SPGJAF@CMSA.BERKELEY.EDU (Joseph A. Faracchio {415} 642-7638 {w}) (06/29/91)
I just discovered these products a few days ago when PC Computing mentioned them in a sidebar about laptop pointing devices. It says that Veridata makes the 4-pound ExecuLite 386 and that Commax Technolog ies sells the Veridata under the name Ultrathin 386SX. I ended up talking to a salesman that is south of San Francisco (Burlingame?) who said he'd beat anybody else's price (if you can find them!) I went over to Uncle Ralph's (no not mine!, its a retail outlet) and took a look at it. It seems to be 4 lbs but if its more then that it's a shame. It 'looks chunkier' than other notebooks. That is, less than the 8 1/2 x 11 but thicker. (they claim 1 1/4 inch high but that's with the lid open). It seems to come in 3 sizes 30,40 & 60megs. They are Conner drive (a big plus in my book). Other spec's : 20mhz/386sx, Award v 3.1, DR/Dos 5.0 (sigh) in ROM 1 MB standard, upgradable to 4 MB but you lose the original 1 MB (256K's?) (I hate it when a manufacturer forces you to throw away memory in order to increase it) Ext 3 1/2 1.44 (included in the price and doesn't need AC to use) VGA, 79 Key w/10 Fkeys (sigh, I need that F11 and F12!) 1 ser, para, mouse,video and 'personality' ports. Usual options: modem/fax, ext bat, carrying bag and the interesting thing that merit the PC Computing article is the Mousepad Personality Module. Uncle Ralph's won't sell the 30 meg one and there's a Void if removed warranty sticker on the central screw on the case (sigh, I can do my on upgrades a lot cheaper but hate to lose the warranty) I would buy it except the price: background first, I can get a Nec UltraLite (obsolete, orphan, very limited) 'complete' for under $1500 from DAK. I'd be willing to pay $1000-1500 more for this system (the most powerful lightest available) but a complete one looks to be about $4500. I can get the Sharp 6220 for $1979 or under $2500 complete. The fact is (IMHO) a 'no-name' that I will have to worry about the company being around next year is a big minus. Big enough to make me decide against it. But its made me think that since it exists then Sharp/Toshiba/Nec might not be far behind in coming out with a 386SL/VGA/Hardisk under 4 lbs soon and I'm now serious considering returning the Nec UltraLite. Sigh!!! Hope this is more help then hinderance! :-) !!! .. joe.f.