segre@baal.cs.cornell.edu (Alberto M. Segre) (03/01/90)
I'm on the market for a laptop and would like to get some feedback from the net before I take the plunge. I intend to use the system as a home terminal with a 9600 baud external modem. I don't plan to run PC software on it, so I'm willing to do without a harddisk. I don't want a "real" home system since I don't want to worry about backups and file system consistency from home to the Unix systems at work -- I think I would be happy with logging in remotely on a reasonably fast terminal. Thus its important that the machine have a reasonable keyboard (I'm a touch typist). It might be nice to be able to drive an external monitor (probably monochrome) as well; but this isn't critical if the screen is good. I also plan to use the system when I travel, so I would like the system to be as light as possible. Battery life is also a consideration. When travelling, about the only thing I'd need is an editor of some sort; I'm an EMACS user at work, but I'm willing to make do with something simpler if its ROM resident (and I don't have to carry lots of floppies around). The two systems which have made the best impression on me so far are the Toshiba 1000SE (PROS: good keyboard, reasonable screen, 1.4 MB floppy, possibility of expansion chasis with hard disk for home use, CONS: short battery life, no ROM-resident editor) and the Tandy 1100FD (PROS: low cost, reasonable keyboard, good battery life, simple editor in ROM, CONS: only OK screen, no external monitor or expansion). What do you people think of these systems? Anyone have direct experience with either? Am I overlooking any (I have the PC Magazine issue and have read it pretty carefully; did they leave any out?). I know there are a spate of 286-based systems just waiting to be announced; are there any I should be aware of? -alberto ====== Alberto Segre [segre@cs.cornell.edu] Assistant Professor Cornell University Department of Computer Science Upson Hall Ithaca, NY 14853-7501 Tel (607) 255-9196 Fax (607) 255-4428