From: Steven M. Knapp (sknapp@iastate.edu)
Date: 06/14/93


From: sknapp@iastate.edu (Steven M. Knapp)
Subject: Re: Linux Laptop recommendation?
Date: Mon, 14 Jun 1993 11:42:20 GMT

In article <1vg2uv$ec@almaak.usc.edu> ajayshah@almaak.usc.edu (Ajay Shah) writes:
>Suppose I was buying a laptop/notebook which would run Linux.
>I have a 9600b external modem which I will use with this machine.

I would like to suggest what I am considering for this as well: the Znote

>I'm looking for:
>
>* 386-SL (what are the clock speeds?)

25mHz?

>* 8M and up (do notebooks take such quantities of memory?)

4MB on board, either 2 2MB cards or one 8MB card will fit...8MB is
most cost effecitve.

>* Ability to plug in external VGA monitor

Will do that, and update both screens at once.

>* monochrome ok
It has a nice screen, color is an option, and an upgrade

>* 120M and up
80 or 120MB hard drive...standard 21/2" IDE should you ever want to
upgrade. I checked, the BIOS will support ANY IDE drive.

>* ability to plug into ethernet at work

Built in! :-) The 10baseT or 10base2 (coax) adapators are about $70

> How is this done? Will this work with Linux?

From what I have seen, it will/should...the ethernet in the notebook
is standard (same as if you were to buy a card).

>* 3.5" floppy
1.44MB standard, 2.88MB upgrade

>* serial port fast enough for the external modem
38400 is no problem...:-)

>* what does one do for a mouse?
Logitech TrackMan included...Linux will support it attached to the
PS/2 mouse port.

>* 4kg and below.
6lbs....sorry conversion charts are at home.

>What would such a beast cost? What's a good vendor to buy this from?
>I've seen some LCD displays which I really hate.
>
 Z-Note 325L (4M, 120M HD, VGA LCD, NiMH batt)....................... $ 1868.00
  8M memory upgrade for Z-Notes...................................... $ 467.00
  Port Replicator for Z-Notes (Power,Printer,Serial,Kbd,Mouse,SVGA).. $ 71.00

those are the educational prices, you can get it straight from Zenith,
let me know if you want the number!

Oh, the port replicator is a bar that goes across the back of the
notebook, and acts as a mini-dock of sorts, allowing most everything
to be hooked up at once.(except the E-net and internal modem)

Good luck!

PS: there is a 486SL version too!

________________________________________________________________________
Steven M. Knapp Computer Engineering Student
sknapp@iastate.edu President Cyclone Amateur Radio Club
Iowa State University; Ames, IA; USA Durham Center Operations Staff