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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!brl-tgr!tgr!Ghenis.pasa@XEROX.ARPA
From: Ghenis.pasa@XEROX.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: Need advice on a *very* portable PC
Message-ID: <500@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 7-Aug-85 17:09:09 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.500
Posted: Wed Aug  7 17:09:09 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 10-Aug-85 23:50:41 EDT
Sender: news@brl-tgr.ARPA
Lines: 44

A new machine on the market is the Bondwell lap top:

*CP/M operating system
*64 k RAM
*25x80 LCD flip-up screen 
*1  3 1/2 inch built-in floppy drive = 720 k storage
*comes bundled with word processor, speadsheet, DBMS, BASIC,
communications program, utilities
*1 parallel + 1 serial port

*options: internal modem, external drive

*****************
    PRICE: $999
*****************

I haven't had a chance to test it yet, but the specs are impressive and
the price is right! There is plenty of CP/M software for just about any
application, and what they include will cover most needs, so if you
don't absolutely need IBM compatibility this seems worth considering.

---------------------------------------

In the TRANSPORTABLE (draggable) category, you should consider the CP/M
machines, most of which sell for $700-$1300, have 7" or 9" CRTs and two
5 1/4" disk drives. For word-processing they are just as good as any
MS-DOS sytem, and all come with a software bundle including
word-processor, spreadsheet, BASIC, comm program and maybe a DBMS, so
for your money you get a complete system, not just the hardware. In my
opinion, they still offer a much better functionality/price ratio, and
will serve most needs just fine.

Some machines to look at are Kaypros, Bondwells and the new Osborne
Vixen. The Vixen is half the size (same weight though) as other
transportables and comes with a standard RAM disk that makes it fly!

Good luck.

--Pablo Ghenis

Disclaimer: I have no interest in the above mentioned firms. I am simply
a satisfied user of a CP/M transportable system. The opinions expressed
here are those of my home computer and do not reflect on my modem's
ability to reason.