Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!husc6!purdue!mentor.cc.purdue.edu!lairdkb
From: lairdkb@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Kyler Laird)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: Dell 316LT
Keywords: Opinions wanted
Message-ID: <14971@mentor.cc.purdue.edu>
Date: 10 Oct 90 16:00:35 GMT
References: <1990Oct10.141212.8889@cs.dal.ca>
Reply-To: lairdkb@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Kyler Laird)
Distribution: na
Organization: Purdue University
Lines: 95

(I'm using a 316LT to compose this.  But don't blame it for the mistakes.)

I had been without a working computer of my own for awhile when I started
looking at laptops.  I have an original IBM-PC, so I didn't want to duplicate
the power of that.  I wanted to get back to the 386 power I had before.

Price was a MAJOR concern.  Dell and Toshiba were the only two in the running
after I looked through magazines for awhile.  I finally purchased a Dell 316LT
with 4Meg RAM, 40Meg HD, (2/1.44Meg 3.5") and 9600FAX/2400MNP5Data MODEM for
$3933 (incl. shipping, COD...)

So far, I haven't seen a Toshiba with all this come close.

The Dell offers an 8-bit (some others offer 16-bit) ISA bus half slot.

Dells come with one year Xerox on-site service agreement, and 30-day
trial period.

Dell personnel are nice, and know stuff too.  They are even willing to FAX
schematics!

Downside
--------
Batteries (two included) only last 2 hours (max.).  Toshiba's are reported to
last a bit longer.

Standby button (force screen and hard drive down) won't work with OS/2 or
Win/386.

Using the hard drive sleep mode causes OS/2 (1.1) to crash when it tries to
access a sleeping drive.

Memory is volatile (unlike Toshiba).

LCD screen streaks (Toshiba uses plasma?).
The 20MHz model has an updated screen.  Haven't seen it yet.

Dell's only recommendation for running off 12VDC is to purchase a $200 inverter
to go to 120VAC, then plug their (huge) power supply into that.  No way!  The
plug into the computer isn't standard, but I'm going to try getting a hold of
one.  It took me an hour before I finally got dumped on Dell's Tech line 
trying to order a power cord from them.

The VGA circuitry can't drive the LCD screen and the external monitor at the
same time. 


Personal note:  When I ordered, I agreed to pay COD with a personal check.  I
got a call back a day or so later.  I returned it the next day.  My system
was on hold (not even being built) until I provided financial info proving I
could pay.

This upset me for two reasons.  First, I ordered the Dell after being
guaranteed a ship date of about 5 days.  (I don't remember exactly - there was
a holiday in there somewhere.)  This was important because I was needing it
for some publishing I needed to do the next week.

Second, they agreed to send it COD for a personal check.  Then they just
changed their minds.  I have a feeling they did a check on my bank account.  I
never authorized any such check.  (My father was supporting this venture.)

I settled this by turning down the request for financial info.  The woman
seemed genuinely confused at my reluctance to let her in on my life.  She
probably doesn't think twice about drug testing, either...

Getting the cashier's check turned out to be a bit of a pain.  My bank did
the same quick change as Dell did.  They held my check for x days.  Then
held it over the weekend to boot just for kicks.  This was NOT Dell's fault -
just more frustration.

But all the checks have gone full circle by now, and I've been using my Dell
for over a month (past the 30-day trial...).  Even my SO used it in the car
on a late night drive back from Indy - got a lot of work done.

Laptops are great!  At 15 lbs. I don't carry it everywhere, but it's great
to have in the car on trips, and I can set it down next to the computer I
use for printing.  (Still have to swap disks - not a big deal.)

The FAX/Data MODEM one of the 'must-have' options for a laptop.  I plug in
whenever I'm waiting on ???.   Keeps me up to date on my group project. 

One more story:  I had the laptop in my car when I went home (the farm) to
work one weekend.  I was out under a combine when Dad came out to tell me he
had just talked to the aide of a Congressman he interviews (he's a radio
personality, also) regularly about a law my Dad was trying to change.
Turned out that he had gotten his wish.  The aide offered to FAX copies of
all the documents to my father, but he of course had no way of receiving them.
I immediately offered my laptop, and we soon had the docs.  He then called the
radio station with an announcement based on the FAXed docs.  Pretty handy!

I'll be happy to try to answer any Dell specific questions.

Good luck on your decision!

--kyler