rjbolger@vax1.tcd.ie (11/21/90)
We are doing some telecomms experiments from a van driving around a city, and basically we need a 386(sx) portable/laptop to do some data processing on the move. The problem is that I can't seem to find one that is both battery powered and equipped with one or two expansion slots (8 or 16 will do). A lot of companies seem to use the room for the battery as the place for the expansion slots and offer the machine as a portable only. That would be okay but I'd like then to use the +12 volt van battery to run the P.C., rather than buy a 12 volt to mains convertor and then plug in the mains lead. I know that there are expansion boxes for some laptops, but I can't find a salesman who is sure that the box works from the battery pack alone. I'd be grateful for any opinions on this, I've probably just overlooked some obvious choice but it beats me what that is. Also is gas plasma as bad as C.R.T.'s for E.M.I. i.e. am I limited to an L.C.D. display ?. Thanks in advance. Richard Bolger // Trinity College Dublin // rbolger@vax1.tcd.ie Republic of Ireland //
mto@GTE.COM (Tamer Ozsu) (12/10/90)
I thought I was keeping track of what is coming on the market, but it I seem to be getting lost. So, I need some help in choosing a laptop. My "regular" computing environment consists of Sun workstations running Xwindows and Macintoshes. I am looking for a laptop which I can configure to duplicate, as much as possible, this regular environment. Two solutions that I am not considering are: 1. Getting a 386 machine with a large disk and configuring it to run some version of Unix. This is not necessary, since the only things in my Unix environment that I want to carry around are Emacs (visual editor) and LaTeX (typsetting system). I know that I can get both on DOS. 2. Getting a Mac laptop. If the Mac laptop was a real laptop, this would be the solution since there are LaTeX versions for the Mac. However, Mac laptop is not a laptop in my view; it is also too expensive. I also know of the Outbound, but at around $4000 when configured the way I want it, that is also an expensive alternative. So, what I would like to get is a DOS-based notebook. I know I may not be able to get the same graphics tools as the Mac, but I can live with that. The following seem to be my requirements, as best as I can determine them: * Notebook laptop (size is very important; as close to 8.5"x11"x2" as possible. * 286 processor (speed is also important because I need to run ... * Windows 3.0 (the reason for this is that I want to be able to run Powerpoint which is a presentations package that runs both on the Mac and under Windows) * 20MB disk (at least); ~15 of this should be left to me. * 2400 bps internal model * VGA backlit screen (again Powerpoint wants EGA or better) * universal power supply (I need to take it over to Europe regularly; but a step-down transformer may be acceptable if this becomes the only sticky issue) * replacable batteries with a life of no less than 2 hrs. * system cost no more than $2500 ----------------------- In addition, the following would be nice, but are not essential: * VGA output * longer battery life (say 5-6 hrs) * internal floppy drive Am I whistling in the dark? Can I get something that fits the requirements? I had looked at a few back in August/September and had decided on the Airis system. I had even ordered one, since their system really meets all of my requirements (I have not checked Windows capability, but that was not of major concern since there is a 30-day money back guarantee). However, I am not sure what the heck is going on with them anymore. The system was originally promised for delivery in October, then was delayed till December, now it seems to be delayed till the new year. I am not sure if they are dependable or even worth the wait with whatever may be coming on the market right now. Any help would be appreciated. If you choose to respond by mail, I will summarize the suggestions to the net. ==Tamer Ozsu -- M. Tamer Ozsu mto@gte.com GTE Laboratories 40 Sylvan Road Waltham, MA 02254