Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!cbnewsj!mec From: mec@cbnewsj.att.com (michael.e.connick) Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds Subject: Re: Atari Portfolio (was Re: Casio Boss models) Summary: Just get the parallel interface Message-ID: <1990Nov7.183653.19467@cbnewsj.att.com> Date: 7 Nov 90 18:36:53 GMT References: <58735@microsoft.UUCP> <1990Nov5.144649.6488@cbnewsj.att.com> Distribution: na Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 23 In article , abl@dart.ece.cmu.edu (Antonio Leal) writes: > 1 - What's the deal with linking the Portfolio with a Mac (or a PC) ? > An ad I've seen asks $190 (ouch!) for cables and software (Mac or PC). > (They also asked $350 for the machine, and $150 for a Micro Modem 2400b) > If you want to interface to a PC, just get the Portfolio Parallel Interface Unit. The Portfolio comes with in-ROM software for supporting file transfers with this unit. The unit itself includes 5-1/4 and 3-1/2 inch diskettes with software for the PC. The Parallel Interface Unit is sometimes thrown in for free when you buy the Portfolio. If you have to buy it separately I think the cost will be about $50, but I may be wrong on the price. Interfacing to a Mac will require the Serial Interface Unit. Don't spend money on a terminal program for the Portfolio. Atari has made available a free terminal program that's as good as any of the commercial Portfolio programs I've seen. You can get it from many Atari dealers or download it from the Atari BBS. A terminal program is required to use the Serial Interface. There's no in-ROM support for it. ----------------------------------------------------- Michael Connick mec@mtfmi.ATT.COM AT&T Bell Labs