🚀 go-pugleaf

Jeffrey W. Tannehill writes:
>  I have heard of an old Radio Shack
> computer (I believe the Tandy 102?) which had a 40x8 character LCD built 
into a
> one piece flat panel shaped box (no folding screen panel), and that 
might be 
> sufficient except that there is no modem built in.

The Tandy 102 (and the earlier, very similar model 100) makes a 
very fine little portable terminal, and it does indeed come standard
with an internal modem, although it is only 300 baud.  If you can
live with the 40x8 screen, and the 300 baud rate, it's a great 
little unit, and can be had used for $200 - $300.  If you need 
a higher data rate, a good way to go might be a model 100/102
and one of those pocket modems; in addition to the built-in
modem, there's an rs-232 port that runs up to 9600 baud.
I've had a number of 100s on and off over the years, and have
liked them a lot.  They have their limitations, but they give
you a lot of capability for the money.  Good luck.

************************
* These are my opinions only.*
************************

You might want to get an HP95LX and an external, portable modem.
All told, it would probable cost you $650...cheaper if you buy
used components.  And since the modem can be used on other systems,
that's a plus over a built-in modem.  The whole setup would still
be smaller than a traditional notebook.

That's one of the reasons I bought my HP95LX...to use as a terminal
when I'm on the road, without having to lug around some huge laptop.
And the calendar and phone book are a bonus!

---todd

In article <714881694@anthrax.cs.duke.edu> jwt@duke.cs.duke.edu (Jeffrey W. Tannehill) writes:
>
>	I am interested in getting a compact, cheap terminal. I have used a 
>Zeos laptop computer with builtin modem and it is almost perfect for my needs,
>however it is not mine to use regularly and it certainly has more than I need
>on it (the hard drive makes it heavy).  I have heard of an old Radio Shack
>computer (I believe the Tandy 102?) which had a 40x8 character LCD built into a
>one piece flat panel shaped box (no folding screen panel), and that might be 
>sufficient except that there is no modem built in.
>	The minimal-ideal terminal I am looking for might be:
>
>		LCD display at least 40x8 characters
>		small footprint, no larger than a Zeos Laptop
>		battery powered 
>		builtin modem at least 1200 baud
>		some terminal software to connect to a Unix machine
>		less than $500 price tag (new)
>
>Notice I didn't mention any OS or software or hard disk or floppy disk.  
>Currently, I don't care about any expandability, peripherals or growth 
>potential, as long as it will connect me to a Unix machine over a phone line.
>It can be a palmtop, but an internal modem must be an option.
>	Am I asking too much (or rather too little)? Is there a market for 
>portable notebook terminals that will fit in your brief case, but don't cost
>as much as the laptops that run DOS or Windows? Thanks for any info!
>
>-- 
>/*______________________________Jeff Tannehill_______________________________*
> * MAIL:  Duke Dept. of Computer Science        Internet: jwt@cs.duke.edu    *
> *        Durham, NC 27708 USA                  PHONE: +1 919 660 6500       */


--
Todd Bernhard, Sun Microsystems, toddb@Sun.COM  <my opinions are MINE>
"A product manager is a person who has all the responsibility but none of
the power to make a product successful." --Guy Kawasaki, Selling the Dream

In article <714881694@anthrax.cs.duke.edu>, jwt@duke.cs.duke.edu (Jeffrey W. Tannehill) writes:
> 
> 	I am interested in getting a compact, cheap terminal ... 
> with builtin modem ... at least 1200 baud ...
> 
A bit larger, a bit heavier, and a bit slower than you specify, but a whole 
lot cheaper (if you can still find one :-) ), is the Tandy 600.  The screen
(not back-lit) sports 16 80-character lines, the built-in modem is 300 baud
(only), there's a primitive version of Microsoft Works built in, and the
price of mine (new, left over from an abandoned layaway), was $100.- (!) .
>
> /*______________________________Jeff Tannehill_______________________________*
>  * MAIL:  Duke Dept. of Computer Science        Internet: jwt@cs.duke.edu    *
>  *        Durham, NC 27708 USA                  PHONE: +1 919 660 6500       */
---
Fred E.J. Linton  Wesleyan U. Math. Dept.  649 Sci. Tower  Middletown, CT 06459
E-mail:  <FLINTON@eagle.Wesleyan.EDU>     ( or  <fejlinton@{att|mci}mail.com> )
Tel.:         + 1 203 776 2210 (home)      or     + 1 203 347 9411 x2249 (work)

In article <714881694@anthrax.cs.duke.edu> jwt@duke.cs.duke.edu (Jeffrey W. Tannehill) writes:
>
>	I am interested in getting a compact, cheap terminal. I have used a 
>Zeos laptop computer with builtin modem and it is almost perfect for my needs,
>however it is not mine to use regularly and it certainly has more than I need
>on it (the hard drive makes it heavy).  

I think HP95LX will satisfy your need.
>
>		LCD display at least 40x8 characters
                LCD 40x16 characters and 240x128 graphics

>		small footprint, no larger than a Zeos Laptop
                16mmx25mmx160mm

>		battery powered 
                AA x 2

>		builtin modem at least 1200 baud
                No modem built in, but you can use card modem
                (I'm not sure about this for ParmModem is not shipped yet)

>		some terminal software to connect to a Unix machine
                VT100 emulation supported

>		less than $500 price tag (new)
                If you buy 512K model & PalmModem, it will be OK.
>



-- 
Hiroshi Ogawa
Assistant Professor
Kanto-Gakuen Univ.
Gunma-Ken, Japan

In article <714881694@anthrax.cs.duke.edu> jwt@duke.cs.duke.edu (Jeffrey W. Tannehill) writes:
>
>	I am interested in getting a compact, cheap terminal. I have used a 

Check out the NEC Ultralite - not the new ones but an older,
refurbished unit.  I believe DAK is still selling this (phone
800-DAK-0800) if you can't find a better source.  Should be able to
pick one up for $300-400.  They have a built in 2400 baud modem, DOS
and Lap-Link on ROM, and a 1 or 2 Meg "silicon hard disk" (non-volitile
RAM disk) which can be doubled with Stacker or other software.  I'm
typing on one now, which I love.  I use it as a notebook, phonebook,
and remindar/calendar, and, mostly, a terminal.

Rom cards containing software such as Lotus 1-2-3 are available as are
RAM cards for use as pseudo-floppies, but they're too pricy for me and 
not really necessary.

It easily meets all your requirments, has a full 80 column by 25 lines,
and is about 8 1/2 by 11 by 1 1/8 and 4.4 pounds with battery - I
bought mine from the net and am very happy with it.  Using kermit or
Procomm or your favorite software you can emulate just about any
terminal, which you can't do with a 40 column or less than 24-line job.

Drawbacks - backlit but older screen isn't the best, keyboard spacing
and key layout wonderful but feel is pretty poor.  Also, no parallel
port - one is built-into the optional outboard floppy drive or comes as
a separate outboard adapter.  Either plug into an expansion port.  The
serial port is a rare mini-din which is the type used on a PC bus mouse,
not compatible with anything except the included DB-25 adapter cable.

IME in Boston, which I'm told just went under, had a deal where if you
bought an Ultralite from them they'd throw in the floppy/parallel box
for $50 - if I had known that I would have  bought from them, but it
wasn't in their ad so I didn't think to ask.  Be sure to ask about
options - I wish I had a spare power supply so I didn't have to haul
mine (and the DB-25 adapter) back and forth between home and office.

Fortunately, the Ultralite, power supply, and DB-25 adapter all easily
fit in a small briefcase with room for some paperwork and floppies too.

I believe there are still several other outfits in the Computer Shopper
magazine selling refurbished Ultralites.  Happy hunting.