,sun,att}!cwjcc!pjd!pjd
case western reserve university csnet: pjd@alpha.ces.cwru.eduhsu@eng.umd.edu (Dave "bd" Hsu) (11/14/89)
In article <880@cwjcc.CWRU.Edu> pjd@alpha.ces.cwru.edu (dr. funk) writes: > The WP-2 is not in the stores yet, but "any day now." >... >A recent article in the Tandy rag (PCM ?) states that the WP-2 >is Z-80 based (5 MHz) and will be able to execute programs from >RAM/ROM card. (Anybody got any old Z-80 code laying around?) The WP2 hit local shacks over the weekend, and a quick look around the thing reveals the following: It does come with an RS232 and parallel printer ports standard. Memory options included a 32k internal expansion, and an outboard memory expander that fits into a thin slot at the left of the unit. Display has a nasty green cast to it, and there is no backlight provision. Keys feel usable. I only perused the owner's manual for a few minutes and could find no mention of running programs out of RAM. There is a simple transfer protocol included, and what appears to be a pretty dumb terminal program, and some simple modem control software included, but I couldn't find any mention of a development kit or programming reference. The word processor itself seems to be pretty nice for a tote-it-along device, and has a fairly friendly help utility. Could be a "fun toy" contender, if it's programmable. -dave -- Dave Hsu UMd EE Computer Facility hsu@eng.umd.edu "A program is like a nose. Sometimes it runs, sometimes it blows."
news@udenva.cair.du.edu (netnews) (12/07/89)
I bought the Atari Portfolio. I LOVE it. The product manager from Atari told me that file transfer software for the Portfolio would probably be available in January. Could also be vapor...
STRAUS@applelink.apple.com (Jim Straus) (12/08/89)
In article <12511@udenva.cair.du.edu> news@udenva.cair.du.edu (netnews) writes: > I bought the Atari Portfolio. I LOVE it. The product manager from > Atari told me that file transfer software for the Portfolio would > probably be available in January. Could also be vapor... I am assuming that you mean that the file transfer will be for the serial port as the parallel port comes with file transfer software. In that case, I have written a terminal program for the Portfolio with XModem file transfer capabilities. It was being distributed as shareware on CI$, but I am working with Atari, and I believe they will make it available for free.
ganoe@cs.arizona.edu (Bill Ganoe) (12/15/89)
I got an Atari Portfolio a couple of weeks ago, and it included all the
necessary file transfer facilities -- but it uses the PC parallel port
instead of the serial port. If you buy the parallel interface for the
Portfolio it comes with a 3.5" and a 5 1/4" disk of software to run
on a PC. The software does everything necessary to make your PC's
parallel port bidirectional. Outside of squeezing my fingers a bit
I'm really happy with this little puppy.
--
> Standard | William H. Ganoe bill@tucson.sie.arizona.edu
disclaimer <| SIE Dept; Univ. of Arizona; Tucson, AZ 85721; USA
NASA: National Acronym Stockpile Authoritygaryf@jpl-devvax.JPL.NASA.GOV (Gary Friedman) (12/16/89)
In article <16168@megaron.cs.arizona.edu> ganoe@cs.arizona.edu (Bill Ganoe) writes: > >I got an Atari Portfolio a couple of weeks ago, >The software does everything necessary to make your PC's >parallel port bidirectional. > You can turn a PC paralel port bidirectional? With SOFTWARE? How is this possible? -- Gary Friedman Jet Propulsion Laboratory - NASA 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA. 91109 (818) 354-0410 Uucp: {cit-vax,elroy,psivax}!devvax!garyf Arpa: devvax!garyf@cit-vax.ARPA -or- garyf@devvax.JPL.NASA.GOV
jwt@atari.UUCP (Jim Tittsler) (12/17/89)
garyf@jpl-devvax.JPL.NASA.GOV (Gary Friedman) writes: >In article <16168@megaron.cs.arizona.edu> ganoe@cs.arizona.edu (Bill Ganoe) writes: >>I got an Atari Portfolio a couple of weeks ago, ... >>The software does everything necessary to make your PC's >> parallel port bidirectional. >You can turn a PC paralel port bidirectional? With SOFTWARE? How is >this possible? The software does not make any of the bits of the parallel port bidirectional (although this is possible with many integrated chip PC clone chip solutions) but instead uses the available input and output bits of the standard parallel port to form a bi-directional link to/from the Portfolio. Jim Tittsler, Systems Engineer, Atari Corp.
smasters@gmuvax2.gmu.edu (Shawn Masters) (12/17/89)
The software that comes with the Portfilio's interface does not use the parallel port in parallel. It says in the manual that the transfer is done serial. They just chose one line for reponse from the printer to be input into the PC. How they did the timing is unclear. By the way, the original IBM PC's parallel port is bi-directional. The PC tech manual that came with IBM's original proto board says that it was made this was to support communications and a variety of interfacing applications. Shawn C. Masters George Mason University smasters@gmuvax2.gmu.edu
adams@hpfelg.HP.COM (John Adams) (12/30/89)
/ hpfelg:comp.sys.handhelds / pjd@alpha.ces.cwru.edu (dr. funk) / 11:22 am Nov 9, 1989 /
I am evaluating several alternatives for a "notebook" size
machine primarily for notetaking at meetings, etc. The
Atari Portfolio looks interesting and was fun to play with.
The other major contender is the Radio Shack (!) WP-2 word
processor. Here's just a few observations...
I would have bought the Portfolio on the spot IF the built-in
software supported file transfer via the serial port. It does
not and as a Mac user (no parallel port on an SE!) this will
create a pain in the neck. I want a simple, direct transfer
capability. The keyboard is not bad for a two finger typist
(which I am), but forget touch typing. Finally, the RAM cards
are Mitsubishi (sic) format and are available elsewhere albeit
in small quantities.
The WP-2 is not in the stores yet, but "any day now." Although
this is a larger format machine, the keyboard is full size with
certain keys in the right places and an 8 line by 80 column
display. It will include a word processor, calendar, etc. but
no spreadsheet. It will also have a RAM/ROM card capability.
RS-232 and parallel port will be built-in. 32Kb is built-in
with a 32Kb expansion option for $50. (Cheesh! Let's find out
what chip and skip this crapola.)
A recent article in the Tandy rag (PCM ?) states that the WP-2
is Z-80 based (5 MHz) and will be able to execute programs from
RAM/ROM card. (Anybody got any old Z-80 code laying around?)
The machine appeared in a sales flyer here at a sale price of $300.
Not bad, but I seem to be suffering from a case of the "vapours."
paul j. drongowski usenet: {decvax,sun,att}!cwjcc!pjd!pjd
case western reserve university csnet: pjd@alpha.ces.cwru.edu
----------adams@hpfelg.HP.COM (John Adams) (12/30/89)
Oops, sorry! John Adams
STRAUS@applelink.apple.com (Jim Straus) (01/04/90)
In article <3830004@hpfelg.HP.COM> adams@hpfelg.HP.COM (John Adams) writes: > software supported file transfer via the serial port. It does > not and as a Mac user (no parallel port on an SE!) this will > create a pain in the neck. I want a simple, direct transfer > capability. The Atari dealers should have now (or soon) a public domain terminal program for the Portfolio that includes XModem file transfer capabilities. The program is <3K, so it is fine being always resident. If the dealer doesn't have it yet, check on CI$ or GEnie. It works fine with the Mac (which is what I use). -jim straus