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From: mheyda@heyda.austin.ibm.com (Michael Heyda)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: Tandon NB/386SX (was Dataworld laptop)
Keywords: dataworld tandon NB 386SX noteboook
Message-ID: <6964@awdprime.UUCP>
Date: 24 Apr 91 13:12:21 GMT
References: <51658@nigel.ee.udel.edu> <17296@burdvax.PRC.Unisys.COM>
Sender: news@awdprime.UUCP
Reply-To: mheyda@heyda.austin.ibm.com (Michael Heyda)
Organization: IBM AWD
Lines: 28

I have similar problems with the battery life not comming close to 3-4
hours.  Also have the problem with low battery begining to beep.  As far
as the price being comparable I wouldn't go that far.  The Dataworld,
for only $2,695 is about $800 less than the Tandon (for the price
difference you only get 10MB.
About my only complaint is that the battery life is too short.  This
however should be helped when I replace the 4MB I have in it now (4 1MB
SIMMS -- 2 came with it and I have another 2 laying around but you can
get then for $55 a peice) with a 4MB SIMM.  This should lower power
consumption dramatically (maybe this is how Dataworld got their
figures).  I especially liked the upgradability of the machine.  I plan
to use the machine at school and wanted something that could survive
trips back and forth every weekend so I could go back home and work on
papers or take it to the library (also using it for program compiling is
why I went for a 386SX/20).  The 60MB hard disk upgrade would be nice though.

When I was shopping for laptops I got interested in the Dataworld and
then saw the Tandon.  Whats interesting about this is that Tandon sells
a 2 slot expansion box for $300 and Dataworld sells a 3 slot for $700
(thats one expensive slot --- $400!)  Tandon maintained that they made
their own machine and Dataworld says that they second sourced it but
didn't say from who.  I would be interested to know if the expansion
boxes are compatible.  I could deal with $300 for two slots since thats
all I would use, but $700 for 3 slots is a bit steep.

Please post in this group.  Thanks.

						Mike Heyda