garye@microsoft.UUCP (Gary ERICSON) (03/01/91)
Does anyone know if there are any laptops made with the Isopoint pointing device built into the keyboard? This would make using Windows and GUI software in general actually possible on a laptop (I liked someone's comment about using your neighbor's lap on an airplane for your mouse). Gary Ericson - Microsoft - Work Group Apps P.S. For those who don't know, the Isopoint device is a bar that sits below the space bar of the keyboard where you can operate it with your thumbs without lifting your hands from the keys. You roll the bar back and forth to get up and down cursor motion, and the bar slides side-to-side to get left and right cursor motion. It takes getting used to, but it seems like a definite win on a laptop.
tparker@bierstadt.scd.ucar.edu (Tom Parker) (03/03/91)
In article <70965@microsoft.UUCP> garye@microsoft.UUCP (Gary ERICSON) writes: >Does anyone know if there are any laptops made with the Isopoint pointing >device built into the keyboard? This would make using Windows and GUI >software in general actually possible on a laptop (I liked someone's >comment about using your neighbor's lap on an airplane for your mouse). > >Gary Ericson - Microsoft - Work Group Apps Gary, GRID's GRIDCase 1550sx has an IsoPoint control bar. It is reviewed in the March issue of PC Magazine (page 139). The reviewer said the IsoPoint worked with "mixed results". On page 310 it also says that this is the only portable that currenty uses an IsoPoint, and that the IsoPoint is made by Culver Research (415) 851-1202. Hope this helps, Tom
atk@tigger.Colorado.EDU (Alan T. Krantz) (03/03/91)
In article <10450@ncar.ucar.edu> tparker@bierstadt.scd.ucar.edu (Tom Parker) writes: >In article <70965@microsoft.UUCP> garye@microsoft.UUCP (Gary ERICSON) writes: =>>Does anyone know if there are any laptops made with the Isopoint pointing =>>device built into the keyboard? This would make using Windows and GUI =>>software in general actually possible on a laptop (I liked someone's =>>comment about using your neighbor's lap on an airplane for your mouse). =>> =>>Gary Ericson - Microsoft - Work Group Apps => =>Gary, => =>On page 310 it also says that this is the only portable that currenty =>uses an IsoPoint, and that the IsoPoint is made by Culver Research (415) =>851-1202. => The Feb issue of byte magazine mentioned a second laptop that used the IsoPoint. I don't have that issue in front of me - and I don't remember any comments it made on the machine... atk
hardarso@tlab2.cs.unc.edu (Kari Hardarson) (03/04/91)
I've seen the Isobar in action on a Grid machine, I loved it. However, now I have a Zeos which doesn't have a mouse built in... Are there any microsized trackballs out there that could be attached to a laptop, or small enough to fit in a matchbox? Just wondering. I have a Genius mouse but I won't be carrying it around with me. Seeing how Windows is catching on, I have a feeling this is a problem I'm going to have to solve someday. Sure am glad I have a 386 machine, Windows works swell with it. Just wish I'd ordered a memory upgrade. -- Kari Hardarson | Twas brillig and the slithy toves 217 Jackson Circle | did gyre and gimble in the wabe... Chapel Hill, NC 27514 | (Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll)
bright@ccu.umanitoba.ca (Bob Bright) (03/04/91)
In article <70965@microsoft.UUCP> garye@microsoft.UUCP (Gary ERICSON) writes: >Does anyone know if there are any laptops made with the Isopoint pointing >device built into the keyboard? This would make using Windows and GUI >software in general actually possible on a laptop (I liked someone's >comment about using your neighbor's lap on an airplane for your mouse). Atari's laptop (the "STacy") replaces the mouse with a small trackball on the righthand side of the keyboard. I haven't used one, but from all reports it works quite well. Apparently the machine is a big hit with the professional musician crowd, since like all of the Atari machines it has built-in midi ports. Has anyone had any first-hand experience with one of these critters? How good is the display? BBB -- Bob Bright <bright@ccu.umanitoba.ca> Dept. of Philosophy University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Man R3T 2N2 (204) 474-9105
tparker@bierstadt.scd.ucar.edu (Tom Parker) (03/04/91)
>Atari's laptop (the "STacy") replaces the mouse with a small trackball >on the righthand side of the keyboard. I haven't used one, but from >all reports it works quite well. Apparently the machine is a big hit >with the professional musician crowd, since like all of the Atari >machines it has built-in midi ports. Has anyone had any first-hand >experience with one of these critters? How good is the display? I don't have any first-hand experience, but I read an article in the Feb. issue of Keyboard magazine that generally panned the Stacy. Oh by the way, the other laptop that uses an isopoint is the Outbound Systems Macintosh-compatible, as described on page 225 of the Feb. issue of Byte. Tom
mto@gte.com (Tamer Ozsu) (03/07/91)
In article <70965@microsoft.UUCP> garye@microsoft.UUCP (Gary ERICSON) writes: >Does anyone know if there are any laptops made with the Isopoint pointing >device built into the keyboard? This would make using Windows and GUI >software in general actually possible on a laptop (I liked someone's >comment about using your neighbor's lap on an airplane for your mouse). I believe some version of a GRID laptop has isopoint installed. The comments that I have read in some journal some time ago was quite positive. Unfortunately, the machine is relatively expensive (I can't remember the exact price). Outbound, which is a Mac laptop has an isopoint as well. You need to remove the ROMs from another Mac (plus or SE) to get it going, though. ==Tamer -- M. Tamer Ozsu Telephone: (617) 466-2098 GTE Laboratories Fax: (617) 290-0628 40 Sylvan Road Internet: mto@gte.com Waltham, MA 02254
pollack@dendrite.cis.ohio-state.edu (Jordan B Pollack) (03/07/91)
I carry a microsoft mouse around with me, and it plugs into the single serial port of my computer; which means no simultaneious use of windows and a laserwriter, no simultaneious use of an external 9600 baud modem with either mouse or printer. I looked around for somebody who interfaces a mouse (or lightpen or trackball or joystick or isobar:) to the AUX KEYBOARD port of laptops, but to no avail. -- Jordan Pollack Assistant Professor CIS Dept/OSU Laboratory for AI Research 2036 Neil Ave Email: pollack@cis.ohio-state.edu Columbus, OH 43210 Fax/Phone: (614) 292-4890
rubin@arnor.UUCP (Bill Rubin) (03/07/91)
In <2023@borg.cs.unc.edu> hardarso@tlab2.cs.unc.edu (Kari Hardarson) writes: > I've seen the Isobar in action on a Grid machine, I loved it. > However, now I have a Zeos which doesn't have a mouse built in... > Are there any microsized trackballs out there that could be attached > to a laptop, or small enough to fit in a matchbox? Just wondering. I had heard a rumor, and in fact there was supposed to be an announcement in PC Magazine last issue (the article was removed, but not the pointer to it elsewhere in the magazine), that Microsoft was planning to come out with a clip-on trackball for laptops. The person I spoke to at PC Magazine said they had no idea what happened, just that it was not announced so they had to pull the article. I think this is a *really* great idea, and I can hardly wait for it to become available. Microsoft denies any knowledge of this product. Perhaps the person who originated this topic, who happened to have an address of microsoft.uucp, could give us some information. -- Bill
bob@sactoh0.sac.ca.us (Bob F. Breedlove) (03/09/91)
In article <10707@bunny.GTE.COM>, mto@gte.com (Tamer Ozsu) writes: > > I believe some version of a GRID laptop has isopoint installed. The > comments that I have read in some journal some time ago was quite > positive. Unfortunately, the machine is relatively expensive (I can't > remember the exact price). > Just saw the GRiD with ISO point at a Windows show in San Jose CA. Not bad once you got used to it. (I am NOT a big fan of ANY pointing device or GUI's.) Did not ask the price. -- Bob Breedlove SYSOP: BOBsBBS (916/929-7511) Author: CONFIG.EXE, RUN.EXE, CleanUp.EXE BATch EXecutive bob@sactoh0.SAC.CA.US
zeleny@zariski.harvard.edu (Michael zeleny) (03/09/91)
In article <70965@microsoft.UUCP> garye@microsoft.UUCP (Gary ERICSON) writes: >Does anyone know if there are any laptops made with the Isopoint pointing >device built into the keyboard? This would make using Windows and GUI >software in general actually possible on a laptop (I liked someone's >comment about using your neighbor's lap on an airplane for your mouse). > >Gary Ericson - Microsoft - Work Group Apps > >P.S. For those who don't know, the Isopoint device is a bar that sits below >the space bar of the keyboard where you can operate it with your thumbs >without lifting your hands from the keys. You roll the bar back and forth >to get up and down cursor motion, and the bar slides side-to-side to get >left and right cursor motion. It takes getting used to, but it seems like >a definite win on a laptop. I am using a GRiDCASE 1550sx 386sx laptop equipped wit Isopoint. Yes, it can be used within the boundaries of a reasonably narrow lap. The pointing device takes some getting used to (I use a SUN Sparcstation 1 at home and Sun 3 at the university). It is better than using a character-based interface, though. Although I've only had it for a little over a month, I think I can say with some confidence that the machine works as advertised. It is solidly built and fairly comfortable to use. A bit heavy though. How about starting a *.grid newsgroup? Michael Zeleny zeleny@math.harvard.edu
hseung@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Hyunsuk Seung) (03/10/91)
In article <10707@bunny.GTE.COM> mto@gte.com (Tamer Ozsu) writes: .... >Outbound, which is a Mac laptop has an isopoint as well. You need to >remove the ROMs from another Mac (plus or SE) to get it going, though. >==Tamer There are couple of mail-order companies that actually sell the Outbounds with Apple ROMs installed already... one example is CDA Computer Sales (no ad intended) which lists the Outbound w/ ROM & 2/40 for $ 3095 -- H.Seung hseung@eniac.seas.upenn.edu 3820 Locust Walk #876 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 19104
anthony@convex.csd.uwm.edu (Anthony J Stieber) (03/10/91)
In article <38989@netnews.upenn.edu> hseung@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Hyunsuk Seung) writes: >There are couple of mail-order companies that actually sell the Outbounds >with Apple ROMs installed already... one example is CDA Computer Sales >(no ad intended) which lists the Outbound w/ ROM & 2/40 for $ 3095 There is an Outbound dealer that is selling highly discounted Outbound laptops with the ROMs optionally installed. He is Todd Nathan (tn505981@longs.lance.colostate.edu. Disclaimer: I do not benefit from posting this information. -- <-:(= Anthony Stieber anthony@csd4.csd.uwm.edu uwm!uwmcsd4!anthony