Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!bu.edu!att!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!sas
From: sas@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu (Scott Sutherland)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: Mac "Portable" Advice?
Message-ID: <86135@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu>
Date: 21 Nov 90 16:58:21 GMT
References: <3813@mindlink.UUCP> <1990Nov15.112118.1177@urz.unibas.ch>
Organization: Ohio State University, Department of Dance
Lines: 86

In article <1990Nov15.112118.1177@urz.unibas.ch> infocenter@urz.unibas.ch writes:
>In article <3813@mindlink.UUCP>, a577@mindlink.UUCP (Curt Sampson) writes:
>>> kunau@cray.com writes:
>>> 
>>> Does anyone out there own/use a Macintosh Portable on a regular
>>> basis? I have the opportunity to pick one up fairly inexpensively
>>> and was wondering what luck other people have had with the unit.
>> 
>> It is large.  Very large.  It makes my T1000XE look positively miniscule by
>> comparison.  It's definitely not a laptop.

You are right about that, it's not a "laptop," but luckily, I rarely need to 
work on my lap.

>> My biggest problem with it is the non-backlit screen.  It makes it very
>> difficult to use.  You have to have light almost directly behind you, but not
>> quite (otherwise the screen will glare).  This cause shadows to be cast from
>> the LCD pixels onto the backplain behind them, giving a sort of "doubling"
>> effect.  Ow!

There have been a few times when I would have liked a backlit screen.  In fact
I have started bringing a book light with me when I'm using an LCD overhead
projection platform, so that I can see the screen with the lights out. By the 
way, that works really well - you just clip it on the handle over the screen.
It even fits in the Portable case.

Anyway, although I have had some need for backlighting, I don't consider it
a real problem.  I also have not run into a problem seeing the screen from
an angle.  Usually, a simple adjustment of the contrast helps a lot, and 
unless the light is *really* bright the shadows are not too bad.

An interesting note, I have both the Portable  and a IIci on my desk and I
probably get about equal use out of both.  I do most of my development work
on the IIci and al of my communications on the Portable (it is dance.ohio-
state.edu).  I think the 2-page monitor on the IIci is much harder on my
eyes than the Portable is.

>> cjs
>> --
>> Curt_Sampson@mindlink.UUCP                     (Vancouver, B.C., 
>> Canada)
>> {uunet|ubc-cs}!van-bc!rsoft!mindlink!Curt_Sampson
>> curt@cynic.wimsey.bc.ca
>
>all your comments are true, but if you get it for a good price and if you are
>not hiking around with it, then you make a good deal. 

Right!  Big airports without motorized walkways are the *worst*.

>It's a really neat machine!
>It's a real Mac that doesn't waste to much space on your desk, cause you can 
>put it to the side. The used material is of good quality (harddisk, 
>display etc.).

I agree.  I've had no major problems, other than a floppy drive that came 
unplugged.

>
>bye ....................................................................  Didi
>
>******************************************************************************
>*  Universitas Basiliensis                                       InfoCenter  *
>******************************************************************************

A few thoughts of my own:

I would purchase a Mac Portable again, even at the going rate.  All in all,
I think it is a fine machine for most uses.  If you get it, count on buying
a memory upgrade for it.  That way you can run a RAM disk, and you 
won't have to wait for the HD to spin-up very often.

Something else that no one has mentioned is that it travels well.  It is not 
too big for use on the seat-back table on the airplane, and it easily fits
under the seat or in the overhead.  Since it sets-up and turns on quickly,
it doesn't slow you down going through security or customs.  If your flight
is long, you may be glad that the battery life is 8+ hours, and you can plug
it in almost anywhere in the world without any sort of a transformer.

Well, I think I'll take my portable outside, and enjoy one of our last "warm"
sunny days :-).

Cheers,
Scott Sutherland
---
Scott Sutherland	scott@dance.ohio-state.edu
Staff Software Developer
The Ohio State University, Department of Dance