Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!PCO-MULTICS.HBI.HONEYWELL.COM!Friesen
From: Friesen@PCO-MULTICS.HBI.HONEYWELL.COM
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: PC Folio
Message-ID: <890504180456.143552@PCO-MULTICS.HBI.HONEYWELL.COM>
Date: 4 May 89 18:04:00 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Reply-To: Friesen%PCO@BCO-MULTICS.HBI.HONEYWELL.COM
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First, a few hardware questions answered...  I want to say for those
asking, that the PC Folio does have a standard QWERTY keyboard (however,
I don't know if it has been spaced standardly or how small the keys
are).  The Folio basically looks just like a laptop, only much much
smaller.  The Folio has two input/output ports, a slot in the side under
the keyboard which takes the credit card "disks", and a 60 pin bus for
printer/modem/PC/etc.  hookup.

The discussion on applications of the Folio are very interesting.
Applications such as lab work and field work have always been filled by
the Tandy 102.  This computer is very limited (and more expensive) than
the Folio.  I could easily see the Folio replacing that computer in such
applications.  Another suggested application was speech synthesis for
the speech impaired.  I don't know if the speaker (which is rumored to
be able to dial phone numbers for the address book) or the sound chip
could handle such a task, but if it could the computer could fill a void
no computer has filled.

Marketing wise, this computer has great potential:  oIBM compatable
oBuilt in multi language software oUp to 640K plus portability never
offered before by a computer of this power.

One thing that has not been mentioned, which I would like to see (even
the Wizard has one) is a bar code reader.  This would allow many
applications, including the distribution of programs through magazines,
not on disk, but on printed pages to save money.

It will be interesting to see how the market reacts.  At least for once,
I don't think that only "Atari users" will be buying an Atari!


Aric Friesen

Addresses:

Genie:  A.FRIESEN

ARPA:  Friesen%PCO@BCO-MULTICS.ARPA

"Hypnotism; the programming language for people."