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From: jkg@gitpyr.gatech.EDU (Jim Greenlee)
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc
Subject: Re: Datavue experince (?)
Message-ID: <2455@gitpyr.gatech.EDU>
Date: Wed, 22-Oct-86 00:51:39 EDT
Article-I.D.: gitpyr.2455
Posted: Wed Oct 22 00:51:39 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 23-Oct-86 07:32:03 EDT
References: <2208@curly.ucla-cs.ARPA>
Sender: news@gitpyr.gatech.EDU
Reply-To: jkg@gitpyr.UUCP (Jim Greenlee)
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology
Lines: 31

I used a DataVue for a weekend once to do some word processing -
not extensively, but enough to offer some impressions. The
configuration I had used the full (appr. 1 Meg) memory and a 5.25"
disk drive. The extra memory can be configured, as you say, to
be an extra "disk", but still leaving a full 640K to work with.
I found the performance to be adequate for what I needed it for,
but the single (real) drive proved to be a real nuisance. I was
constantly swapping disks, so if you decide to get one, I'd go 
with a 2-drive system. The screen was pretty nice, too, for an
LCD display - it offers 2 viewing angles and is back-lit for
improved contrast. Mine also had a 1200 baud modem installed (I
don't know if this is standard), but I had trouble getting it
to work with the communications software I had. I later found
out that there is some communications software bundled with the 
modem, but I never had the oppportunity to try it out. I used
WordStar (TM), SideKick (TM), a 68000 assembler, and a couple
of other programs all without incident. It came with DOS 2.11.
One nice feature is that the keyboard uses an IR transmitter, so
no connecting cable is needed (the computer comes with one, though).
Quadram has a reputation for making things really compatible, so
I don't expect you'd have any trouble with the usual software.
All in all, I'd say it was an adequate system as portables go -
much more portable than the COMPAQs (TM). For my money, though, 
I'd seriously consider the Toshiba (TM) 1100+ - I haven't used 
one (have used a 3100, though - very nice!) but it seems to have 
a lot going for it.
                                     Jim Greenlee
-- 
The Shadow
Georgia Insitute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
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