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From: djb@cbnews.cb.att.com (david.j.bryant)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: Windowing system for "regular" PC/laptop?
Summary: GeoWorks Ensemble
Message-ID: <1991May14.105234.9451@cbnews.cb.att.com>
Date: 14 May 91 10:52:34 GMT
References: <9105081832.AA01240@wugate.wustl.edu> <18820002@hpspdra.spd.HP.COM>
Distribution: na
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus Ohio
Lines: 35

On "Suggestions for stand alone laptop?", tomm@hpspdra.spd.HP.COM writes:
>   Your search is similar to one I'm doing for myself; I'd like to add
>   another question:  I've been advised that to properly run a windows
>   environment (which would make the computer a bunch easier to use
>   for an occasional user) it really takes a 386 at 20MHz.  Otherwise
>   the computer (and in particular the pointer device) doesn't keep
>   up.  Can anyone comment?

Not true.  Check out GeoWorks Ensemble.  It's a full windowing system that
runs quite snappily and very well on "low end" PC's such as 8086 and 80286
machines with 640Kb of memory and a wide variety of display controllers.
It does take about 3Mb of hard disk.  It's very impressive on even a measly
EGA monitor, and quite tolerable in monochrome.  

The Ensemble package also includes a terminal emulator, word processor, 
rolodex tool,  and several others (including a nice solitare game that 
my 5 year old really enjoys).  No spreadsheet, alas.  I've seen it 
advertised for $150 at local PC stores, or you can get a working model
for $9.95 by calling (415) 544-3456.  Product reviews have appeared in
numerous PC magazines.

There are a few drawbacks.  I'm not aware of any major software vendors 
that have picked up the GeoWorks API and offered compatible versions of 
their software, but hopefully that'll happen soon.  It requires a mouse
to run, though it doesn't work with the AT&T keyboard mouse on my PC6300+.
And I'd be happier if its price was competetive with MS/windows.

[Disclaimer: I have no connection with GeoWorks -- I just like their software.]

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