Xref: utzoo comp.sys.handhelds:3637 comp.sys.laptops:1517 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!synoptics!bionet!agate!ucbvax!ucsd!usc!wuarchive!udel!rochester!pt.cs.cmu.edu!o.gp.cs.cmu.edu!netnews.srv.cs.cmu.edu!abl From: abl@tempo.ece.cmu.edu (Antonio Leal) Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds,comp.sys.laptops Subject: Atari Portfolio (summary) Message-ID: Date: 16 Nov 90 16:35:51 GMT Sender: netnews@cs.cmu.edu (USENET News Group Software) Distribution: comp Organization: /usr/users/abl/.organization Lines: 37 Last week I asked for some Atari Portfolio info, especially with respect to Mac/PC interfacing. Besides the postings that showed up here, I got mail from three people. I can't quote them directly (I had a fit of sleepy incompetence, best left unmentioned), but the conclusions are: 1- For PC connections, it's best to go with the parallel interface option (on special offer in some ads). 2- The Portfolio is also a good notebook for a Mac. There's a comm program (in hqx form) floating around. 3- There's a free terminal program, available from an Atari BBS, as good as the commercial stuff. 4- I've yet to hear from disappointed users. Every owner seems to like it, within its limitations, for the sheer portability. I called up J&R Music/Electronics/whatever World (1-800-221-8180). They're selling the Portfolio for $250 and the serial option for $50. I also called up Atari (1-800-443-8020). They advertise the Portfolio for $400, with a "$129 bonus" thrown in (32K mem card + smart par. interface). I asked them for product literature, especially on the options, but all they sent me was a glossy flyer. It does show a picture of a Portfolio with an expander (about a third of the 'folio size) attached on the right side. They also mention (future ?) availability of card drives for other machines, so that you can take the Portfolio's mem. cards and read them from a PC. I'm giving it a pause, while the news from the current Comdex break. And, looking at the pictures of LCD screens, I realized I still hate the font they use on PCs. It's not that they are monospaced (I like monospaced text), but the characters are just plumb ugly and hard to read. Spoiled by VT-100s, I guess ;-) -- Antonio B. Leal Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering Bell: [412] 268-2937 Carnegie Mellon University Net: abl@ece.cmu.edu Pittsburgh, PA. 15213 U.S.A.