Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sunybcs!ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu!v118hj3d From: v118hj3d@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Anthony M Petro) Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops Subject: Re: Bondwell 286 laptop from DAK Industries Summary: bait-and-wait Message-ID: <31589@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> Date: 26 Jul 90 21:57:26 GMT References: <1163@s5.Morgan.COM> <4701@infmx.UUCP> <474@roo.UUCP> <25083@bellcore.bellcore.com> <59@towernet.UUCP> <4885@infmx.UUCP> Sender: news@acsu.Buffalo.EDU Reply-To: v118hj3d@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu Distribution: na Organization: University at Buffalo Lines: 72 Nntp-Posting-Host: ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4.1 In article <4885@infmx.UUCP>, aland@infmx.UUCP (Colonel Panic) writes... >In article <59@towernet.UUCP> tipmsh@rigel.uucp (21482-Michael S Boyden(3622)m000) writes: >> >>Does anyone know anything about the Bondwell 286 laptop that DAK is >>advertising? It's supposed to be: >> ... >>What's the catch? Is anyone using one of these? If so, do you like it? >>What's its weaknesses? > >Well, the basic catch is that you have to wait for ever. >Mine's been on order since May 20. I'm still waiting... > >The worst part is: every time I call them, I'm told that it will ship >"within the next 3 days, for sure." This has been going on for weeks. >At the outset, I got a letter saying it was backordered but that it >"WILL SHIP WITHIN 30 DAYS." That was 9 weeks ago... > >-- >Alan Denney # Informix # aland@informix.com # {pyramid|uunet}!infmx!aland > > "These tests will have no effect on your grades. They will merely > determine your future social status and financial success, if any." i ordered mine exactly one week before this poor chap, but i got mine around june 20th or so, putting the wait at slightly longer than five weeks. i did order the 40MB version; i don't know if this had a bearing on the relative speed (or lack thereof) of my shipment. i also ordered the pocket modem; for $130 i figured it was a good deal. eats batteries, but the PS is small. for those who doubt, there are no other catches. the display is tolerable as long as you've some kind of light source upwards of a flashlight. as i don't compute in the dark, i'm satisfied. speed is quite respectable. all the goodies that come with it (i.e. software) are for real, although some of them are to be registered through DAK, which probably has a lot to do with whatever deal they have... quattro pro is quite useful especially with the supplied mouse; i prefer it much to lotus 2.2. wordstar i'm trying to sell, as i've got wordperfect 5.1 which i prefer. the other stuff, such as pc usa, gem desktop set, is nifty. great freebies, even if not something you'd spend real money for. i get about 90 minutes of use out of a charge with the drive running more or less continuously; quattro demands overly access virtually constantly, hence the heavy access. weight is not bad at all, about eight pounds... i carry it with a manual or two, maybe a text- or notebook, in a backpack. something over the shoulder might be handier if you carry it a LOT; i haven't seen the carrying case DAK sells. a typical scenario of me and the bondwell would include me working on a quattro, wp, personal financing or other project while i'm waiting for a bus, sitting on a picnic table watching my budget-strained university build new malls on campus, or riding the greyhound home because i have a laptop and not a car. then the beast would come with me to the office to print to a ljetIII or a paintjetXL or whatever. very very handy tool. i highlt recommend despite the wait, if they've any more to sell. std disclaimer since i'm a student assistant here and wouldn't want to lose my pizza money: "my views in no way represent those of anyone at the State University of New York at Buffalo except perhaps those of my girlfriend, though not of late." anthony m. petro "beethoven" UB Medical School V118HJ3D@UBVMSD.BITNET Office of Information Systems OISTONY@MEDNET.BITNET petro@sun.acsu.buffalo.edu ..!uunet!acsu.buffalo.edu!petro