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- From: cable@crs.cl.msu.edu (Dan Cable)
- Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
- Subject: Re: Atari Portfolio general
- Message-ID: <1992Sep10.021925.6162@msuinfo.cl.msu.edu>
- Date: 10 Sep 92 02:19:25 GMT
- References: <BuBI83.35E@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca>
- Sender: news@msuinfo.cl.msu.edu
- Organization: Michigan State University
- Lines: 69
-
- dbowman@warp (Don A. Bowman) writes:
-
- >A couple of questions for you Portfolio users (any and all replies
- >solicited):
-
- >1) Where are there some FTP sites for this?
-
- Atari.archive.umich.edu or Compuserve but it's commercial.
-
- >2) Does anybody do much programming for it for explicit applications?
- > If so, what language? Assembler? Basic? Is there a tiny basic for
- > it?
-
- There seem to be a fair number of apps in (I believe) compiled Basic. There is
- a small PD basic available.
-
- >3) Does anybody know how to access the serial port through anything other
- > than the BIOS? In particular, how do you toggle the RTS/DTR lines?
- > How about OUT1 for the interrupts?
-
- Don't know.
-
- >4) What's the easiest way to do file transfers with the serial port?
- > (There was no manual with mine). The built in software only does
- > the parallel port, right? I have written a small xmodem-type thing
- > which I bootstrapped across the serial port. Does somebody have a
- > better way?
-
- You will need a terminal program to do serial transfers. There are several
- available both commercial and PD.
-
- >5) How long can I expect the batteries to last? Will it warn me of
- > low batteries if I use NiCads?
-
- I get 4-5 weeks of daily use out of alkalines. Atari specifically warns against
- rechargeables for the reason you cited. I have had several people tell me that
- they have gotten satisfactory results with good quality NiCads (Panasonic was
- mentioned) but don't get as much life as alkalines.
-
- >6) What is a good source of cards for it, and at what prices?
-
- What kind of cards? Ram? Software?
-
- >7) Can the internal RAM be upgraded? How? By how much?
-
- Yes. It can be upgraded to 512k internal by MegaByte Computers in Hurst TX.
- Their phone number is (817)589-2950. They also have up 80mb hard drives for the
- Portfolio. The last advertised price for the upgrade installed (they don't
- recommend DIY) was $249.00.
-
- >8) Where is this group archived, and is there a FAQ?
-
- Don't know. If you really want the Portfolio FAQ, e-mail me and I will post it
- to atari.archive if it's not already there.
-
- >9) How many of you use this? Why? What do you like about it? Dislike?
-
- I like mine very much. It's rugged, you can actually type on it and it's very
- simple to set up and use. If you're looking for a <1 lb replacement for your
- desktop 486/33---this ain't it. But then again, you wouldn't dig a basement
- with a spoon would you? True, it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of
- some of it's successors but I have yet to see a better machine for the intended
- purpose.
- I hate to sound like Mr. Atari but I haven't really found anything to complain
- about in over 2 years of continuous use.
-
- --
- Dan Cable e-mail cable@crs.cl.msu.edu
- Canton MI USA planet Earth Compuserve 75266.353
-