Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!usc!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!toto.cis.ohio-state.edu!pollack
From: pollack@toto.cis.ohio-state.edu (Jordan B Pollack)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: DISCUSSION: comp.sys.laptops
Message-ID: 
Date: 26 Sep 89 03:19:00 GMT
Sender: news@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu
Reply-To: pollack@cis.ohio-state.edu
Followup-To: news.groups
Distribution: comp
Organization: Ohio State Computer Science
Lines: 36

I'd like propose the formation of comp.sys.laptops (or
comp.sys.portables) for the unmoderated discussion of issues related
to very portable computers. (This idea was posted about a week ago
only in news.groups)

On the one hand, comp.sys.ibm.pc is too voluminous and discriminates
against non-dos machines, and on the other, comp.sys.handhelds has
turned into a HP calculator forum.  Comp.sys.zenith sports about 1 in
10 articles about their laptops, but excludes the 30 other laptop
manufacturers.

There are hardware issues: color screens, stationary pointing devices,
projection technologies, cellular modems, miniature keyboards,
ramcards, 2-inch floppies, floptical disks, etc.

There are software issues: block-cursor TSRs, battery programs, color
to grey scale mapping, screenshow utilities, etc.

There are specific manufacturer issues: How can zenith advertise 640
by 400 CGA? When will Toshiba be un-disbarred from federal purchasing
code?  Who is really behind Dolch-Pac?, etc.

There are lifestyle issues: can you whip out your machine in a public
meeting?  How to handle airport security guards who want to turn on
your machine to see that its not a bomb? What if a colleague wants to
borrow your security blanket? etc.

The creation of a newgroup apparently requires vigorous public discussion as to
its merit. However, please either email your comments to me, 
or FOLLOWUP ONLY IN NEWS.GROUPS. Besides, I can't afford to read
the 100 messages a day in comp.sys.ibm.pc anymore.

A vote will eventually be taken.

Jordan Pollack
CIS Dept. OSU