Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!wivax!decvax!decwrl!sun!wmb From: wmb@sun.UUCP Newsgroups: net.micro Subject: Portables on Airplanes Message-ID: <279@sun.UUCP> Date: Wed, 15-Jun-83 13:57:25 EDT Article-I.D.: sun.279 Posted: Wed Jun 15 13:57:25 1983 Date-Received: Thu, 16-Jun-83 21:11:04 EDT Lines: 37 A previous article suggested that the Grid Compass is designed so that it may be used on an airplane. This may be true, but it's not there yet. A friend of mine is a hardware designer at Grid, and she gave me a demo today. The machine is very compact and quite impressive, but ... Right now, it takes about 60 watts to operate. They apparently have or are working on a battery pack for it. I was told that it is good for about 2 hours of operation right now, which is clearly not enough for a long flight. It does have bubble memory, so you can carry it around without losing data, but you can't actually operate it for very long on batteries. I don't want to detract from what I believe is a very fine product, only to clarify the current state of affairs regarding battery-powered operation. The Radio Shack Model 100, on the other hand, seems well- suited to airplane operation, apart from interference considerations. I have used one at home, and I find it especially convenient for calling up work and reading my mail. Of course the display is a bit small ... I haven't actually tried to do any real work on the RS100, and I'm afraid I would find that frustrating, but it still is nice for remote access. One interesting problem is the way it connects to the phone. The modular plug/jack that is provided is great for when you're at home, but what about at hotels, which hardwire phones into the wall (so they won't walk away)? The RS100 manual acknowledges this and mentions that they will sell you little rubber acoustic coupler cups to stick on the handset. But what about hotels that have different shape phones (trimline, princess, or whatever)? ... I never go anywhere without a screwdriver.x Mitch Bradley