Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!fernwood!synopsys!craig
From: craig@synopsys.com (Craig Cochran)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: DAK Bondwell
Message-ID: <639@synopsys.COM>
Date: 18 Jan 91 18:12:45 GMT
References: <1991Jan17.204243.5711@convex.com>
Sender: news@synopsys.com
Organization: Synopsys Inc.
Lines: 42

In article <1991Jan17.204243.5711@convex.com> graham@convex.com (Marv Graham) writes:
>The DAK catalog has a Bondwell laptop with a 286 and 20 Meg disk for $1200.
>For an extra $99, you can get a 40 Meg disk.  It also has a 1.44 Meg floppy.
>What's the catch.  Is this thing worth buying?  Is there a better deal
>available.

I bought one recently, and I'm fairly happy with it.  While it is not the
best Laptop ever designed, it is a very good machine, and the price + the
free software from DAK is an unbeatable deal.

Pros:
- good fast disk access (it uses a Conner drive)
- full 25-line 80-char display
- 2 serial ports, 1 parallel port and an external monitor port
- comes with 3-button mouse & brand-name software (Quattro Pro, Wordstar & more)
- it's light - only 8 lbs.

Cons:
- I don't like the (tactile) feel of the keyboard
- battery life is too short - about 1 hour
- I couldn't get PC-curses to work (it compiled, but doesn't work)
- CGA graphics only

While I considered holding out until prices and technology progressed in the
laptop market, I felt this deal was substantially better than others, so
I couldn't let this deal pass without buying one.  The price is low enough
that when laptops get where I want them to be, it won't be painful to
buy another one...

Incidentally, the pocket modem that is being sold as an option to the B310
works well, also.  I'm running MS-KERMIT, and the terminal emulation and
file transfers work perfectly.


>If this is old news in this group, forgive me.  I just started reading it!

Same goes for me...

-- 
Craig Cochran
Product Marketing Manager                email: craig@synopsys.com
Synopsys, Inc.                           voice: (415)962-7723