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From: news@udenva.cair.du.edu (netnews)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: Portfolio memory expansion? (Do it with SIMS?)
Message-ID: <12531@udenva.cair.du.edu>
Date: 14 Dec 89 23:10:07 GMT
References: <1407@me.chalmers.se> <1874@atari.UUCP> <20665@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU>
Reply-To: bdahlen@zephyr.cair.du.edu (Robert L. Dahlen @ U. of Denver USA=)
Organization: Univ. of Denver, CO, USA
Lines: 46

In article <20665@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU> andy@ucbarpa.Berkeley.EDU.UUCP (Andrew Purshottam) writes:
>Hi, I looked at the portfolio at Winners Circle (popular Berkeley
>Atari/Commodore shop) and was quite impressed with what Atari had
>put in handheld for $400. What stopped me from buying it was the
>information that it came with only 32K of memory, and that no expansion
>boards were yet avvail (this was about 3 weeks ago, so my info may 
>be obselete). The expansion, when avail was 256K for (I think) about
>$300. (Atarians on net please correct me.) 
>

I'm not an Atarian, but I'll tell you what I *think* I know.
The Portfolio comes with 128K of RAM for DATA storage.  Programs
(worksheet, editor, diary, etc.) are stored in a seperate 256K ROM.
Now the 128K is normally split between normal RAM and a RAM drive 
(your C> drive).  One review (PC Computing) says that it can be 
expanded to 640K, I have no idea how though.

The machine also has a "CARD-DRIVE", not unlike a floppy disk drive,
built in to the machine.  Cards can be used like floppies in sizes
of 32K-$80, 64K-$130 and 128K-$200. 
This is like your A> drive, although you can now dedicate all
of your RAM drive (C>) to RAM.  Plans are for a second
card drive to be available in January.  Also a "CARD-DRIVE" that attaches
to your desk-bound PC.  There are also plans for application software 
distribution directly on CARDs.  

Some other specifics:  The worksheet is Lotus 1-2-3 compatible 
(I've tried this, it works quite well.)  The editor is ASCII compatible,
The Diary and Address book are in a simple ASCII format.  I downloaded
my "POWER-UP ADDRESS BOOK PLUS" file without a hitch from my desk-bound
PC.  It runs DOS 2.11 and uses 3 AA batteries, I've used mine a month so
far on the batteries that came with it and I've used it a lot!  
Serial and Parallel ports cost extra, $80 and $50 respectively.

Although I'm all for buying it from the dealer where you looked at it
(I did too), Atari will FedEx you one for a 30 day Trial! 800-443-8020.
Two interesting reviews are in the December 89 PC Computing and in the
Dec. 26 89 PC Magazine.  Pretty fair reviews.  

After speaking with Atari, (great support BTW) they seem to have big
plans for this little box.  For $400, I recommend it highly.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert L. Dahlen - Director, Information Systems & Technology
University of Denver - Denver, Colorado 80208 (303) 871-4385
INET:bdahlen@du.edu BITNET:bdahlen@ducair UUCP:ncar!dunike!bdahlen