wayne@csri.toronto.edu (Wayne Hayes) (03/08/90)
I've seen the Zenith MiniSport here in Toronto, and it looks pretty nice. Expandable to 2M, but with a 720K two (yes, 2) inch floppy drive. Only 5.4 lbs, *very* small (I think it was 12x8x1.3 inches). Does anyone have any experience with this little monster? How does it compare to the T1000SE, which was my first choice until I saw this thing. (BTW, I *still* haven't seen a T1000SE here in Toronto... looks like I may have to mail order it from the US if I decide to get one.) And does anyone have any idea how the price of the T1000XE (the 20M hard drive one, without the floppy) will compare to the SE? -- "C is a language that provides you plenty of rope. You will likely end up getting seriously tangled in it if you're not careful." -- CSRI C intro. Wayne Hayes INTERNET: wayne@csri.toronto.edu CompuServe: 72401,3525
perry@key.COM (Perry The Cynic) (03/09/90)
In article <1990Mar7.210921.2402@jarvis.csri.toronto.edu> wayne@csri.toronto.edu (Wayne Hayes) writes: > I've seen the Zenith MiniSport here in Toronto, and it looks pretty nice. > Expandable to 2M, but with a 720K two (yes, 2) inch floppy drive. Only > 5.4 lbs, *very* small (I think it was 12x8x1.3 inches). Does anyone have > any experience with this little monster? How does it compare to the T1000SE, > which was my first choice until I saw this thing. (BTW, I *still* haven't > seen a T1000SE here in Toronto... looks like I may have to mail order it > from the US if I decide to get one.) > > And does anyone have any idea how the price of the T1000XE (the > 20M hard drive one, without the floppy) will compare to the SE? > > Wayne Hayes INTERNET: wayne@csri.toronto.edu CompuServe: 72401,3525 List price for the T1000XE is $26XX U.S. For street price you can expect the same discounting as for the T1000SE. My tentative price (haggled out with my dealer) is $1880. That compares to, say, $1100-$1200 for a T1000SE (list price $16XX). You can probably get slightly better pricing if you wait for half a year or so. I've looked at the MiniSport before deciding on the T1000SE/XE. The form factor is nice, and it sure looks rugged. It's marginally lighter (5.4lb vs 6lb), and the RAM upgrade (to 2MB) is conventional and thus cheaper. What put me off is mainly the screen. It looks like what used to be good enough two years ago. Only 640x200, not particularly crisp, somewhat squashed, not particularly good contrast, and otherwise not impressive. The keyboard doesn't feel quite as good either (very subjective of course). And then there's the difference between 800K on a new, expensive medium versus 1.4MB on a well-known, well-established (and interchangeable) medium. The T1000SE isn't going after the "smallest laptop" price. As you keep shrinking your computer, you keep making compromises. The question is when those compromises stop being worth it for you. A Second-rate display or keyboard isn't worth it for me - I'm a touch typist, and I like to work an hour or two on end without getting cramps or headaches. Using nonstandard media might be worth while, except that Zenith has thrown away capacity in the bargain. I wouldn't have bought the T1000SE if it didn't have the 1.4MB capacity drive. I'll stop myself from rambling on here. Disclaimer: I have a T1000SE, so I must feel good about it :-). -- perry -- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Perry The Cynic (Peter Kiehtreiber) perry@arkon.key.com ** What good signature isn't taken yet? ** {amdahl,sgi,pacbell}!key!perry