Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!usc!ucsd!ucbvax!SFAUSTIN.BITNET!Z4648252
From: Z4648252@SFAUSTIN.BITNET (Z4648252)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: THE MAC LAPTOP and STacey
Message-ID: <891201.08100897.017890@SFA.CP6>
Date: 1 Dec 89 14:10:10 GMT
Sender: usenet@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 37


    Folks, I finally got to see one.  At our Macintosh User's Group
meeting, a Macintosh representative brought a Mac laptop in and I thought
that I'd share a few impressions...specifically, with the Stacey in mind.
    Right off, the much-hyped LCD display was a disappointment to me.  Recall
that Apple spent a small fortune in giving an easy to read and FAST LCD.
It is also larger than the standard 9 inch Mac screen.  Refresh is
incredibly fast, no lag at all.  But the let down for me was the dimness
and restrictive viewing angle.  Other than screen refresh speed, I see
no improvement at all over the bluish SuperTwist displays used by the
IBMish laptops.  If the Stacey ever makes it to market and it sports the
SuperTwist, then we will be in good shape.
    The much-hyped case was also a disappointment.  Advertisements have it
that the laptop uses the same plastic as that of motorcyle helmets.  Maybe
so, but I could flex the case.  It creaked and would squeak.  It did not
have the same tightness as commercial-grade portable electronic typewriters
and their construction.
    Positive features were noted, i.e., configurable keyboard (you can swap
the roller ball and keys, or install a ten keypad [very nice]).  "Third Party"
circuits (also known as 'cartridges') plug in a yawning space located
within the case.  In other words, these do not hang off the side as they
do for the Stacey.  Oh, how I wish that cartridges could be mounted likewise
on the ST in a manner sort of similar to that of the ATari 800.
    This particular laptop had a 40 meg hard drive mounted inside.  It
was the quietest that I have ever heard.  Indeed, I never heard it.
    After examining the laptop carefully (yep, the rep allowed us to take
the case off and poke inside), I'm convinced that ATari is correct in
holding production until everything is RIGHT.  When examining the Mac Lap,
it is obvious that a lot of pain was involved.  Regarding the STacey,
delays are unfortunate, particularly in a marketting-point of view, but
the STacey needs to be RIGHT before it enters the consumers' hands.
    With the heavy weight, the physical integrity of the box is going to
have to be secure.  Apple paid dearly for their design and I'm convinced
after handling their expensive laptop that Atari is going to pull a major
coup with the STacey (price in mind).

Larry Rymal:  |East Texas Atari 68NNNers| <Z4648252@SFAUSTIN.BITNET>