Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!ncar!hsdndev!husc6!bunny!mto
From: mto@GTE.COM (Tamer Ozsu)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: laptop choice
Message-ID: <10180@bunny.GTE.COM>
Date: 10 Dec 90 15:25:07 GMT
Organization: GTE Laboratories, Inc., Waltham, MA
Lines: 64

I thought I was keeping track of what is coming on the market, but it
I seem to be getting lost. So, I need some help in choosing a laptop.

My "regular" computing environment consists of Sun workstations
running Xwindows and Macintoshes. I am looking for a laptop which I
can configure to duplicate, as much as possible, this regular
environment. Two solutions that I am not considering are:

1. Getting a 386 machine with a large disk and configuring it to run
some version of Unix. This is not necessary, since the only things
in my Unix environment that I want to carry around are Emacs (visual
editor) and LaTeX (typsetting system). I know that I can get both on
DOS.

2. Getting a Mac laptop. If the Mac laptop was a real laptop, this
would be the solution since there are LaTeX versions for the Mac.
However, Mac laptop is not a laptop in my view; it is also too
expensive. I also know of the Outbound, but at around $4000 when
configured the way I want it, that is also an expensive alternative.

So, what I would like to get is a DOS-based notebook. I know I may not
be able to get the same graphics tools as the Mac, but I can live with
that. The following seem to be my requirements, as best as I can
determine them:

* Notebook laptop (size is very important; as close to 8.5"x11"x2" as
  possible. 
* 286 processor (speed is also important because I need to run ...
* Windows 3.0 (the reason for this is that I want to be able to run
  Powerpoint which is a presentations package that runs both on the
  Mac and under Windows)
* 20MB disk (at least); ~15 of this should be left to me.
* 2400 bps internal model
* VGA backlit screen (again Powerpoint wants EGA or better)
* universal power supply (I need to take it over to Europe regularly;
  but a step-down transformer may be acceptable if this becomes the
  only sticky issue)
* replacable batteries with a life of no less than 2 hrs.
* system cost no more than $2500
-----------------------
In addition, the following would be nice, but are not essential:
* VGA output
* longer battery life (say 5-6 hrs)
* internal floppy drive

Am I whistling in the dark? Can I get something that fits the
requirements? I had looked at a few back in August/September and had
decided on the Airis system. I had even ordered one, since their
system really meets all of my requirements (I have not checked Windows
capability, but that was not of major concern since there is a 30-day
money back guarantee). However, I am not sure what the heck is going
on with them anymore. The system was originally promised for delivery
in October, then was delayed till December, now it seems to be delayed
till the new year. I am not sure if they are dependable or even worth
the wait with whatever may be coming on the market right now. 

Any help would be appreciated. If you choose to respond by mail, I
will summarize the suggestions to the net.
==Tamer Ozsu
-- 
M. Tamer Ozsu					mto@gte.com
GTE Laboratories				
40 Sylvan Road					
Waltham, MA 02254