moss@takahe.cs.umass.edu (Eliot &) (02/01/90)
I have been following the discussion for a little while, but have been unable to discern clearly the features of some of the systems under discussion (Tandy, various Toshiba units, Zenith, etc.). What I am looking for is a an MSDOS portable or laptop with a full 80x25 character display (graphics not important; to be used mostly for word processing), with a hard disk, at least 640K bytes of memory available, and a serial port. The software I expect to run will be a word processing package called The FinalWord (since this is not extremely popular, etc., it is important that the machine be able to run generic MSDOS software without modification) and Kermit (to up/download files from another PC), preferably at a high baud rate (at least 9600). A laptop would be great, but a portable would also be reasonable. Since there may be others out there with similar interests, I propose that suggestions be posted to the net rather than sent to me (but if you fell that's inappropriate, I will summarize direct responses at a later date). Thanks for any assistance you can offer in this search! Eliot -- J. Eliot B. Moss, Assistant Professor Department of Computer and Information Science Lederle Graduate Research Center University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003 (413) 545-4206; Moss@cs.umass.edu
neal@mnopltd.UUCP (02/04/90)
->(Tandy, various Toshiba units, Zenith, etc.). What I am looking for is a
->an MSDOS portable or laptop with a full 80x25 character display (graphics not
->important; to be used mostly for word processing), with a hard disk, at
->least 640K bytes of memory available, and a serial port. The software I expect
Well, I have been real satisfied thus far with Packard Bell LP286. (But only
had it a week..) It has 27ms disk and does Kermit at 19200. It might also be
cheapest. I did throw some other boxes out of consideration because they
couldn't do 640x400 graphics. (although this really does 72? x 328)
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------yuan@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu (Yuan 'Hacker' Chang) (02/07/90)
In article <151@mnopltd.UUCP> gatech!stiatl!mnopltd!neal writes:
-
-Well, I have been real satisfied thus far with Packard Bell LP286. (But only
-had it a week..) It has 27ms disk and does Kermit at 19200. It might also be
-cheapest. I did throw some other boxes out of consideration because they
-couldn't do 640x400 graphics. (although this really does 72? x 328)
I happen to like the Packard Bell as a portable, but not as a
laptop. Its negative points:
- The NiCad battery is not easily removable, and can't be disabled w/o
openning the back of the computer while you run on the AC (the battery
could develope the "NiCad Memory" very fast).
- The sucker weights 15 lbs. Very hard on the lap.
- You get 640 x 400 only in text mode. The effective resolution is 640 x
200 in graphics mode. In other word, the pixels aren't individually
addressable.
Good points:
- If you run the computer on AC and pull the plug (the plug to the wall
socket, that is), the computer switches to battery automatically. Think
of it as a computer with a built-in UPS. Can be a lifesaver... 8)
- Connected to an exteral monitor, the computer could do CGA and Hercules
(with the appropriate monitor).
- A normal/reverse switch on the LCD screen so that graphics will look
closer to that of a monitor (that is, white on black instead of black
on white).
If Packard Bell trim a few pounds off the computer, make the
battery pack removable, and then add a AT&T 6300/Toshiba 3100 compatible
screen mode, then it'll be the laptop to beat. For now, it's just a great
portable (not laptop) in my book...
--
Yuan Chang "What can go wrong, did"
UUCP: {uunet,ucbvax,dcdwest}!ucsd!nosc!uhccux!yuan
ARPA: uhccux!yuan@nosc.MIL "Wouldn't you like to
INTERNET: yuan@uhccux.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu be an _A_m_i_g_o_i_d too?!?"neal@mnopltd.UUCP (02/08/90)
->-couldn't do 640x400 graphics. (although this really does 72? x 328)
->
-> I happen to like the Packard Bell as a portable, but not as a
->laptop. Its negative points:
->
->- The NiCad battery is not easily removable, and can't be disabled w/o
-> openning the back of the computer while you run on the AC (the battery
-> could develope the "NiCad Memory" very fast).
That is a good point. I have been wondering if I should run it on battery
regularly whether even around the house/office. What would give it the
longest battery life:
a. Always run on AC;
b. Always run on Battery until warning, then on AC while charging;
C. Always on Battery for 50% of time, then on AC;
d. hack into the case and put a switch on the battery. (b.t.w. any
know if the nicad drives the Cmos switches?)
->- You get 640 x 400 only in text mode. The effective resolution is 640 x
-> 200 in graphics mode. In other word, the pixels aren't individually
-> addressable.
Beg to disagree. I tried DrHalo and Word Perfect 5.0 and compared it to the
EGA on whence I am writing this and must humbly suggest that it do do Hercules
Graphics on the LCD. It is most definately not CGA 640x200. Much better.
However, the right side of some displays is missing. (like Flight Sim) This
plagued me somewhat (not getting EGA) but I couldn't justify another $900 for
a T1600. (and we won't talk about Toshiba ethics in general...)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neal Rhodes MNOP Ltd (404)- 972-5430
President Lilburn (atlanta) GA 30247 Fax: 978-4741
uunet!emory!jdyx!mnopltd!neal Or uunet!gatech!stiatl!mnopltd!neal
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