Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!batcomputer!cornell!uw-beaver!milton!ogicse!intelhf!ichips!iwarp.intel.com!gargoyle!chinet!saj From: saj@chinet.chi.il.us (Stephen Jacobs) Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st Subject: Re: Two New Computer Announcements - CeBIT Summary: Coupla ideas about the new laptops Message-ID: <1991Mar29.150606.11735@chinet.chi.il.us> Date: 29 Mar 91 15:06:06 GMT Article-I.D.: chinet.1991Mar29.150606.11735 References: <2885@atari.UUCP> Organization: Chinet - Chicago Public Access UNIX Lines: 37 In this discussion, I somehow haven't picked up whether that wonderful expansion connector is going to be driven by light-duty things, the way the Mega connector is, or by drivers with some fan-out (and isolation) capability. The way discussion has gone, I fear the former (but don't know). And it has been mentionsd several times in the past that the 'weakness' of the Mega port made it hard for people to connect things to it. (come to think of it, likewise the parallel port, but that's not the point here). One thing that I think would make a big difference in sales of these machines is software that would allow a connection to a PC such that the laptop could act as a remote keyboard for the PC, and also transfer files both ways quickly. Preferably built in to the laptop, and preferably able to install anything needed on the PC end itself. I'm thinking of Laplink here, and rather than inventing it again, Atari might not do badly to see if something could be worked out with the Laplink people. I care very much about the sales of ST-compatible laptops; I have a rather nice application written for such machines. I'll join the chorus of "There has to be a cheap & easy way to put software into it". That just doesn't apply as strongly to PC-compatible ultra-lights, where there's probably already a machine that runs essentially the same programs to dock it to. You can take along a travelling copy of software from the 'home base' machine. Doesn't work for a non-PC-compatible, and will CERTAINLY be seen as a negative. Try to get into the mind of someone who has to load the ST version of Word Perfect onto his '386 box in order to transfer it to a laptop so he can play with a report while he's on a trip. Sure he'd only have to do it once, but I don't think he'd be thinking pro-Atari thoughts as he did. One entirely plausible idea is to have a floppy as part of a 'base unit' that would tend to stay home, as long as it was standard equipment. How's this: a combination power brick, floppy drive and external video adapter, that plugs in to the expansion connector? Don't anyone get too excited; these are just some ramblings. And by the way, who's the magic person who has to say 'this will happen' and make these officially-announced future Atari products? And has that person said that? Steve saj@chinet.chi.il.us