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- From: blk@mitre.org (Brian L. Kahn)
- Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
- Subject: Best hardware for portable writing
- Message-ID: <BLK.92Dec14113535@vanity.mitre.org>
- Date: 14 Dec 92 16:35:35 GMT
- Article-I.D.: vanity.BLK.92Dec14113535
- Sender: news@linus.mitre.org (News Service)
- Distribution: comp.sys.laptops,comp.sys.palmtops
- Organization: The MITRE Corp. Bedford, MA
- Lines: 43
- Nntp-Posting-Host: vanity.mitre.org
-
-
- I hope I can stir up a few opinions on this. I have a slightly
- different list of requirements for a laptop/palmtop than most posters
- I've seen on this group. I want a portable writing station.
-
- Priorities:
- 1) Small and light. I've found that six pounds is too much, I
- revert to using pen and paper when I go out. Five pounds is still
- high, I think that 1-4.5 lbs is the range I want.
- 2) Good keyboard. I have to touch type, altho a chording
- keyboard is a possibility.
- 3) Good editor. This actually spins off into a few reqts that
- aren't firm, such as 80x24 or better screen, DOS compatible, built in
- programs.
- 4) Ability to handle 100K of text.
- 5) EZ communications to a desktop machine. A serial comm port
- that has to plug in and talk to a modem program, then upload and get
- converted to standard ASCII, is minimal but just barely adequate.
- 6) Cheap. It may get lost or broken, and I can't justify
- large expense. I think $800 tops, so Gateway Handbook is out.
- 7) Good battery life. I really don't want to spend lots of
- time fussing about with the critter.
-
-
- Note that this doesn't call for a hard disk, and keeping the cost and
- weight down suggest *no* hard disk.
-
- Best candidates are:
- Old Ultralight - 4.4 lbs, CGAk, 2MB, good keys and screen,
- under $400; but no floppy, short battery life.
- Tandy WP-2 - 2.5 lbs, under $200 used, good battery life, fine
- keyboard; but squinty 80x8 screen, poor communications, poor editor,
- small memory
- Zeos or Poquet - Both sound good; but only available via mail
- order, keyboard and screen might be too small to use on your lap
- AgendA - British import is hard to get ahold of, no reviews or
- pictures in magazines, interesting but uncertain.
-
-
- Any other thoughts, netland?
-
- --
- B< Brian Kahn blk@mitre.org "may the farce be with you"
-