From: yxl5388@ultb.isc.rit.edu (Fractalman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: Jetta Jetbook
Date: 20 Dec 92 19:50:42 GMT
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology
Originator: yxl5388@ultb

In article <1992Dec17.180314.7380@cis.uab.edu> hyatt@cis.uab.edu (Robert Hyatt) writes:
>In article <5cg802DG2fB201@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com> rwb00@avon.as writes:
>>
>>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...
>
>
>I agree.  Also, the "evaluation" of machines in PC magazing make absolutely
>no sense.  For example, the Toshiba 4400SXC got the editors choice award,
>yet the Compaq LTE lite 25c got "goods" in every suitability to task
>category while the toshiba got 3 fairs and only one good.  go figure?

Maybe because the Toshiba 4400C (replaces the 4400SXC) has a better
screen and has a 486SX CPU? (Instead of Compaq's 386SL) Gradient shades
and photographs look a lot better on Toshibas than any other color
notebooks.

>Also, if you compare the zenith and the compaq, they are so close from my
>actual hands-on testing that I would rate them equal.  I personally like
>the compaq trackball and where it is, but as far as speed, color, keyboard,
>etc.  they are close.  The zenith got the same "suitability" ratings as
>the toshiba, yet the toshiba costs much more. 

The Zenith only has 256k of video RAM and so can only do 16 colors at
640x480. Compaq has 512k (maybe more) of video RAM and is capable of
640x480x256. That's very important for me when running Windows. I also
think the Zenith has slightly better keyboard than the Compaq. Toshibas
have the best keyboards of course.

=Fractalman
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops