jjoshua@topaz.rutgers.edu (Jon Joshua) (01/13/90)
Anyone out there have an Atari Portfolio? What do you like/dislike?
What kind of hardware/software would you like to see.
Thanks,
JOn.
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_____________________________OO_____O___hfdhksjdhfksjdfs_______||__________||__fetrow@milton.acs.washington.edu (David Fetrow) (01/13/90)
In article <Jan.12.22.23.14.1990.9453@topaz.rutgers.edu> jjoshua@topaz.rutgers.edu (Jon Joshua) writes: > >Anyone out there have an Atari Portfolio? What do you like/dislike? >What kind of hardware/software would you like to see. > Summary: I've found suprisingly useful as a DOS machine and somewhat unuseful as a personal diary-style computer. It's smaller and slightly heavier than a VHS videotape and lists at $399. With moderate use the batteries lasted me around 3 weeks (3 AA Alkalines). The operating system is DOS compatable but not actually MS-DOS. The small amount of memory sans RAMcard (128K for 'disk' and workspace) is a nonissue if you need only a small utility or two on the road. Since it comes with a reasonable: Diary Setup program (How to handle the small screen options, how to divide up 128K) Screen editor Lotus 1-2-3 subset (!) Calculator LapLink(tm)-Like program (but not as good) ....in ROM already you may not need much else! DOS compatability is pretty good (I'd say 'excellent' except I haven't had it) (all that long yet), the screen is readable in decent light, the keyboard is useable and well layed out but touch-typing isn't possible with hands my size (I use about 3 fingers and one thumb on the Atari). Note that to make the most of the memory TSR versions of utilities might be a good idea; I haven't tried that yet. Serial and Parallel ports are extra cost and make it longer. The connector is tiny but seems pretty decent and is well protected. It is sturdely constructed (not quite HP class) but dust can get in unless you have a RAM card filling the hole in the side. (Rather expensive battery- backed RAM cards take the place of floppies. They are quite fast however) Downside as a personal Diary-style computer: Like most of them you have to open it to read the screen when an alarm goes off. This is annoying to me after using the Psion Organizer. The Alarm is the big downer though....it is far too quiet when the machine is closed and in a pocket to hear. To be frank; I bought the Atari because it was too cool to pass up. I realize this isn't all that "valid" a reason but it's FUN! In any case if my hearing hadn't been damaged from too much time around mainframes and I had to pick just one laptop to carry (for under $700) this would probably be it. (Note: My perspective is a guy who uses a whole pile of sometimes quirky machines. Mostly I use my laptops as terminals or to run home-grown software under 64K. Someone who wants to program in C or run a fullblown wordprocessor on their laptop should look elsewhere) If you expanded it out to something like the Poquet you'd have something rather larger and in the same ballpark costwise so it might not be a great choice if that's your plan. Future models will no dount have more built-in RAM. Note to programmers: If you miss tight assembly coding this may be the machine to write for! Small useful software tools (especially if it has a TSR option) would be appreciated among folks owning these machines (also the Poquet and Floppy-only laptop owners). Disclaimer: These are just my opinions not UW gospel or anything. I don't own the serial port or a RAM card yet. -- -dave fetrow- fetrow@bones.biostat.washington.edu dfetrow@uwalocke (bitnet) {uunet}!uw-beaver!uw-entropy!fetrow "CP/M: Remember when fast, small, useful and clean were good?"
butcher@sdcsvax.UCSD.Edu (David Butcher ) (01/13/90)
I recently got to test drive a Portfolio for about 2 months. In my opinion, I think it's brain dead. I am, however, looking forward to the next version of the Portfolio, it has a lot of promise. It comes stock with 28K of memory and the screen is half the size of normal. The little 128K rom cards cost about $100.00 each and there's only room for one. It came with a LapLink type utility to download programs from a PC into the Portfolio which was handy, but ran down the batteries. After about an hour of use the Portfolio's batteries died out. Unfortunately, they're non-rechargable. The keyboard is usuable only if you have tiny fingers. It comes with no graphics capabilities and the phone dialing utility is too quiet. Only after about five tries was I able to get my phone to recognize it. I don't remember what version of DOS it had, but it was very similar to DOS 2.0. On the plus side, it is SMALL and cheap. Compared to the Poquet, it's a steal for what you get. The keyboard is better then the Poquet. It's too bad the screen is half size and the batteries have such a short life. They provide a utility to mimic a full screen, but it ain't the same! Steve butcher@sdcsvax.ucsd.edu
news@udenva.cair.du.edu (netnews) (01/15/90)
In article <7696@sdcsvax.UCSD.Edu> butcher@sdcsvax.ucsd.edu.UCSD.EDU (David Butcher (Ugrad_Guest_FB)) writes: > > I recently got to test drive a Portfolio for about 2 months. In my opinion, >I think it's brain dead. I am, however, looking forward to the next version of >the Portfolio, it has a lot of promise. It comes stock with 28K of memory and >the screen is half the size of normal. The little 128K rom cards cost about What???!!! The current Portfolio has 128K. Plenty for me so far. >$100.00 each and there's only room for one. It came with a LapLink type >utility to download programs from a PC into the Portfolio which was handy, but >ran down the batteries. After about an hour of use the Portfolio's batteries >died out. Unfortunately, they're non-rechargable. The keyboard is usuable only What???!!! I have had mine for two months, probably 80-100 hours of actual computing time. You probably should have tried new batteries. >if you have tiny fingers. It comes with no graphics capabilities and the phone >dialing utility is too quiet. Only after about five tries was I able to get my Agreed. >phone to recognize it. I don't remember what version of DOS it had, but it was >very similar to DOS 2.0. > On the plus side, it is SMALL and cheap. Compared to the Poquet, it's a >steal for what you get. The keyboard is better then the Poquet. It's too bad Agreed again. >the screen is half size and the batteries have such a short life. They >provide a utility to mimic a full screen, but it ain't the same! > But its not bad given its size, weight, and cost. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert L. Dahlen - Director, Information Systems & Technology University of Denver - Denver, Colorado 80208 (303) 871-4385 INET:bdahlen@du.edu BITNET:bdahlen@ducair UUCP:ncar!dunike!bdahlen
SLSW2@cc.usu.edu (Roger Ivie) (01/16/90)
In article <12613@udenva.cair.du.edu>, news@udenva.cair.du.edu (netnews) writes: > In article <7696@sdcsvax.UCSD.Edu> butcher@sdcsvax.ucsd.edu.UCSD.EDU (David Butcher (Ugrad_Guest_FB)) writes: >> It comes with no graphics capabilities... > > Agreed. > DISAGREED! If you use BIOS calls and don't try to write the damn screen memory directly, you can do graphics all you want. =============================================================================== Roger Ivie 35 S 300 W Logan, Ut. 84321 (801) 752-8633 ===============================================================================
boutell@toffee.it.udel.edu (Tom Boutell) (01/18/90)
In article <16729@cc.usu.edu> SLSW2@cc.usu.edu (Roger Ivie) writes: >In article <12613@udenva.cair.du.edu>, news@udenva.cair.du.edu (netnews) writes: >> In article <7696@sdcsvax.UCSD.Edu> butcher@sdcsvax.ucsd.edu.UCSD.EDU (David Butcher (Ugrad_Guest_FB)) writes: >>> It comes with no graphics capabilities... >> >> Agreed. >> > >DISAGREED! If you use BIOS calls and don't try to write the damn screen >memory directly, you can do graphics all you want. > Oh come on! You're right to correct his statement that there are no graphics capabilities, if it does indeed have some, but doing graphics by direct screen writing is a given and the world knows it. You just CAN'T get effective graphics done by calling biossetpixel!!! Not unless you don't mind waiting... a.... very... long... time. Essentially, if it won't effectively run standard graphics software, it might as well have NO graphics capabilities for the non- programmer. "It is sometimes necessary to go a long way out of one's way to come back a short distance correctly." - Edward Albee "The average price of leechee nuts in Guatemala is the price of your soul!" - Theatresports Troupe, West End
butcher@sdcsvax.UCSD.Edu (David Butcher ) (01/18/90)
Roger, Have you tried it? It doesn't work on the Portfolio at least the one that Atari gave to me. Ansi ESC codes don't work either. SInce Atari chose a smaller screen for it's Portfolio the normal BIOS writing does not work as expected. Steve
STRAUS@applelink.apple.com (Jim Straus) (01/19/90)
In article <7712@sdcsvax.UCSD.Edu> butcher@sdcsvax.UCSD.Edu (David Butcher ) writes: > Have you tried it? It doesn't work on the Portfolio at least the one that > Atari gave to me. Ansi ESC codes don't work either. SInce Atari chose a > smaller screen for it's Portfolio the normal BIOS writing does not work as > expected. I have tried it. The IBM ROM BIOS call SetPixel works just fine. (GetPixel doesn't though, but you can retrieve the value by looking in the RAM screen image). Do note that you have to kick the screen into graphics mode first. I have written a small tetris like game using the graphics and it is speedy enough for that.
SLSW2@cc.usu.edu (Roger Ivie) (01/19/90)
In article <8517@nigel.udel.EDU>, boutell@toffee.it.udel.edu (Tom Boutell) writes: > In article <16729@cc.usu.edu> SLSW2@cc.usu.edu (Roger Ivie) writes: > >>DISAGREED! If you use BIOS calls and don't try to write the damn screen >>memory directly, you can do graphics all you want. >> > Oh come on! You're right to correct his statement that there are no graphics > capabilities, if it does indeed have some, but doing graphics by direct > screen writing is a given and the world knows it. Boy I'm sure glad we no longer live in the days of CP/M where you could have a WIDE VARIETY of hardware run the SAME PROGRAM without having to worry about knowing internal details about the machine it's running on. Clones, clones, boring clones... (sorry, it had to be said) -- =============================================================================== Roger Ivie 35 S 300 W Logan, Ut. 84321 (801) 752-8633 ===============================================================================
SLSW2@cc.usu.edu (Roger Ivie) (01/21/90)
In article <7712@sdcsvax.UCSD.Edu>, butcher@sdcsvax.UCSD.Edu (David Butcher ) writes: > Have you tried it? It doesn't work on the Portfolio at least the one that > Atari gave to me. Ansi ESC codes don't work either. SInce Atari chose a > smaller screen for it's Portfolio the normal BIOS writing does not work as > expected. I've not done extensive work with my Portfolio yet; I've only had it a short time and have been busy with other things. But I did write a small program that turned on a single pixel. Use BIOS calls to put the screen in 40x25 graphics mode and use the set pixel routines. My Portfolio is elsewhere at the moment, so I don't have my source handy. It's a small assembler routine that does just that. The normal BIOS writing works as expected (in my minimal experience) if you bear in mind that the screen is only 40x8. The screen is run in 40x25 text mode by default. I'm also a bit torqued that they didn't give us any escape sequences to run the screen. I plan to write a TSR that takes over the write in teletype mode BIOS function to give some simple escape sequences. That way, I should be able to take old, small, generic DOS programs from my Rainbow and install them to run on the Portfolio without the funky refresh settings. =============================================================================== Roger Ivie 35 S 300 W Logan, Ut. 84321 (801) 752-8633 ===============================================================================
hercules@hera.Eng.Sun.COM (Jonathan Simonoff) (07/31/90)
The Good Guys has a full page add today for a Portfolio for $398, including a "parellel interface for connection to a PC" and a 32K memory storage card. They also have an Optional Utility Card or Financial Card Portfolio for $89 each. First, how are these prices? Second, I have a Mac, not a PC, so I don't have a normal parellel port. Can I still upload from a Portfolio to my Mac? Do I need to buy a serial port option or something like that?
hburford@enint.Wichita.NCR.COM (Harry Burford) (08/02/90)
hercules@hera.Eng.Sun.COM (Jonathan Simonoff) writes: >The Good Guys has a full page add today for a Portfolio >for $398, including a "parellel interface for connection >to a PC" and a 32K memory storage card. They also have >an Optional Utility Card or Financial Card Portfolio for >$89 each. >First, how are these prices? >Second, I have a Mac, not a PC, so I don't have a normal >parellel port. Can I still upload from a Portfolio to my >Mac? Do I need to buy a serial port option or something >like that? I'm still in the 'palm-top' want-to-be stage. From the CompuServe Portfolio forum, it looked like J&R Music or E 33rd Typewriter had the best prices. Some of the numbers were J&R= $299 including port., 32K RAM card, and Parallel interface. I have not confirmed prices and I would expect them to be pretty dynamic considering competition. A call to the Atari hotline indicated that they have a summer special going on now where the port. is being sold with the 32K and Parallel interface included in the regular price. Post locations of places you find better deals. (JR is 800-221-8180 and was listed on CI$ as having a good reputation). hb -- Harry Burford - NCR Peripheral Products Division, Printer Products PHONE:316-636-8016 TELEX:417-465 FAX:316-636-8889 CALL:KA0TTY SLOWNET:3718 N. Rock Road, Wichita KS C-$erve:76226,2760 Cherokee N7476R SS: 9.5 Harry.Burford@Wichita.NCR.COM
SLSW2@cc.usu.edu (Roger Ivie) (08/07/90)
In article <139802@sun.Eng.Sun.COM>, hercules@hera.Eng.Sun.COM (Jonathan Simonoff) writes: > The Good Guys has a full page add today for a Portfolio > for $398, including a "parellel interface for connection > to a PC" and a 32K memory storage card. They also have > an Optional Utility Card or Financial Card Portfolio for > $89 each. > > First, how are these prices? Seem good to me. I bought my Portfolio for $399 about Christmas and had to pay extra for the parallel port. > > Second, I have a Mac, not a PC, so I don't have a normal > parellel port. Can I still upload from a Portfolio to my > Mac? Do I need to buy a serial port option or something > like that? Atari does not provide software to use the serial port for downloading and uploading stuff. So you'll have to find a friend with a PC that you can use to get the serial port transfer software that can talk to your mac to the Atari. -- =============================================================================== Roger Ivie 35 S 300 W Logan, Ut. 84321 (801) 752-8633 ===============================================================================
jims@momenta (Jim Straus) (08/08/90)
SLSW2@cc.usu.edu (Roger Ivie) writes: >> Second, I have a Mac, not a PC, so I don't have a normal >> parellel port. Can I still upload from a Portfolio to my >> Mac? Do I need to buy a serial port option or something >> like that? >Atari does not provide software to use the serial port for downloading >and uploading stuff. So you'll have to find a friend with a PC that you >can use to get the serial port transfer software that can talk to your >mac to the Atari. >-- >=============================================================================== >Roger Ivie That is not true. There is XTerm2, which is a public domain terminal program with XModem file transfer for the Portfolio. It works fine with the Mac. You will just need to purchase or build an appropriate cable and use some simple terminal program on the Mac side. XTerm is available through many dealers, bulletin boards, Compuserve, and GEnie to name a few. Atari also sells it on one of their utility cards. -Jim Straus
esteban@apollo.HP.COM (Steven Fernandez) (08/24/90)
Is the Atari Portfolio a PC compatible. Will it actually run things like procomm? Can I connect a modem to it? How much does it cost? Does anybody know of a retailer in the Boston area that carries it? Thanks Steve --------------------------------------------------------------- Steven Fernandez esteban@apollo.hp.com Hewlett Packard, Apollo Division Chelmsford, MA 01824
SLSW2@cc.usu.edu (Roger Ivie) (08/30/90)
In article <4c64bfa6.20b6d@apollo.HP.COM>, esteban@apollo.HP.COM (Steven Fernandez) writes: > Is the Atari Portfolio a PC compatible. Will it actually run things like > procomm? The Atari Portfolio is compatible only at the BIOS level. Most comm software that I've come across talks directly to the hardware and therefore will not run on it. =============================================================================== Roger Ivie 35 S 300 W Logan, Ut. 84321 (801) 752-8633 ===============================================================================
abl@tempo.ece.cmu.edu (Antonio Leal) (11/17/90)
Last week I asked for some Atari Portfolio info, especially with respect to Mac/PC interfacing. Besides the postings that showed up here, I got mail from three people. I can't quote them directly (I had a fit of sleepy incompetence, best left unmentioned), but the conclusions are: 1- For PC connections, it's best to go with the parallel interface option (on special offer in some ads). 2- The Portfolio is also a good notebook for a Mac. There's a comm program (in hqx form) floating around. 3- There's a free terminal program, available from an Atari BBS, as good as the commercial stuff. 4- I've yet to hear from disappointed users. Every owner seems to like it, within its limitations, for the sheer portability. I called up J&R Music/Electronics/whatever World (1-800-221-8180). They're selling the Portfolio for $250 and the serial option for $50. I also called up Atari (1-800-443-8020). They advertise the Portfolio for $400, with a "$129 bonus" thrown in (32K mem card + smart par. interface). I asked them for product literature, especially on the options, but all they sent me was a glossy flyer. It does show a picture of a Portfolio with an expander (about a third of the 'folio size) attached on the right side. They also mention (future ?) availability of card drives for other machines, so that you can take the Portfolio's mem. cards and read them from a PC. I'm giving it a pause, while the news from the current Comdex break. And, looking at the pictures of LCD screens, I realized I still hate the font they use on PCs. It's not that they are monospaced (I like monospaced text), but the characters are just plumb ugly and hard to read. Spoiled by VT-100s, I guess ;-) -- Antonio B. Leal Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering Bell: [412] 268-2937 Carnegie Mellon University Net: abl@ece.cmu.edu Pittsburgh, PA. 15213 U.S.A.
wilhelm@elements.rpal.com (Robert Wilhelm) (11/17/90)
I seriously considered buying a Portfolio but changed my mind after a 1 hour try at typing with the keypad. I found it very difficult to type with more than two or three fingers because of the size and spacing of the keys. Also, the feel of the keys and the reponse after a finger hit is very different from the other keyboard devices I use. If you are thinking about typing info into the Portfolio, you might want to try one out for some time before making a buy. My experiment resulted in amazing cramps. The Portfolio is the right weight though - I doubt I will find anything else that is so easy to carry around. Bob Wilhelm Rockwell Science Center wilhelm@rpal.com (415)325-0253
jmc10392@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Jeffrey M Cortez) (11/17/90)
wilhelm@elements.rpal.com (Robert Wilhelm) writes: > ... >The Portfolio is the right weight though - I doubt I will find >anything else that is so easy to carry around. > ... Try out the Tandy 102. I know it is not IBM compatible, and it only has 32K of memory, but it is lighter than most books and hook it up to an IBM with Laplink and it is great for doing field typing and data gathering. This computer is not for everyone, but it is has worked well for me. Jeff Cortez jmc10392@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu
slsw2@cc.usu.edu (11/18/90)
In article <WILHELM.90Nov16120043@carbon.elements.rpal.com>, wilhelm@elements.rpal.com (Robert Wilhelm) writes: > I seriously considered buying a Portfolio but changed my mind after a > 1 hour try at typing with the keypad. I found it very difficult to type > with more than two or three fingers because of the size and spacing of > the keys. Also, the feel of the keys and the reponse after a finger > hit is very different from the other keyboard devices I use. > Actually, I find that if you hold the machine in your hands such that your fingers are behind the machine and you are typing with your two thumbs, the machine is quite useful. I find that I can actually touch-type that way; not fast, but effective. -- =============================================================================== Roger Ivie 35 S 300 W Logan, Ut. 84321 (801) 752-8633 ===============================================================================
powers@uklirb.informatik.uni-kl.de (David Powers ) (11/19/90)
abl@tempo.ece.cmu.edu (Antonio Leal) writes: >Last week I asked for some Atari Portfolio info, especially >with respect to Mac/PC interfacing. Besides the postings >that showed up here, I got mail from three people. I can't >quote them directly (I had a fit of sleepy incompetence, best >left unmentioned), but the conclusions are: >1- For PC connections, it's best to go with the parallel interface > option (on special offer in some ads). >2- The Portfolio is also a good notebook for a Mac. There's a comm > program (in hqx form) floating around. >3- There's a free terminal program, available from an Atari BBS, > as good as the commercial stuff. >4- I've yet to hear from disappointed users. Every owner seems to > like it, within its limitations, for the sheer portability. I agree with 1 and 4 - but am currently in a totally MAC (no PCs) environment and would desparately love to get hold of 2 - any clues, ftp addresses, etc.? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ David Powers +49-631/205-3449 (Uni); +49-631/205-3200 (Fax) FB Informatik powers@informatik.uni-kl.de; +49-631/13786 (Prv) Univ Kaiserslautern * COMPULOG - Language and Logic 6750 KAISERSLAUTERN * MARPIA - Parallel Logic Programming WEST GERMANY * STANLIE - Natural Language Learning Riddle: What is the difference between the university and me. Disclaimer: My opinion.
powers@uklirb.informatik.uni-kl.de (David Powers ) (11/19/90)
wilhelm@elements.rpal.com (Robert Wilhelm) writes: >I seriously considered buying a Portfolio but changed my mind after a >1 hour try at typing with the keypad. I found it very difficult to type >with more than two or three fingers because of the size and spacing of >the keys. Also, the feel of the keys and the reponse after a finger >hit is very different from the other keyboard devices I use. >If you are thinking about typing info into the Portfolio, you might >want to try one out for some time before making a buy. My experiment >resulted in amazing cramps. I have written entire (published) articles on the Portfolio. As a touch typist it slow me down somewhat, and after several HOURS I find I get cramps. My biggest problem was the recessing of the keyboard - my flat thumb led to missed spaces at first. But I would say I still achieve 80% throughput. I originally wanted a POQET - but for ten times the outlay and after hearing bad reports on its keyboard, I'm not so sure. I am beginning to think the calculator style keys of the PORTFOLIO were a good choice as it allows more clearance for big fingers than on the POQET. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ David Powers +49-631/205-3449 (Uni); +49-631/205-3200 (Fax) FB Informatik powers@informatik.uni-kl.de; +49-631/13786 (Prv) Univ Kaiserslautern * COMPULOG - Language and Logic 6750 KAISERSLAUTERN * MARPIA - Parallel Logic Programming WEST GERMANY * STANLIE - Natural Language Learning Riddle: What is the difference between the university and me. Disclaimer: My opinion.