rjacobs@gara.une.oz.au ( ABRI) (10/27/90)
I apologize if this has been covered in past postings, but does anyone have info about the Sharp PC6220. According to an advert and John Dvorak in September 11 PC Magazine it is a 286-12 MHz with VGA LCD, 16 greys and 640X480. It has 20 Mb 23ms hard disk and weighs 4.3 lbs. I'd like to know how much Ram comes standard and how much can be added. What are the keyboard and screen like? What ports are fitted? What battery does it require and what is the life of the battery? Is there a modem slot? PC Magazine says it has a suggested retail price $3995 US, does anyone know what it is selling for through retail/mail order outlets? My wife needs a laptop for wordprocessing and running Harvard Graphics on the fly and this looked like it may just fulfill her requirements. Any general opinions welcomed. Ross Jacobs *******I can live without my oil wells *******I can live without my villa in France *******I can live without my Ferrari *******I can live without my wife and kids *******But I can't live without my NEC Prospeed
drack@titan.tsd.arlut.utexas.edu (Dave Rackley) (10/29/90)
CompuAdd Companion is the same box as Sharp 6220 but costs only $2895 :-) -- DISCLAIMER? I don't know anything 'bout any ol' disclaimer! +=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+ | David Rackley | | | Applied Research Laboratories | Remember, you can tuna fish, | | The University of Texas | But you can't tuna piano! | | Austin, TX. 78758 | | +=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+
shwake@raysnec.UUCP (Ray Shwake) (10/30/90)
rjacobs@gara.une.oz.au ( ABRI) writes: >PC Magazine says it has a suggested retail price $3995 US, does anyone know >what it is selling for through retail/mail order outlets? This same unit is available under the TI and CompuAdd labels as well. According to a TI rep at a recent show, *they* are making the machines down in Texas. (That's a nice switch!) I've seen the TI version as low as $2700 or thereabouts in the Washington, DC area. They hinted that an SX version was in the works for release later this year.
jdg00@ccc.amdahl.com (Josh Grosse) (10/30/90)
In article <4429@gara.une.oz.au> rjacobs@gara.une.oz.au ( ABRI) writes: >I'd like to know how much Ram comes standard and how much can be added. I have a brochure from Texas Instruments who make the TravelMate 2000, which I assume is the same notebook computer in a different case. It states 1MB RAM standard, "User expandable to 3MB in 1MB increments." I hope that means that end-users can install it themselves. >What are the keyboard and screen like? "Full function 79-key keyboard, Embedded numeric keypad, Cursor Control keys (inverted T) 12 function keys (using the Fn key), Special Set-up key, Real-time palette selection." >What ports are fitted? "Serial (RS-232-C) 9-pin port, Parallel (Centronics) interface with adapter, Numeric keypad connector, Expansion bus (for expansion station or 3.5-inch FDD), CRT monitor interface (optional)." The October PC Magazine article states "A separate port is available if you prefer to attach an external keyboard." Nothing in the brochure states this. >What battery does it require and what is the life of the battery? From reading the detailed article in the October PC Magazine article, it appears that there is a two-hour battery included. The weight (4.4 lbs.) states "including battery" in both the article and the brochure. The article describes an internal battery and an optional clip-on for a total of 5 hours of power. >Is there a modem slot? There is an optional "2400 bps, V.22 bis Hayes (R) compatible modem with send fax capability and MNP (R) Class 5 error-checking protocol." I am unable to ascertain whether or not it is internal. >Any general opionions welcomed. I am trying to arrange to get one of these for evaluation for my department. As far as I can tell, this is the first notebook PC that will take standard AT or XT cards in its expansion box. This is a requirement for telecommunications when at the office. The 20Mb disk is somewhat limiting.. *IF* an additional disk device can be slotted in the expansion box that would be great! The brochure from TI has a sticker over the Expansion Box information which reads: "THE EXPANSION STATION FOR THE TM2000 HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION AT THIS TIME. IT WILL NOT, AND MAY NOT, BE OFFERED FOR SALE OR LEASE, OR SOLD OR LEASED, UNTIL THE APPROVAL OF THE FCC HAS BEEN OBTAINED." It is my expectation that as soon as that happens (it may have happened already) the specification for the expansion features may be obtainable from TI. I want to get an evaluation unit because of our experience with the Zenith 286 laptop expansion box. There are a number of operating limitations that may restrict the use of some cards or some software that relies on certain hardware, as the expansion bus is not a full function XT bus. Therefore, we need to see if the problems we had with the Zenith units also occur on the TI/Sharp unit...and if there are circumventions possible...just like on the Zeniths. -- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Josh Grosse jdg00@amail.amdahl.com Amdahl Corp. 313-358-4440 Southfield, Michigan
pollack@dendrite.cis.ohio-state.edu (Jordan B Pollack) (10/30/90)
As far as the TI200 goes, I experienced one for a week: > I hope that means that end-users can install it themselves. Yes, remove a screw, pop up the keyboard, set in a small pcb. I think an 80287 can also be user installed. >What are the keyboard and screen like? Screen is very nice, doesn't streak like my Zenith! But keyboard is non-optimal, less than full travel; function keys (and esc, ins, del,) are half-vertical-sized. There is a keyboard port on the right, a miniature parallel port, a 9-pin serial port (on left rear), and a slot to slide in either a external monitor interface or the 2400 mnp/fax modem. BUT THESE ITEMS SEEM TO BE MISSING FROM DISTRIBUTION; WE ARE WAITING MONTHS FOR THEM! -- 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
jacobs@cs.utah.edu (Steven R. Jacobs) (10/30/90)
In article <28C902nq037c01@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com> jdg00@ccc.amdahl.com (Josh Grosse) writes: > In article <4429@gara.une.oz.au> rjacobs@gara.une.oz.au ( ABRI) writes: > >>What ports are fitted? > > "Serial (RS-232-C) 9-pin port, Parallel (Centronics) interface with > adapter, Numeric keypad connector, Expansion bus (for expansion station > or 3.5-inch FDD), CRT monitor interface (optional)." The CRT monitor interface fits in the same position as the optional 2400 baud modem, so only one of the two may be used at one time. The LCD display is disabled while the CRT interface is in use (only one can be used at a time). >>Is there a modem slot? > > There is an optional "2400 bps, V.22 bis Hayes (R) compatible modem with > send fax capability and MNP (R) Class 5 error-checking protocol." I am > unable to ascertain whether or not it is internal. It is internal. -- Steve Jacobs ({bellcore,hplabs,uunet}!utah-cs!jacobs, jacobs@cs.utah.edu)