From: rseymour@reed.edu (Robert Seymour)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: SUN Sparc-Compatible Laptops
Keywords: sparcbook, unix, tadpole, rdi
Date: 16 Nov 92 05:52:22 GMT
Article-I.D.: reed.1992Nov16.055222.11639
Reply-To: rseymour@reed.edu
Organization: Reed College, Portland, OR

In article <1e7a3bINN2bs@seven-up.East.Sun.COM> geoff@tyger.Eng.Sun.COM (Geoff  
Arnold @ Sun BOS - R.H. coast near the top) writes:
> Quoth ctalbott@mksol.dseg.ti.com (christopher j talbott) (in  
<1992Nov15.221752.27708@mksol.dseg.ti.com>):
> #There's an company called Tadpole Technologies which manufactures a
> #SPARC-compatible laptop.  It's called a SPARCBook, and it's basically
> #a Sun SPARCStation IPC/IPX in a laptop case.  It uses the exact same
> #motherboard as the IP? series.
> 
> Nope. You're thinking of the BriteLite - that *does* use an IP[CX]
> motherboard.  The SPARCbook uses the same CPU as the IPC but is
> otherwise a completely custom design, using lots of PC components. For
> example, there is no SCSI port, but there is a parallel port which can
> be used with the Trantor parallel-to-SCSI adaptor to hook up external
> SCSI devices.
> 
> # I'm not sure what size drives they offer,
> 
> The new drive size is 180MB. You can have one HD and one floppy, or two
> HDs (360MB) and no floppy. I opted for the latter, but only after
> checking carefully: you *can* install the OS from CD locally or over
> the net... :-) I just hope I don't run into too many software packages
> that require a local diskette for licensing info.
> 
> #but at last count, the screen they provide is 1024x768, which is not quite
> #as large as the Sun-standard 1152x900, and it's monochrome.
> 
> Tadpole offers both monochrome and active-matrix colour screens, both
> 640x480 (VGA). You can also drive an external VGA monitor at 800x600.
> The active matrix display is gorgeous, but I couldn't justify the extra
> $2K... :-(
> 
> #I think the
> #basic SPARCBook starts at around $6000.  You should be able to find an
> #ad for them in either UNIXWorld or SunExpert.
> 
> Pricing increases rapidly as you load on RAM and features. A fully
> loaded colour system will eat up the best part of $20K. The only real
> disappointment is that the built-in modem is only 2400 baud (9600 baud
> for FAX): with V32bis SLIP (and later PPP) would be really usable.
> Maybe someone will come up with a parallel-port ISDN interface.
> 
> #Another entry in the SPARC laptop arena was a company called RDI, with
> #a product called BriteLite.  A company called AnDataCo (800-334-9191) was
> #marketing them for a while, but the last information I have about it is
> #over a year old.
> 
> RDI is still in business, I beieve. The BriteLite is a laptop rather
> than a notebook (the SPARCbook is only 6.8 pounds), and it  needs
> mains juice. The gas plasma screen is a full 1152x900, I think.
> It's a nice box, but I won't trade my SPARCbook (you'll have to pry
> my cold fingers, etc. etc. etc.)
> --
> Geoff Arnold, PC-NFS architect, Sun Select. (geoff.arnold@East.Sun.COM)
> -----------
> News software that enforces a four-line .signature limit is responsible for
> the fact that these postings just go on and on and on and seem to end in mid-

	The Tadpole SPARCbook is reviewed in UNIX World (or possibly UNIX  
Review, they look the same) December 1992 issue. It's a pretty good notebook,  
though pricey for my tastes (with or without active matrix color). Also, you  
could replace on or both of the hardrives with DEC 210MB (model # unknown) or  
Maxtor 252MB (model 25252) mechanisms. The review unit with 32MB RAM and two  
HDs was priced at $19,995 (ouch!).

--
Robert Seymour				rseymour@reed.edu
Departments of Physics and Philosophy
Artificial Life Project			Reed College
Reed Solar Energy Project (SolTrain)	Portland, OR
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