From: williams@nssdcs.gsfc.nasa.gov (Jim Williams)
Subject: Re: CallForDiscussion: A*BETTER* HP95LX?
Organization: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 15:06:18 GMT

In article <1992Oct7.091236.19716@abo.fi> MLINDROOS@finabo.abo.fi (Marcus Lindroos INF) writes:
>While some people might argue that the keyboard is the 95LX's
>weakest spot, I am actually more upset about the display. Oh, oh,
>oh . . . *WHY* didn't Hewlett-Packard opt for 320 pixels per row
>instead of just 240?!

[...]

>the vertical resolution instead. A 150x36mm (5.9x1.4 in.), 320-
>by-96 pixels screen could effortlessly display 80x8 characters
>using a CGA-style character matrix 4 pixels wide and 12 pixels
>tall.

I agree that the small screen can be a problem but your suggestion
just won't work.  First, a "CGA-style" character matrix is 8x8 pixels,
not 4x12. (That's on US PCs.  I've no idea about Finnish PCs.) The
HP95 uses characters that are 5x7 is a matrix that is 6x8.  This is
the smallest usable character format I know of.  You seem to think
that you can produce readable characters (the *entire* code page 850
set, remember!) with characters only 3 pixels wide, with one pixel
space between!  Show me such a character set and I'll eat the next set
of batteries that come out of my '95.  "Effortlessly" display 80x8 in
a 320x96 pixel display?  I don't think so!  If it was effortless,
they'd have done it!  HP aren't dolts, you know.

One of my major beefs is how lame the terminal emulator is.  The
DELete key doesn't seem to transmit the ASCII delete charater, and
the arrow keys scroll the display, rather than send the standard arrow
key escape sequences!  Why on earth didn't they make this like the
MS-DOS session, where you scroll with ALT-arrow?  That would be more
consistent and also allow the arrow keys to send very useful escape
sequences to the host!  Lame...

But that aside, I do like my '95 quite a bit.


>1.A LARGER CLAMSHELL:
>--------------------
>At 16x8.5cm the 95LX is extremely convenient. I always carry it
>with me in a small bag or pocket, writing notes and memos as I
>go. The small size also means I can hold it comfortably with two
>hands and write using my thumbs only and still reach all keys.
>The drawback is the tiny keyboard and display. Therefore, HP
>would be well advised to make the next model just a tiny bit
>larger.

ABSOLUTELY NOT!  This is a pocket computer.  It can not get any
bigger!  If you want a better keyboard, buy a ZEOS or Gateway
sub-notebook.

>2.A BETTER KEYBOARD:
>-------------------

I agree with you on some of this.  I would be interested in a more
text-oriented HP95 ("HP95WX" for Word Processing) that dumped the
Lotus 1-2-3 and replaced it with a basic word processor.  The "HP95WX"
would have an imbedded keypad to allow for wider alphabetic keys.  But
the overall size of the unit would be the same as the HP95LX, so that
it would still be compatible with all the nifty pager cradles and
docking stations that exist for the 95LX.

>6.DROP LOTUS 1-2-3:
>------------------
>This should be done to save costs after upgrading the keyboard
>and the display. Frankly, I don't need Lotus 1-2-3 for anything
>but to calculate soccer league tables every now and then! The
>reason I bought the HP95LX was because of its portability, the
>built-in memo editor and organizer software and because it is
>compatible with my desktop machine. I am sure many buyers are not
>business executives, yet everyone has to pay for the spreadsheet
>software. A better way would be to include Lotus as an optional
>ROM card (see below).

Completely agreed.  See above.

A built in programming language would also be nice.  A custom GWBASIC,
with access to Jaguar graphics and system manager functions, would be
quite acceptable.  This would make it possible to hack up SM compliant
apps directly on the machine!

I hope HP does produce follow on units in this series and I look
forward to what they come up with.

Jim



-- 
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Internet: williams@nssdcs.gsfc.nasa.gov		Phone: +1 301 286-1131
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