Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Path: utzoo!utgpu!cunews!csi.uottawa.ca!news
From: cbbrowne@csi.uottawa.ca (Christopher Browne (055908))
Subject: Re: Portfolio, HP-95, M-100 &
Message-ID: <1991Jun13.040508.18250@csi.uottawa.ca>
Keywords: n
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Organization: CSI Dept., University of Ottawa
References: <1991Jun11.133517.22508@lsuc.on.ca> <1991Jun12.023215.23756@eecs.nwu.edu> <1991Jun12.140104.10090@lsuc.on.ca>
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 91 04:05:08 GMT

I generally agree with Jim Omura.  I was playing with the HP yesterday at
the store and found the keyboard VERY small.  The overall size is BELOW
what people can handle for any extended sort of operation.  The Portfolio
is larger, but still limited.  If you want to really type on the machine,
you need something bigger.

I think we're seeing a case of "quantas" - there is a quantum leap from
the shirt-pocket sized machine to the notebook sized machine.  The 95LX
is in between in size - large enough to be impractical to stick in the
pocket, but too small to type on.

It's sort of heartbreaking to see a machine of this sort - it supplies
INCREDIBLE computing power - but it's just a little bigger than the ideal
pocket size, and it's a pain to communicate with it.

I wouldn't call it "sucker bait" in general.  Those people that NEED a
spreadsheet on the road (particularly one that's highly Lotus compatible)
will find the HP95LX VERY USEFUL.  But if you're buying it because
"everyone else has one," or to use as an "ultimate appointment book,"
you ARE being sucked in.  My ex-boss was given a Wizard to replace his
DayTimer.  He still uses the Daytimer...  For MANY purposes, paper is
still superior to LCD displays.

(Now, if they added Lotus Agenda in ROM, the marketing might change
again...)

Looking at my DayTimer catalogue, they sell TWO major lines of diaries:
	The Pocket sized series (Which is what I use)
	The Desk-based series

	-The pocket diaries are all thinner than the 95, that makes an
	unfortunate lump in one's coat pocket
	-The Desk-oriented models are roughly the size of today's
	notebook computers.

Thus, the "mini-micro-computers" may be considered a little too large
to compete in the pocket market (which is the OBVIOUS target), and
much too small (and limited in terms of keyboard convenience) to compete
in the notebook market.

-- 
Christopher Browne
cbbrowne@csi.uottawa.ca
University of Ottawa
Master of System Science Program