Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!rice!bcm!fledley
From: fledley@mbir.bcm.tmc.edu (R. Mark Adams)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: Portfolio, HP-95, M-100 &
Message-ID: <6005@gazette.bcm.tmc.edu>
Date: 14 Jun 1991 18:41:09 GMT
References: <1991Jun9.152710.20556@lsuc.on.ca> <1991Jun11.013109.13539@eecs.nwu.edu> <1991Jun11.133517.22508@lsuc.on.ca> <1991Jun12.023215.23756@eecs.nwu.edu> <1991Jun12.140104.10090@lsuc.on.ca>
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Reply-To: fledley@mbir.bcm.tmc.edu (R. Mark Adams)
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An important point to remember about the Portfolio is that it, like
full-fledged computers, is not limited to the 'organizer' applications
which are built in.  Mr. Omura is correct in pointing out that there are
other 'organizers' which are capable enough and are considerably smaller
than the Port.  Where I differ with his opinion is:  1) I do not think that
the Port is limited to the organizer functions.  I use it every day as a
sort of electronic lab notebook, where I can input textutal notes in the
WP, numerical data in the spreadsheet, and even use the address book as
sort of a 3x5-cardfile for commonly used information.  The size and portability
of the unit (It fits easily in my lab coat) make it better for this than a
'laptop' as it is actually _smaller_ than my (paper) notebook.  The ease of 
connection with my desktop machine makes moving data back and forth a breeze.

And: 2)  I also differ with Mr. Omura in his belief that a device's sole worth
is in its value (or percieved value) to the 'business' community.  It is
too bad that he is not the only one with this sort of opinion, but it seems
pretty widespread.  The world of the business office is no more _real_ than
that of the molecular biology laboratory.  I hope that more designers
keep this in mind as they create new machines.  I, for one, think that
the ability of the Portfolio to act as a multipurpose computer allows
it to function in ways that may not have been thought of in advance.  
And that is waht made personal computers so popular in the first place, 
isn't it?  :-)

------------------------+----------------------------+-------------------------
      ___               | R. Mark Adams              | On cars:  "...if such a
     /  /               | Baylor College of Medicine |thing did exist, it would
    /  /_____  ______   | Department of Cell Biology |certainly be called an
   /   __   / / __  /   |                            |'isomobile' or an 
  /  /  /  / / /_/ /    | fledley@mbir.bcm.tmc.edu   |'autokinesin'.  Never mix
 /__/  /__/ /  ___/     |                            |Greek and Latin."
           /  /         |     "Molecular Biologist   |  
          /__/          |          For Hire"         |  -Goethe
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