HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: 93jay@williams.edu (Jonathan Young)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops,misc.forsale.computers,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Lunchbox Portables?
Date: 14 Dec 1992 05:49:08 GMT
Organization: Williams College, Williamstown, MA
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: hancock.cc.williams.edu

I expect to be leaving the country next year and feel that I *have* to
have a computer with me. I can't really justify the cost associated
with a laptop powerful enough to be my only machince so I've been
getting interested in those lunchbox style "portables"

Sure they weigh 20 lbs. but I'm only going to be carrying it on a
plane twice after all. Besides I'm looking into building one from
scratch or upgrading an ancient case. Am I correct in assuming that
these use standard (half-size?) baby AT motherboards? I have seen a
few case vendor in Computer Shopper who sell cases, motherboards and
complete systems and there is no special "portable motherboard."

Assuming that this is the case (no pun intended) I plan to use as many
of my existing components as possible. From the looks of things, I can
use my current HD, floppy motherboard and memory. I'd want to add a
tape backup (if it's just me in the depths of mainland China.. I'll
want lots of backups) and I guess I'll have to get a VGA card as well.
Will I need a special card or does the LCD input and external monitor
out somehow interface with a standard VGA card?

If people have put together their own portable or just used one in
this style I'd appreciate comments. How good is the basic paper white
LCD screen that seems to be the basic offering? The Gas Plasma looks
like the old screen on the Compaq III which my father used to own.
Have they improved? Also those funky, expensive color LCDs - are they
just too generic right now?

Any good sources for parts or systems would also be appreciated. I'd
be interested in used as well (as long as the power supply is 220v
capable - very very important)


Jonathan Young
Williams College
Jonathan.A.Young@williams.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
From: ashabana@agsm.ucla.edu (Ahmed Shabana)
Subject: Re: ThinkPad 700 - no summary :-(
Keywords: thinkpad,ibm,notebook,486
Date: 18 Dec 92 09:31:34 PST

rrempel@selkirk.sfu.ca (Rod Rempel) writes:

Stuff deleted on the unavailability of Thinkpads even for demo
purposes in Vancouver BC.


>I'm standing here, with $5000 I want to give to a company for their 
>product, and they seem to be doing their best to avoid taking it?!!?

>Reached a point where I will wait for something else ... too bad, I really
>like the little pointer-thing in the keyboard. Not enough to put up with
>any more IBM s#%t though...

>Rod Rempel
>Department of Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University 
>... if two million people do a stupid thing it's still a stupid thing.


I sympathize with you. When vendors have a product in short supply
they always manage to look bad.

We had a Vendors day about a month ago and IBM was here in full force.
4 Thinkpads, 3 or 4 RS/6000 and their printer Division ( Lexmark?).

The thinkpad ( 700C)  was listed at $3450 and  $50 processing fee. 
The availability was the main problem as they would not give  a
delivery date but provided a delivery window of 5 to 8 weeks.
   
I loved the thinkpad and I understand why they can't keep up with the
demand but 8 weeks? Give me a break.


Ahmed
--
_____________________________________________________________________
Ahmed A. Shabana	         |
Anderson Graduate School of Mgmt.|
U.C.L.A.                         |
From: jew@venus.sunquest.com
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: Zircom ethernet pocket adapters
Date: 15 Dec 92 16:10:51 GMT
Distribution: na,local
Organization: Sunquest Information Systems


Is the enhanced hardware you speak of on your Toshiba the
bi-directional capability of the port?
--
jew@sunquest.com

Better the first quarrel than the last. -- Russian proverb
From: groverc@gold.gvg.tek.com (Grover Cleveland)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: TI Travelmate DC Connector pinout needed
Date: 15 Dec 92 16:54:03 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Grass Valley Group, Grass Valley, CA

I want to run the Travelmate off 12v. Rather than buy the
(expensive) 12v adaptor, I'll build it myself.

Anyone have a pinout for the power connector?

thanks 

Grover Cleveland
Grass Valley Group
(916) 478-3152
From: do@acsu.buffalo.edu (Huy T. Do)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: Laptop Advice Needed (esp Jetbook)
Date: 13 Dec 92 20:27:21 GMT
Organization: Univ. at Buffalo

In article <1992Dec10.060130.4988@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> gap5u@faraday.clas.Virginia.EDU (Gregory Perron) writes:

>Right now, I've got a Toshiba T1200 w/ 8086, 20Meg hard drive, 1M
>RAM.  I'm interested in upgrading to a 386SX or SL, 20-25mHz, 60-80M
>hard drive, 2-4M RAM.  My price range is $1200-$1800.  Am I being
>unrealistic? 
>
No, if you don't concern too much about the brand name.  I just bought
one last week for $1080.  It's a 5-pound-386SX-20 Librex notebook, including
battery by the way, has 4 meg of RAM, 80 meg hard drive, external 3.5"
floppy, DOS 5, QAPlus, LapLink softare, slots for expansion, modem,
mouse, printer, external VGA monitor, 64-grey-level 9.5" screen,
dimension of 11.7 x 8.4 x 1.4".

I bought from Damark Int'l, a mail-order discount company, they list for
$1199, but if you buy it with the Preferred Club Membership, you can get
10% off.  But they told me that this deal won't last long, due to limited
quantity.  If you concern about Librex being bought by another company,
the warranty is still honored by that company.  And Librex, or the new
company, I _think_ OmniData, will extend the warranty for another 3 months
on top of the regular one year warranty.

Damark number is 800-729-9000, I think.





-- 
Huy T. Do      **   University of New York at Buffalo   *   Fax: (716) 836-4739
v055reem@ubvms.bitnet     *      do@cs.buffalo.edu      *      CIS : 71477,1356
----   "Imagination is more important than knowledge."   --  Albert Einstein --
From: charlan@vax2.concordia.ca (M.CHARLAND)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: HD compression software
Date: 11 Dec 92 21:11:00 GMT
Organization: Concordia University
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

Does anyone know how the various commercially available compression 
software compare (stacker, superstore, etc.)? 

My application would be an XT class machine (640K, Dos 3.3).  I am
particularly interested in comparative analyses re. speed, RAM required,
and compatability, esp. with HD management software such as PC Tools.

Thanks
Maurice
From: kronberg@sag4.ssl.berkeley.edu (Frank Kronberg)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: ZEOS P.PC Owners Wanted
Date: 13 Dec 92 13:16:06 GMT
Article-I.D.: ucbvax.45040
Organization: Space Science Labs

In article <1992Dec8.014059.3409@news.ysu.edu> ah113@yfn.ysu.edu (Alex R. Henkel) writes:
>
>
>I am slightly worried about the small screen and keyboard size. It
>would be helpful to know what current owners think about the
>screen, keyboard, etc.
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------

The keys on my Zeos need to be depressed exactly in the middle or
the keystroke won't register.  Not a big problem, however.......

The screen is very small and the characters are tiny, so as to fit
25 lines of 80 characters within this small screen.  This is a more
difficult problem and you should try out the Zeos before you buy,
so you can decide whether you are  willing to live with this difficulty.

I am happy with my Zeos because the small size and weight compensate
for the above drawbacks.




Frank Alexander Kronberg	Center for Extreme Ultraviolet Astrophysics
kronberg@cea.berkeley.edu	University of California  Berkeley CA 94720
kronberg@garnet.berkeley.edu	EUVE launched by NASA 7 June 1992
kronberg@well.sf.ca.us		4 Telescopes Map 70-912 Angstroms
From: yogi@techunix.technion.ac.il (Yossi Gil)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: AST premium exec 386sx/25 suspend problems.
Date: 20 Dec 92 11:50:46 GMT
Organization: Technion, Israel Institute of Technology

I am having problems with the suspend feature (soft and hard) with
the emm386.exe loaded. Any ideas?
From: baltman@prodigal.psych.rochester.edu (Brian Altman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: wanted: cheap notebook
Date: 15 Dec 92 06:55:28 GMT
Organization: University of Rochester (Rochester, NY)

Wanted for work proccessing. Software a plus. Internal drive (360kb+) a must.
I'm looking to spend less than $300 + shipping. Hard drive not needed. Battery
a must (4+ hrs. a charge a +). Speed not an issue... e-mail me what you have.

-Brian
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
From: boortz@sics.se (Kent Boortz)
Subject: Re: 486SLC Notebook from TREDEX for $1300
Organization: Swedish Institute of Computer Science, Kista
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1992 22:15:46 GMT



I'm still confused about the Cyrix 486SLC chip. Has anyone compared a 386SX
laptop modell that has been redesigned for the 486SLC and seen any real 
speedup? In a speedcomparision in a Swedish magazine it looked like that 
it gave no speedup at all compared to 386SX, 386SL etc and it was a LOT
slower than all real 486 machines. I don't want to start the discussion
again about if Cyrix 486SLC is a 486 or not but I'm interested in what
speed advatage it gives in real life.

/kgb
--
Kent Boortz
boortz@sics.se
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops,misc.computers.forsale
From: hyatt@cis.uab.edu (Robert Hyatt)
Subject: Re: Is Documentation Standard w/ New Systems????
Organization: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 03:19:13 GMT

In article <1992Dec16.170933.11289@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> gap5u@faraday.clas.Virginia.EDU (Gregory Perron) writes:
>I'm looking into buying a notebook/laptop computer.  One of the
>dealers (who contacted me through the net) is offering a Jetta Jetbook
>notebook at very competitive prices, especially when the software he's
>bundling is included.  However, documentation/manuals are not included
>for the most part. 
>
>I'm looking at a 386SXL/25 or 386DX/33.  The DX also comes with
>internal modem/sendfax.  Software includes:  DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1,
>communication software of choice (w/ DX), Quattro Pro, and
>wordprocessor of choice (Wordperfect, which I use, was one of the
>choices).  However, of these, Quattro Pro was the only one that would
>come with user manuals.  Software installation is "custom done" by
>dealer.  I haven't nailed down details, but it's possible I'll get
>software loaded on the machine, but no original disks/documentation.
>Does this sound normal?  I'm suspicious that this is quasilegal at
>best.  Anyone else heard of this? 
>

I would report 'em to microsoft.  Let them determine if it is a legit
deal.  Microsoft won't sell a copy of dos 5.0 without a manual, same
for windows.  Something is rotten.....


-- 
!Robert Hyatt                    Computer and Information Sciences   !
!hyatt@cis.uab.edu               University of Alabama at Birmingham !
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
From: scannell@bubba.ma30.bull.com (P Scannell)
Subject: Re: Are there restrictions on traveling overseas with laptops?
Reply-To: P.Scannell@bull.com
Organization: Bull HN, Worldwide Information Systems, Billerica, Mass., USA
Distribution: usa
Date: 15 Dec 92 17:53:37

In article <1992Dec7.183336.11149@cbnewsi.cb.att.com> rhw@att.com (Robert Wentworth) writes:

   Singapore, and Malaysia.  I'd like to take my laptop computer with me.

   Am I likely to experience any legal problems in doing so, either from
   those countries or from the US?  (I know some software packages say
   "not for export".  Does that apply to something sitting on the hard
   disk of your laptop, and intended only for personal use?  If it does
   apply, what is likely to happen...?)

Hard to say, and it would probably depend on why it's labelled that way.
One reason might be simply licensing restrictions, in which case no one
is likely to care about your own personal copy.  (If you're carrying a
set of installation diskettes, maybe.)

The other reason (and this is the case with Norton Utilities) is that
the product uses the Data Encryption Standard, which is an algorithm
for data encryption.  The DES cannot be exported without a permit from
the State Department.  Norton uses it, obviously, as part of its disk
encryption tool.  Since the basic principles of the algorithm are
publicly known (other countries have their own versions, and it's
considered unbreakable without the key) it's not clear how a personal
copy of Norton or other software containing the DES on a laptop would
be regarded.  If you're really worried, you could probably call Customs
and ask.

It would seem rather absurd of the government to prevent a user from
taking along a personal copy of this, since the whole point of the DES
is to provide the user with protection from foreign and industrial
espionage.
--
 == Pat Scannell                      Bull HN Information Systems Inc. ==
 == (508) 294-2190                    300 Concord Road   MA30-826A     ==
 == P.Scannell@bull.com               Billerica, MA 01821              ==
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
From: sloan@cis.uab.edu (Kenneth Sloan)
Subject: PowerBook 180 hints?
Organization: CIS, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 19:52:29 GMT

I'm about to order a Powerbook 180, and I'm in the market for helpful
hints.  

    *experience with 80 vs. 120 hard disk?
    *most useful software? (my fingers know EMACS & speak C) 
    *experience with either internal modem?
    *experience with quick-disconnect with existing SE's
    *how much memory?  who to buy it from?
    *battery recharger/extra battery?
    *don't do it! buy xxx instead?

The closest alternative is a Duo 230 - so I'm looking for people who have
bought a Duo and now know why they should have gone with a 160/180, instead.

Thanks.
-- 
Kenneth Sloan                   Computer and Information Sciences
sloan@cis.uab.edu               University of Alabama at Birmingham
(205) 934-2213                  115A Campbell Hall, UAB Station 
(205) 934-5473 FAX              Birmingham, AL 35294-1170
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.sys.mac,comp.sys.mac.hardware
From: bcek1@cus.cam.ac.uk (B.C.E. Khoo)
Subject: Apple PowerBook tips -- wanted!
Followup-To: comp.sys.mac
Summary: Powerbook,tips,wanted
Organization: U of Cambridge, England
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 18:40:14 GMT

Dear one and all

I am in the process of preparing a new version of my tip sheet for Apple
PowerBooks. To do that, though, I need more tips to put in. In particular:

 * how do the new generation (PB 160,180) differ from the old generation (PB
   100, 140, 170, 145) -- by this I don't mean tech specs.
 * are there any specific tips for the new machines or the Duos?
 * has anybody tested some of the commercial items marketed for the PB (utility
   software, battery chargers and bags to name but a few) and how do they
   compare?
 * are there any specific tips for System 7.1?

Thank you. Please send tips by e-mail to bcek1@cus.cam.ac.uk.

(For what it's worth, the old version of the tipsheet can be found in SUMEX-AIM
at /info-mac/report/powerbook-tips.txt)

Bernard Khoo.  Wellcome/CRC Institute, Cambridge, UK.
               bcek1@cus.cam.ac.uk or @phx.cam.ac.uk
From: qbracken@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Quentin Bracken)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: Any opinions on CompuAdd 325 TFX?
Summary: CompuAdd 325
Date: 11 Dec 92 22:31:06 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX

My dad bought a portable CompuAdd 325 for his work.  Since he didn't know
all that much about computers I helped him set it up and get up and running.
I found that for a 25, it was remarkable fast, especially if you know how
to configure DOS to get the most out of memory and disk.  I agree that it
had a short battery life, but he got the supplementary battery back which
added an additional 4 hours of life. With the internal battery and the
pack he gets about 8-9 hours with the proper sleep options set.  The only
thing I found lacking was the hard disk size, but the Unix machines I 
normally use have 700Mb to a Gb free space.  But for Windows, WordPerfect,
and a few other apps, he had enough room for my 8Mb Star Trek game with
plenty to spare for swap space!  It is also kind off low on the memory
side (about 3Mb) and I don't know if that can be expanded.  But, after
working on other portables, I would recommend this one.

Quentin Bracken
qbracken@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu
From: akm@atlantix.cs.uoregon.edu (Anant Kartik Mithal)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: ?DETATCHABLE LCD PROJECTION SDREEN
Date: 13 Dec 92 19:20:49 GMT
Article-I.D.: cs.1992Dec13.192049.27075
Organization: University of Oregon Computer and Information Sciences Dept.

In article <12DEC92.15232766@jevex.waisman.wisc.edu> leavitt@jevex.waisman.wisc.edu writes:
>Can anyone recommend a laptop which has a screen which is detachable 
>and can be used for overhead projection?

The only one I've heard of is the BOXLIGHT. I have not used it, only
seen ads. Perhaps you could summarise what you hear.

kartik

-- 
If you quote my article remember to trim it down to the essentials.
Anant Kartik Mithal, 				akm@cs.uoregon.edu
Network Manager, Ph.D. Student			(503)346-3989
Comp. Science, U of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403  	(503)346-5373 (fax)
From: shrogers@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu (Steven Hill Rogers)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: REQUEST - 1st PC - Notebook or desktop system for home?
Date: 12 Dec 92 14:44:35 GMT
Organization: Engineering Computer Network, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA

Sean:
You don't mention Windows or OS/2, so I assume you don't want one of them,
or don't care about them.  I'd definitely recomend your Option 1 and go
with a fairly powerful desktop and an inexpensive notebook.  My prefer-
ence for the notebook would be for the smallest that meets your needs as
a portable adjunct to your desktop system.

My present system is an early Zenith TurboSport 386 which is mainly used
as a desktop, although I do transport it to different locations as work
requires.  This colors my perceptions, since this system is not nearly
as portable as the current crop of notebooks.  

Steve Rogers
School of Industrial Engineering
University of Oklahoma
Norman, OK, USA
From: rwb00@avon.as (Robert W Beveridge)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: Jetta Jetbook
Date: 17 Dec 92 16:45:40 GMT
Reply-To: rwb00@avon.as
Organization: Sun Microsystems


In article 92Dec16192218@newyork.eecs.uic.edu, solworth@newyork.eecs.uic.edu (Jon Solworth) writes:
>
>PC Magazine's recent review of portables reviewed the Jetta Jetbook,
>which was the top performance on processor speed.  Does anyone know
>anything about this notebook -- how does the keyboard feel, does it
>have full travel, how is the screen?

I don't know about the Jetta notebook in particular, but you are asking the
right questions.

I just wanted to comment on the PC Magazine review (they had another such
roundup in August, too). Based on their favorable comments, I bought a
Compudyne 386/25SL. Variations of this unit recieved quite favorable
comments in the August issue, and again this month. However, I was quite
disappointed when I got it home - lots of streaking in the display, plus
the feel of the keyboard wasn't very good, plus I couldn't get it to work
with a serial mouse (you must use the little built-in trackball), plus
the documentation wasn't very good, plus....well, you get the idea. The
PC Mag reviews don't really address things like display quality or 
documentation - they did comment on the Compudyne keyboard, however.

I returned the Compudyne (CompUSA has a great, 30 day no-questions-asked
return policy) and bought a Toshiba Satellite 1850. This machine cost me
$200 more, but the display is noticably better, the keyboard is great,
it comes with good documentation, an 800 number and BBS for support - its
better in every way then the Compudyne. Reading PC Magazine, however, this
is not at all clear.

I think the moral of the story is that there is no substitute for actually
trying the unit you want to buy - feeling the keyboard, seeing the display.
And take the PC Magazine reviews with a grain of salt...
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
From: yxl5388@ultb.isc.rit.edu (Fractalman)
Subject: Toshiba T4400SXP for sale (cheap)
Originator: yxl5388@ultb
Organization: Imperial Klingon Fleet
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 02:59:27 GMT

[I'm posting this for a friend.]

Hi all, I have a Toshiba T4400SXP for sale. Asking $2000 or make any
offer. If you have any questions feel free to send mail.
I'll throw in a 4 meg RAM (for a total of 6 megs) card for another $200.

- 486SX-25 CPU
- 2 megs RAM, 80 meg hard drive
- VGA gas plasma display, better than LCD
- parallel, serial, PS/2 mouse port
- 150-pin expansion slot for docking station, Ethernet, or SCSI
- about 1 month old, in excellent condition
- selling because upgrading to a color notebook
- includes all accessories, manuals, and disks

=Fractalman
yxl5388@ultb.isc.rit.edu
From: gumby@tweedledumb.cygnus.com (D V Henkel-Wallace)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: specs vs reviews
Date: 14 Dec 92 05:52:52
Organization: /0h/users/gumby/.organization
NNTP-Posting-Host: tweedledumb.cygnus.com

Or, judging a notebook by its coverage.

I've been following reviews of 486 notebooks.  I've been amazed how
little about actual performane can come through in the specs.

For instance, although the Gateway Nomad/TI Travelmate look great but
undistinguished if you look at the specs, in reviews they blow
everything else away (longer battery life, higher speed).

Unfortunately reviews lag hardware announcements by several months;
were I planning a September 1992 purchase I would know what to buy!
My question is: what can I, the gentle reader, count on when reading
an ad (I know I'll have to check it once I get it, but I'd like to
filter out some dross).  Any suggestions?
Organization: Penn State University
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 22:42:15 EST
From: <RFM@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: Info requested: Panasonic/Tandy CF250 memory
 <1992Dec16.230021.10174@netcon.smc.edu>

In article <1992Dec16.230021.10174@netcon.smc.edu>, agood@netcon.smc.edu (Aaron
Good) says:
>
>>Does anyone know where I can get the memory module, or, failing that,
>>where I can get the spec for it, or, failing that, a phone number for
>>Tandy?
>>
>Forget Tandy, the back of PC magazine has a group of three or four parts
>houses that sell memory for the TANDY/Panasonic group of machines.
>
>I recently purchased two megs through one of these mail - order houses
>at a considerable savings over a Tandy dealer.
>
>My machine is a Tandy 2810 HD... Is yours similar... if so PC or Byte
>advertisers should help...
>
>
Look in back of BYTE Magazine, maybe LAPTOP PC, for ads from place
called TOTE-A-LAP, out in Calif. They have good prices, prompt service,
etc. Anybody out there know the 800-number?
BobM
From: das@voodoo.boeing.com (Deb Schwartz)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: Jetta Jetbook
Date: 17 Dec 92 23:49:43 GMT
Organization: Yet Another Graphics Project, Bellevue, WA

In article <5cg802DG2fB201@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com> rwb00@avon.as writes:
>
>I think the moral of the story is that there is no substitute for actually
>trying the unit you want to buy - feeling the keyboard, seeing the display.
>And take the PC Magazine reviews with a grain of salt...

I absolutely second this opinion.  Of all the laptops I've tried in my
price range (under $1700) I personally like the AST Advantage/Premium Exec
386SX/25 (they're actually the identical machine) the best.  PC Magazine
rated the Premium Exec solidly in the middle, and didn't particularly like
the video.  I thought it had the best video of all the ones I tried, including
some that PC Magazine ranked much higher.  How you like the video and keyboard
is an incredibly subjective matter, and both vary a great deal between 
machines.  If you do mail order a laptop, you might want to make sure
the place you order it from  has a liberal return policy, in case you hate it.
------
Debbie Schwartz // das@voodoo.ca.boeing.com  // ....uw-beaver!bcsaic!voodoo!das
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops