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From: borsom@imokay.cmw.ltn.dec.com (Doug Borsom)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: Need advice on IBM L40SX
Message-ID: <22624@shlump.lkg.dec.com>
Date: 13 May 91 11:56:06 GMT
References: <1991May12.022809.27149@cs.umn.edu>
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Is the L40SX IBM's new notebook?  If so, read on.  If not, please
graciously ignore the following well-meant but inapproproiate information.

From what I've _read_  (haven't had a chance to try one yet),  IBM's notebook has
a _much_ nicer keyboard, both in terms of touch and layout, than does the Compaq.
But these things can be subjective.  Personally, I don't much like the layout of
the Compaq keyboard (cursor keys).

The IBM notebook is bigger (by about an inch in both width and length, as I recall)
and heavier (by about a pound) than the Compaq, so if you're going to be carrying your
notebook around a lot, the Compaq might be a better bet.

The IBM's battery life is on the short side, something under 3 hours with power-conservation
features running, but IBM provides two batteries with their notebook, and you can swap 
batteries without losing the work you're doing.  Of course hauling around two batteries
means even more weight.  The recharge time on IBM's battery is _long_, something like
6 or 8 hours.  IBM does offer (an option, I believe) a quick recharger that cuts the
time down to a couple hours.

The Compaq display is good, but not great, and it's smaller than the IBM's.  IBM's
display is reported to be very good.

The IBM notebook can accommodate 16 megs of RAM.  Compaq tops out at 10.

If previous machines are any indication, both the Compaq and the IBM are well designed,
well built systems that won't disappoint.

I plan to purchase a notebook PC in the next month, and what I've read about the IBM
(great keyboard, very good display, good performance, 60 meg hard drive) makes it
a front runner.

By the way, where have you seen the IBM notebook offered at that price?