HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: daq@fc.hp.com (Doug Quarnstrom)
Subject: cost of laptops
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 22:24:06 GMT
Organization: SPUGE
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.8 PL6]

Hello,  I am considering the possibility of purchasing a laptop
with an active matrix color display.  As far as I am concerned,
they are still about $1000 or so too expensive.  This is based
on the fact that my friend got one of the Toshiba 4400s (i think that is
the model) for about $3500.  Is there any chance that retail models will 
drop this much in price in the near future?  Or will I have to try to buy 
a used one to get the cost down?  Or should I simply "deal with it"?

doug
From: grant@cobber.cord.edu (WhiteShadow)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Tandy 600 needs RAM and BASIC
Date: 28 Jan 93 06:21:42 GMT
Organization: Concordia College, Moorhead, MN

I am desperately looking for added RAM for a Tandy 600 "laptop" and possibly 
the BASIC ROM chip.  If you have either please e-mail me.  Thanks.

Chris
-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christopher K. Grant|    Oh, Spot, the complex  |Internet:grant@cobber.cord.edu
Concordia College   | complex levels of behavior|         cgrant@vax.cord.edu
Moorhead, Minnesota | you display connote a     |Northern Lights Cooperative
From: eec@po.CWRU.Edu (Edward E. Conroy)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: best colour display
Date: 26 Jan 1993 08:01:59 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
NNTP-Posting-Host: thor.ins.cwru.edu


I'm planning to a buy a notebook computer on which I'll be
running mainly windows applications, so I'd like to get the
best possible colour display screen. Any recommendations?
thanx.
-ed conroy
eec@po.cwru.edu
From: mwarren@oracle.com (Mark Warren)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: Hand scanners for laptops
Date: 25 Jan 93 20:02:49 GMT
Organization: Oracle Corporation, Belmont, CA
X-Face: 57{69*vgxk'QClsaj8$%YIHhN@Ot?5vP]>)){Ib-Imomztl}FnjqTJL-Bu$qz2YTXc>3TwR
 t]p:W\>w0E1jD^HD5E|NH9}F<-NB:!gLzt=L)J{s/(w4U2IXjo'Xc1z=C+D>y=r}v~8n^\CR71_U+H
 H}tu_8c/M%Jy@6.B}3cmd`3W!|Z,eV$x&1r|TR+3KoX[l<rfQkJu2KRs;de|nX#0eR,
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by an unauthenticated user
              at Oracle Corporation.  The opinions expressed are those
              of the user and not necessarily those of Oracle.



In article <1993Jan10.121429.11587W@lumina.edb.tih.no> ketil@edb.tih.no (Ketil Albertsen,TIH) writes:

   When I ask in the computer stores around here, all they know is that 
   the common hand scanners require a separate card in the PC; they can't 

So what do these "separate cards" do? Are they simply serial ports? or
do they do some real processing. If they are doing processing, is it
analog processing (perhaps A->D)? Otherwise it seems that the
processing could be moved to the laptop's cpu.

Thanks,

Mark

--
Mark

Mark Warren                                                  warren@oracle.com
(415) 506-4639 Voice or 506-7292 Fax                       RIPEM key on server
       The X-Face header is my picture! Get `faces' from cs.indiana.edu
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: jeff@eng.umd.edu (Jeffrey Frey)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Short Batteries on Long Trips?
Date: 25 Jan 1993 20:01:27 GMT
Organization: Project GLUE, University of Maryland, College Park
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: paxsuna.eng.umd.edu


I assume that others have the problem, as I do, of trying to get more than
90 minutes of use out of a portable when on a train or plane trip.  How,
then, has anyone attacked this problem?
From: jiu1@husc11.harvard.edu (Haibin Jiu)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: LCD wear.
Date: 25 Jan 93 01:07:44 GMT
Article-I.D.: husc3.1993Jan24.200746.19759
Organization: Harvard University Science Center

In article <1993Jan20.012201.4523@cis.uab.edu> hyatt@cis.uab.edu (Robert Hyatt) writes:
>Yep, it's a FAQ based on superstition.  run your LCD like you like, it has
>no effect on longevity.....

But as far as I know, due to the way LCD screens work, a "white" pixel
is the normal mode, i.e., it's the natural state of the display material.
To create "black" and other shades, the material cell has to be twisted
through the use of an electric current.  So I think it *is* a bad idea
to make your screen background black.

Just my 2 yen, whatever.

HBJ
From: altevogt@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: <None>
Date: 25 Jan 93 14:46:09 CST
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services

I have a Mitsubishi MP 286L that I truly enjoy, adn would like to
gather up parts for it from anyone who had one that died on them and
found it too expensive to repair.  Send me a note to the following
with whatever info you have.  Thanks

John D. Altevogt                                  Altevogt@UKANVM
Department of Sociology               Altevogt@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
University of Kansas                        (913) 542-2096 (home)
Lawrence, KS 66045                           (913) 864-4111 (off)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
From: hyatt@cis.uab.edu (Robert Hyatt)
Subject: Re: best colour display
Organization: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 18:20:13 GMT

In article <1k2r5nINNbqj@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> eec@po.CWRU.Edu (Edward E. Conroy) writes:
>
>I'm planning to a buy a notebook computer on which I'll be
>running mainly windows applications, so I'd like to get the
>best possible colour display screen. Any recommendations?
>thanx.
>-ed conroy
>eec@po.cwru.edu

I am using the compaq lite 25c and haven't seen a better screen yet.  Mine has
no "locked" pixels in any of the three colors.  I also like the trackball better
than the IBM joystick after trying the 700c.  If the little stick could sense
how far or hard you push it to produce faster motion when you push harder, it
would be ok, but the one I tried didn't behave like this....


-- 
!Robert Hyatt                    Computer and Information Sciences   !
!hyatt@cis.uab.edu               University of Alabama at Birmingham !
From: cardinal@informix.com (Edward Cardinal)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Laptop for less than $1000???
Date: 26 Jan 93 00:47:17 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Informix Software, Inc.


What is a good low-end machine?

I am looking for a replacement for my Mac Plus which was ripped off
from my car. :-( The insurance, less deductible, will help relieve the
pain a little. Since I have a desktop Mac II, I have always told myself
if I were to ever get another machine, I might want a DOS laptop (or
possibly a palmtop).  However, I don't have a ton of loose cash.

What I want is a machine for word processing, note-taking,
spreadsheets, quick & dirty databases, appointments, to do lists, etc.
Maybe something like MS Works; nothing too fancy. Since I _have_ a Mac,
I have no real need for Windows (sorry).

I'd like a machine that's fairly quick, with a decent amount of disk
space (40MB+) so i'm not constantly running out of room. I guess
palmtops don't have this kind of storage... I'd like enough RAM to not
feel "cramped" (I tend to like RAM disks and TSR's). How much is a good
"base size" that I shouldn't go below? 2MB? 4MB? Remember, I don't need
Windows.  It doesn't need a high-density drive, though I suppose this
would be nice.

I don't want a used machine. I have had too many problems with used
equipment.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT HAS TO COST UNDER $1000.

(Sorry for shouting.)

So. Any suggestions? (I'm looking for brands mostly, but places in the SF
Bay Area to look would be helpful).

P.S. -- Is there a FAQ for this group? I haven't seen one...
-- 
[ Ed Cardinal                   An English major from Berkeley  ]
[                               Who sold out to programming     ]
[ cardinal@informix.com         Because it pays more.           ]
[          DISCLAIMER: My Opinions. MINE! MINE! MINE!           ]
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
From: sbjie@engr.psu.edu (Sanjay Joshi)
Subject: win 3.1 in Enhanced Mode on IBM700C
Organization: Penn State University
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 01:34:06 GMT

HI,

I just got my IBM700C last week, and I loaded win 3.1. 

I can't get it to work in enhanced mode. It works fine in the standard
mode.  

I am also running Norton Desktop for windows, but I had the same problem
even without NDW.  Any clues ???

Thanks,

sanjay joshi.
From: tnzj@vax5.cit.cornell.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: PCMCIA slots in thinkpads?
Date: 28 Jan 93 21:16:22 EST
Distribution: comp
Organization: Cornell University


Hi:

        I think I recall reading in this forum something about thinkpad 700s
being reconfigured with PCMCIA slots.  At the time I didn't think I would be
interested but now I am. It turns out that I ordered one but do not want to
receive the last thinkpad made without a PCMCIA slot. Does anyone know
anything about this?

                                        Thanks.....   Mark
From: wbe@bbn.com (Winston Edmond)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Fastse.com for T1000SE
Date: 25 Jan 93 04:32:49 GMT
	<C1CnuK.H1u@news.iastate.edu>
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman, Inc., Cambridge, MA
NNTP-Posting-Host: crystal.bbn.com
In-reply-to: sknapp@iastate.edu's message of Sun, 24 Jan 1993 08:35:07 GMT


    Here's a uuencoded version of FASTSE.COM (which is all I have).  It's a
*very* short program.
 -WBE

begin 777 fastse.com
M'HT6&@&T"<TA'S/ L'3F0[ PYD&P!.9!S2 *5&]S:&EB82 Q,# P4T4@4W!E
I961U<"!5=&EL:71Y("TM($%L86X@2BX@1G)I9&QU;F0@."\Q+SDP"B0@
 
end
From: muns@ellis.uchicago.edu (Ziad Munson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: << FOR SALE >> ZENITH 286 SuperSport
Date: 26 Jan 93 23:44:34 GMT
Reply-To: muns@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago

Well I wanted a laptop and ended up buying two.  Now I need to get rid of
one of them, so am going to sell the 286 and keep the 386...

FOR SALE

Zenith SuperSport 286 12MHz laptop computer

1MB RAM (expandable to 8), 20MB harddrive, 3.5" HD internal floppy drive

nice backlit screen (CGA, me thinks)

1 CRT port, 1 RS232 port, 2 parallel ports, and an external keyboard port

battery is heavy, but lasts me up to 5 hours

2400 baud internal modem included

also includes all manuals

ASKING $750.00 BUT WILL SELL TO BEST OFFER IN NEXT 7 DAYS

Ziad Munson
muns@midway.uchicago.edu
312-363-3923
From: david.b..smith@hal9k.ann-arbor.mi.us (David B. Smith) 
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Need info on pocket modem
Date: 21 Jan 93 01:55:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: HAL 9000 BBS, W-NET HQ, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Reply-To: david.b..smith@hal9k.ann-arbor.mi.us (David B. Smith) 

KS>.I would like to purchase a 14.4 data/fax modem for my laptop.  Does
KS>.anyone have any suggestions?

I've had very good luck with my Practical Peripherals Pocket modem.  I
understand that they're either in the process of introducing or have
already introduced a 14.4 data/fax modem.  Given that I haven't tested
that *particular* device, if I were in the market for such (Someday Real
Soon Now) I'd buy that one.


 * SLMR 2.1a * del Banquo.*  del damnspot.*
---
 * KMail 2.94g W-NET HQ, hal9k.ann-arbor.mi.us, +1 313 663 4173 or 3959
                                                                                                    
----
| HAL 9000 BBS +1 313 663 4173 or 663 3959 | Four 14.4k v.32bis dial-ins |
| Public Access QWK-to-Usenet gateway      | With PCBoard 14.5aM & uuPCB |
+----------------------------+-------------+--------+--------------------+
| Member of EFF, ASP, & ASAD | 1.5 Gigabytes Online | Service since 1988 |
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
From: dhinds@leland.Stanford.EDU (David Hinds)
Subject: 486 laptops and PCMCIA
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 93 01:13:26 GMT

I'm currently looking at 486-level laptops, including IBM, TI, and
Twinhead.  I notice that none of these seem to support PCMCIA cards.
Are there any 486 laptops that do support PCMCIA?

        - David Hinds
          dhinds@allegro.stanford.edu
From: gil@asterix.lbl.gov (Gil Rivlis)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: Altima 486 vs Twinhead 486
Date: 22 Jan 1993 05:11:53 GMT
Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley CA
Distribution: world
Reply-To: gil@asterix.lbl.gov (Gil Rivlis)
NNTP-Posting-Host: asterix.lbl.gov

In article mrobbins@umiami.ir.miami.edu writes:
> I've narrowed my choice down to 2 possibilities: 
> Altima 486 33 
[chop]
> Twinhead 486 33
[chop]
I think these two machines (and maybe also CompuDyne (sp))
are manufactured by the same company == Twinhead. Altima
is only in resale.

Gil
--
Gil Rivlis, Department of Physics, UC Berkeley
gil@asterix.lbl.gov (NeXT Mail welcome)
From: jiu1@husc11.harvard.edu (Haibin Jiu)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: LCD wear.
Date: 25 Jan 93 01:04:22 GMT
Article-I.D.: husc3.1993Jan24.200424.19758
Organization: Harvard University Science Center

In article <1jhpmqINNqfb@violet.csv.warwick.ac.uk> xuegxae@csv.warwick.ac.uk (Andrew Payne) writes:
>I hear that running Windows (3.1) in black-on-white (ie non-
>inversed) display can "wear out your LCD display". Is this true?
>I don't like to run it inversed, it [obviously] looks all wrong!
>If this IS true of Windows, then why is it not of DOS based
>applications?

Funny, I find that running Windows in normal LCD mode (black text
on white background) looks reversed: for example, Microsoft Word
will give you white characters on black background.  So every time
I run Windows I first reverse the LCD to white-on-black mode (the
same mode one finds on CRT displays).

And I too heard someone mention that Windows in the normal mode
puts extensive wear on the screen.  But why?

HBJ
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops,misc.forsale.computers,misc.forsale.computers.other,misc.wanted
From: zen@synapsys.in-berlin.de (Michael Herbst-Gompper)
Subject: Re: Parallel Port <-> Thin Ethernet Adapter WANTED (or laplink/Unix)
Organization: Synapsys - (What's missing !) - Berlin
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 22:21:21 GMT

iwelch@agsm.ucla.edu (Ivo Welch) writes:


>I have  just ordered an Altima-clone notebook.   To speed  up backup  and data
>transfer, I would like  to link this notebook  to my  NeXT.  My first  choice,
>laplink, unfortunately does not work under Unix. My second choice is to buy an
>affordable parallel<-> ethernet adapter.

>If you want to get rid of your adapter, please send me mail.

                                         PLEASE POST IT !

I am also interested

c u mike
>


-- 
|\         Michael Herbst-Gompper                 zen@synapsys.in-berlin.de
| )======  D-1000 Berlin 10 ====================================================
|/         Phone +49(0)30 3426061(voice) Bang: ...unido!fub!unlisys!synapsys!zen
           BTX    0303426061-1
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
From: fox@cs.nyu.edu (David Fox)
Subject: Re: best colour display
Organization: Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences
	<1993Jan27.231903.5071@leland.Stanford.EDU>
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 12:38:52 GMT

In article <1993Jan27.231903.5071@leland.Stanford.EDU> dhinds@leland.Stanford.EDU (David Hinds) writes:

   I tried the IBM 700c today, and the Trackpoint stick definitely senses
   how hard you push -- if you push really hard, the pointer really zips
   across the screen.  I found it to be very easy to use; the teensy
   trackballs on other laptops don't seem nearly as nice.  But I saw that
   you can now get something that feels similar, called the "PortaPoint",
   for about $60.  If I buy a laptop that comes with a trackball, I will
   replace it with this gadget.

I know the guy who developed the "Trackpoint 2" (he called it a
pointer stick) at IBM, and his team did lots of research to
develop the best algorithms to translate pressure into motion
using the device.  I think ultimately you can do things 30%
more quickly as with a mouse, but I can't remember for sure.
Quickie knock-offs may not give anywhere near as nice a result.
(Of course, I don't know what you have if you run Linux instead
of MS-DOS on the 700C...)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
From: iwelch@agsm.ucla.edu (Ivo Welch)
Subject: Re: Altima 486 vs Twinhead 486 + Lightning
Organization: UCLA, Anderson Graduate School Of Management
Date: 25 Jan 93 13:20:12 PST

Altima, Twinhead and Lightning Computers sell  virtually the  same notebook
(see   Reviews   in  PC   Magazine   Vol 11-22):    486/33DX,   130MB, 4MB,
trackball-built-in, 10" display,  simultaneous  external 800*400 Video, 5.8
lbs (incl.  battery).  Also, I  believe PC World (or  some  other magazine)
just found out that it  is  among the sturdiest  notebooks, and gave it the
"Best Buy Recommendation."

Here   is the   difference: The Lightning   Computer  sells for $2,150 from
Patrice.  1-800-347-4486. Please tell  them that Ivo Welch referred  you to
them, and if you buy one, please let me know.

/ivo welch
From: nelson@hepxvt.ps.uci.edu (Matt Nelson)
Subject: Math Coprocessor - which one?
Summary: which is the best one?
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Keywords: math, intel, cyrix, 387
Date: 21 Jan 93 16:39:46 GMT


I am shopping for a math-co for my brothers Tosh T1850 notebook, and was
wondering what the best answer is.  Toshiba recommends the i387sx/25 or
the i387sl/25.  What is the difference between the sx and the sl?  I have
a cyrix in my TI TravelMate 3000 WinSX... how does that compare?  Is it
compatible with the 387sx/sl?  The relevant issues are power consumption, 
speed, and price (in order of importance).

Thanks in advance,

matt nelson
From: jamiller@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: NEED editor with Italic, Bold, & Underlines
Date: 24 Jan 93 02:59:39 CST
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services

I'm looking for an editor to put on my new t1000 (well it's new to me
anyway :)  I would like the editor to show italic, bold, and
underlines.  I'm most familiar with Emacs or word procession keycomb
but of course I'm flexible just lazy.  

e-mail encouraged.
-- 
jamiller@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
James Miller

_chicchai .sig no ho ga ichiban iin janai ka..._
             Enlightenment Happens?
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
From: zhao@kramden.nyu.edu (Bill Clinton)
Subject: buy a laptop comp
Organization: New York University
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 10:35:04 GMT


Hi! everyone,
I want to buy a laptop computer, if anybody can tell the
source of the good place and brand to buy.

 o I want a 486 cpu
 o 4 to 8 MB mem
 o at least 120 MB harddisk
 o with a modem
 o color display or at least a color card

I want to use it for CAD or unix.    also I would like to ask
where to go to get the Stock information by computer.

thanks in advance! please email me. directly if possible.

Dan Y. Zhao
zhao@kramden.nyu.edu
From: isama@Convergent.Com (Isam Akkawi)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: How to enable External Monitor on HP VECTRA CS ?
Date: 26 Jan 93 18:49:18 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Unisys Open Systems Group, San Jose

I am trying to enable the external monitor port on an HP VECTRA CS system,
I do not have the manual describing how to switch to the external
monitor port, help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Isam
Date: Monday, 25 Jan 1993 15:22:45 EST
From: <KRUCK@wvnvm.wvnet.edu>
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject:    SX vs. SXL

I know that SXL is manufactured by AMD and SL is Intel; that
the SL has cache, and is probably better in terms of power
management.  Are there any other differences I should
concider when looking at notebooks?
The reason I ask is the AST PE notebooks cost a lot more
with an SL than just an SXL. Seems weird to me...

Just how much longer of a battery life should I expect with
an SL? the Compudyne salesperson said the SL and SXL models
had similar battery life.
       Thanks in advance,
                         Kruck
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
From: knight@rtsg.mot.com (Paul E. Knight)
Subject: File sharing between laptop and desktop
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Group
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 22:22:06 GMT

I would like to connect my Toshiba T1000 to my desktop PC to allow me to 
use the desktop's hard drive as a storage place for files I use on my 
laptop.  I envision a connection between the serial ports on the two 
machines, using a null modem cable.  What I am unclear about is the 
appropriate protocol/software needed to do this easily.  

Please send any advice/suggestions/experiences to:

paulk@cradhp10.comm.mot.com 

Tnx very much !!

Paul Knight
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: COLOR LAPTOP - AWESOME PRICE
From: clgkdsinst@mtroyal.ab.ca
Date: 24 Jan 93 23:19:16 MST
Organization: Mount Royal College, Calgary, Alberta

I am posing this for a friend. Please don't mail
me, rather, please telephone him directly.

FOR SALE

ZENITH SUPERSPORT LAPTOP
- Intel 386dx/25
- 1.44 fdd
- VGA COLOR supertwist backlit LCD screen (9")
- 110 MB hdd, expanded to 220 with superstore
- full size keyboard with numeric keypad
- NiCad battery with adaptor, charger case etc....
- bundled software

3500$ (CANADIAN)   OBO    
9 months old, like new. Bought in US, so Americans can still get warranty even!


His name is BRAD STEVENS, and he can be reached at 403 - 286 - 8531
(Calgary Alberta)
Don't phone too late, he has a baby.
From: penbepap@sumax.seattleu.edu (Paul Penberthy)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: For Sale
Date: 23 Jan 1993 09:52:18 -0800
Organization: Seattle University
NNTP-Posting-Host: sumax.seattleu.edu


For Sale

Bondwell Laptop
286 16 MHz
40 Meg Hard drive
CGA Display
1 Paralell, 2 Serial, 1 Video Output Port
$550.00 OBO.

I am listing this for a friend who does not have internet access.
You can send e-mail to penbepap@sumax.seattleu.edu. 
Xref: sparky comp.sys.laptops:5080 comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc:16956 comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware:36695
From: baustin@billapc.UUCP (Bill Austin)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: comments about Toshiba 3100SX laptop (old)
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 93 05:16:16 -0500
Organization: Ground Zero Group, Columbus, OH 43227

In <1993Jan17.183444.9472@einoed.in-berlin.de> alh@einoed.in-berlin.de (Adrian Le Hanne) writes:

>i might be able to buy a used Toshiba 3100SX laptop and would like to know
>about known bugs/problems/incompatibilitys. Also, what can be added to this
>system? Is there a internal modem still available? I understand that this

Last things first.  Look in the Computer Shopper, usually USA Flex
and you will likely find a MHz Corp modem for most Toshiba models.
Though I don't see them (at least in this months [FEB] Flex ad) right 
this moment.  They used to be in every single Flex advert 'awhile' back.

Toshiba laptops/portables have possibly the nicest keyboards of anything
I've had the pleasure of touching.  My particular experience is with
a 5200 (a portable)

The big 'WARNING' I could, should, and will pass on though is this:
Toshiba (and alot of laptops, but particularly known knowledge of 
Toshiba) portables/laptops don't use standard simm/sipp memory!
Sometimes this is good, and sometimes bad  (price wise)
Its always bad portablity wise (say you junk the machine, or get
a better Toshiba later which doesn't use the same 'non-standard'
memory)

So, here it is.. If it were me, and the price were decent.  I'd buy 
it just because it was (if not considered to be currently) quality
product from Toshiba.  I've *NEVER* regreted a Toshiba purchase.
Its NOT the way to go for a NEW machine if you want as much CPU power
for the buck, but its definately hot on the used market, and its
quality is rarely if ever challenged.
Do some research and see if the items (Modem, memory, etc) you want
to add to the unit is available at a price you like and make a decision.
Toshiba (at least with the 5200) has some funny idea's about HD sizes,
and what 'upgrade' it takes to get from say a 100M to a 200M drive.
If you 'need' to go beyond what the machine bios will allow, rip out
the floppy and mount a scsi HD and controller if you have a slot
(I'm not up on my Toshiba model numbers.. 3100sx have slots?)

My only other 'concern' would be.. Toshiba or not, do you want to 
invest in an SX?  (I presume that its an SX based machine by the model
number)  
If you don't care (as I didn't with a recent Tandy laptop I picked up
cheap) about speed.. just portablity.. you might have found a bargain.
baustin
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops