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From: beckman@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu (Peter Beckman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: 386SX notebook makers
Message-ID: <1991Jan19.133751.19462@news.cs.indiana.edu>
Date: 19 Jan 91 18:37:41 GMT
Organization: Computer Science, Indiana University, Bloomington
Lines: 35

It seems that there is race to get 386SX notebooks out.  I've heard a
lot of different reports and promises for when products would be
ready.  A Zeos salesperson told me their company was the ONLY 386SX
notebook now shipping (I don't believe him).  Here are the companies I
know have 386SX notebooks:

    Zeos:   20Meg version
     AST:   20 & 40Meg version
     ALR:   20?
  Austin:   20 Meg version
  Compaq:   Who cares?  they cost more than a Yugo.
  Everex:   20 Meg?

I think if they don't have a 40 Meg version, most companies have one
in the works.  Are there any others that can be added to the list?  It
seems most machines are $2300-3000, 6-9 lbs, 20-40Meg HD, 8.5"-10" VGA
display, 3.5" floppy, and about a 3 hour battery.  Has there been a
comprehensive review recently of these notebooks?

Memory seems to be one place that companies can REALLY take your
money.  Most companies require you to purchase their special
proprietary memory at $200-$300 for an additional 2 Meg.  AST seems to
be an exception.  They use standards SIMMs, although their literature
seemed a little ambiguous as to whether you need to purchase a special
part for the first upgrade.  Why don't all companies just use SIMMs?
Dumb question.

Unfortunately the AST only has a 8.5" screen.  Pretty wimpy.  The 10"
screens may be heavier and use more power, but they look great.  Has
anyone seen the 8.5" screens?  How do they look?

Does anyone who has one of these machines, or has seen a demo care to
give their review?

-Pete