Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!ukma!wuarchive!cs.utexas.edu!solo.csci.unt.edu!vaxb.acs.unt.edu!molta
From: molta@vaxb.acs.unt.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: Trying to identify an OEM laptop
Message-ID: <1991Apr25.103622.46309@vaxb.acs.unt.edu>
Date: 25 Apr 91 10:30:22 GMT
References: <20910@cbmvax.commodore.com>
Distribution: usa
Lines: 47

n article <20910@cbmvax.commodore.com>, dean@cbmvax.commodore.com (Jeff Dean - 
LSI Test) writes:
> Does anybody know the manufacturer of the laptop I see in Computer Shopper?
> It's an OEM box, re-marketed by at least six different companies (Blue-Star
> and Tri-Star come to mind).
> 
> It's a '286 or '386sx, vga/32, 1-5meg, 20M hdd, 1.44M fdd, and looks a LOT
> like the Toshiba 2000.  It has five little holes (for LEDs I assume) between
> the display and the keyboard.  The Toshiba 2000 has nine similar holes as I
> recall, and a very similar keyboard with a very short (about 1/2 normal)
> spacebar.
> 
> The advertised price for the '286 is usually ~$1600, and the '386sx ~$2k.
> 
> Is it a Toshiba?  Does anybody out there have one?

I took a look at this unit at a computer store in Dallas and it looks pretty
good.  I don't think it's a Toshiba product, though I agree there is a
significant resemblance.  It's made in Taiwan and, as you say, is sold by
a number of vendors.  The dealer I talked to was willing to sell me a 
16 MHz 386sx with 3 Megs of RAM for $2000.

Positive points:
----------------
* Good price
* RAM expansion is reasonably priced ($100 per meg at the dealer I talked to)
* 2 serial ports, parallel, external FDD, numeric keypad, VGA port
* AMI BIOS
* Good feature set (power saving, screen modes)
* Relatively small (compared to ZEOS/Sanyo) power supply
* Decent keyboard feel and layout

Negative points:
----------------
* Clone origin (limited resale value?)
* limited memory expansion (5 Meg)
* no external keyboard port
* no expansion chassis
* no internal modem slot
* 20 MB drive
* 2-hour recharge time

I've been tempted to buy one, but a voice inside me says to spend a few 
hundred dollars more for the ZEOS, Everex, or AST.  Anyone have any advice?

-Dave Molta
University of North Texas