From: utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!info-cpm
Newsgroups: fa.info-cpm
Title: portables
Article-I.D.: ucbvax.269
Posted: Tue Dec  7 23:13:11 1982
Received: Thu Dec  9 01:30:30 1982

>From POURNE@Mit-Mc  Tue Dec  7 23:08:16 1982
To: info-cpm@BRL
Via:  Mit-Mc; 7 Dec 82 4:59-EST
Via:  Brl; 7 Dec 82 6:25-EST
Via:  Brl-Bmd; 7 Dec 82 6:47-EST

    Date: 7-Dec-82 01:54:59-PST (Tue)
    From: MAILER-DAEMON at Berkeley (Mail Delivery Subsystem)
    To:   POURNE
    Re:   Unable to deliver mail

       ----- Transcript of session follows -----
    azure!tekcrd!teklabs!ucbcad!ucbvax.info-cpm... Connecting to azure.uucp...
    bad system name: azure
    azure!tekcrd!teklabs!ucbcad!ucbvax.info-cpm... Service unavailable
    POURNE@MIT-MC... Connecting to mit-mc.arpa...

       ----- Unsent message follows -----
    Date: 7 December 1982 04:48-EST
    From: Jerry E. Pournelle <POURNE@MIT-MC>
    Subject:  id A11717; 4-Dec-82 05:26:42-PST (Sat)
    Message-Id: <8211070954.6705@UCBVAX.BERKELEY.ARPA>
    Received: by UCBVAX.BERKELEY.ARPA (3.227 [10/22/82])
    	id A06705; 7-Dec-82 01:54:59-PST (Tue)
    To: teklabs!tekcrd!tekmdp!scotth@UCB-C70
    Cc: azure!tekcrd!teklabs!ucbcad!ucbvax.info-cpm@UCB-C70

    	The Osborne is the VW of the portables, and features
    good introductory documentation, a GOOD dealer net with service
    etc., and very vanilla hardware features.  Lots of bundled
    software all good.

    	The KayPro is a good machine, hardware speaking, but
    hasn't much good software with it.  The screen flickers; try it
    first,, you may no be able to stand it.  The KayPro screen is
    big enough to use alone; both Osborne and Otrona will require a
    larger monitor for on-station use.

    	The Otrona is the BMW of the portables, and I agree with
    the referenced message about it; darned good machine.  I have
    one.  The dealer and service net is growing and well done also.
    But you will need a larger screen; fortunately there is a video
    out on the back for putting it on a monitor.
    	You can use Otrona wihtout monitor, of course, and for a
    day or two is no problem; but I would hate to have to do it all
    the time.  

    I carry an Otrona to all the co,puter shows; I can have my
    choice of a lot of them.

    There is a new machine, ZORBA, out at COMDEX; looked good,
    competitively priced with Osborne and Kaypro.  Don't know about
    dealers, software,  or service.

    Hyperion is interesting; as is the new Teleray small computer
    which has a 4-line liquid crystal screen (and a video outlet;
    the 4 lines are a window into a 24 line display of course).  It
    looks good and should not be ignored.