Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!att!cbnewsj!mec
From: mec@cbnewsj.att.com (michael.e.connick)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: Poquet PC
Message-ID: <1990Jun11.165630.13885@cbnewsj.att.com>
Date: 11 Jun 90 16:56:30 GMT
References: <172ldg@yoda.byu.edu> <659@enprt.Wichita.NCR.COM>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 33

In article <659@enprt.Wichita.NCR.COM> hburford@enprt.Wichita.NCR.COM (Harry Burford) writes:
> 
> Yes, it is for real.   I looked at it at the fall COMDEX show and again
> at the recent spring COMDEX.  Cute little critter.     I would like to
> use one for a while before deciding on whether I like it or not.   The
> only way to use the very small QWERTY keyboard is with the index finger 
> of each hand.   Disk drives are really solid state memory modules that
> plug in.  I like the pocket size and the 100 hours on 2 AA batteries.  
> You can hook it up to a serial interface and use a built in communication
> program to communicate with a desk top computer.   I think performance is
> something like an XT.     Worth looking at if you wan't something 
> small and easy to carry in your pocket .... Or 'Poquet' as it were  :-)
> hb

Of course 90% of the functionality of the Poquet can be had for about
$300 by buying an Atari Portfolio. It's about the same size. It has a
bunch of handy built-in functions including a Lotus 1-2-3 compatible
spreadsheet. It runs "very well-behaved" MS-DOS programs just fine. It
also has a QWERTY keyboard, and from what I've heard about the Poquet
the Portfolio keyboard has a much better "feel." It runs off 3 AA
batteries for between 4 to 6 weeks with HEAVY usage. It offers both
serial and parallel interface units. It also has plug in memory cards
that are treated as disk drives.

I carry mine with me everywhere. It fits in an inside jacket pocket and
weighs less than a pound. I've had my unit for 6 months and couldn't get
along without it now. Sure, I'd prefer the 80 char by 24 line screen of
the Poquet to the 40 char by 8 line Portfolio screen, but heck for about
1/6 the price of a Poquet I'll live with its limitations!

-----------------------------------------------------
Michael Connick    mec@mtfmi.ATT.COM    201-957-3057
AT&T Bell Labs     MT 3F-113	        (Dept. 79151)