From: benkei@cs.utexas.edu (William Kent Richards)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: PowerBooks - 210 v. 160 as Midrange champ
Date: 7 Nov 1992 03:20:11 -0600
Organization: U Texas Dept of Computer Sciences, Austin TX
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: nada.cs.utexas.edu

In article <1992Nov05.134836.92049@bmug.org> David_A._Schnider@bmug.org writes:

>battery, cahrger, case, and RAM).  The 160 also comes with a built in drive
>and a better monitor and trackball.  The advantage of the dock is that it is
>expandable.  That is the real division.  If you are going to want to buy an
>040 processor for your PB you want to spend the $1000 more on the DUO. 
>Otherwise the 160 is a much better choice.

From my perspective, the Duo completely blew away the powerbook according
to both MacUser and MacWorld reviews.

Advantages of Duo over Powerbook: (compiled from MacUser and MacWorld
  reviews)
 - *much* lighter weight (unless you take the MiniDock and floppy with
    you every where you go, and with the Duo you have the option of
    leaving them behind, or going with the floppy adapter instead)
 - *much* larger batter capacity _standard_, with third-parties offering
    self-powered (battery) docks and auxilliary battery packs that
    extend the power even more (and already exist)
 - quick recharging battery (1 hour)
 - ability to change batteries without losing any data (internal lithium
    batteries hold the fort while you get a new battery in place)
 - capability for better video (DuoDock, third-party mini docks)
 - capability for much expandibility, versitality through third-party
    add ons
 - install memory yourself without voiding warranty
 - less expensive memory (DRAM)
 - modem runs partly on system software with the CPU, so new functions
    can be implemented with software updates
 - faster in almost all categories tested (though only slightly)
 - auto sleep when lid is closed
 - power switch more accessible

Other advantages (from me and others on the net):
 - better screen controls
 - only $1000 to get a desktop machine comparable in speed to stock Ci

According to the review in MacWorld, most editors and reviewers there
liked the keyboard, and particularly liked the trackball compared to
the powerbook trackball.  (Two people hated the trackball).  The
reviewer thought the keyboard was more responsive compared to the
powerbook keyboard.  The reviewer also felt that the trackball was
very smooth, and less obtrusive than the powerbook trackball.

In both reviews, the Duo's performed about the same (210) or faster
(230) at most tasks (except math without FPU) in 8-bit color mode
using the DuoDock with 512K VRAM.  The Ci was a 5/80 in MacUser and a
8/80 in MacWorld - both were using internal video (8-bit) and a 32K
cache card.  The Duo's get a little faster in 8-bit mode when using
1meg VRAM (according to MacWorld).

Disadvantages:
 - detached floppy
 - more expensive (and 0.15 pounds heavier) for similar mechanical
    features (floppy and other connectors).
 - modem slows down system a bit, and takes up 300k of memory when
    in use
 - tinny sounding speaker
 - smaller screen (though same data displayed)

Now, this is or course my interpretation of the articles.  Others
may read them differently.

-- 

Kent Richards                         "Practice acts of random kindness
benkei@cs.utexas.edu                   and senseless beauty"
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware