🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <8604121914.AA24184@ucbvax.berkeley.edu> RDROYA01%ULKYVX.BITNET@SU-Forsythe.ARPA writes:
>
>Does anyone out there think Atari will ever develop a lap computer based
>on the ST?  I would love to have a 68000 computer that would fit in my
>backpack.
>Are there real practical reasons why this cannot be accomplished?  The market
>in PC lap computer seems pretty active, so there's money to be made.

The current "minimums" for a "real computer" seem to be a full travel
qwerty keyboard, 80 column by 25 line display (640/400 graphics
preferred), 400K non-volitile storage, and 1/2 to 1 meg volitile
storage for ram disks, and general program usage.  Many would also
include a hard disk in their "minimums" list as well.  Getting all of
that into a single "box" that is both light-weight, and compact, is no
easy chore.

Actually, the 1040 *almost* qualifies.  The biggest problem is getting
some form of high resolution display that won't make you squint like
crazy, for a price that isn't rediculously high.

Currently, there are 4 approaches:

LCD's are almost high enough resolution, but a 640x400 mono display can
be very expensive, and requires some extra driver electronics.  Back
lighting has been found to improve immunity to glare, but still, a
fairly dark room is reccomended :-).

Flat plasma displays are light and easy to carry, but again, they are
not cheap.  They are also a little power hungry for battery use.

You could use a "squint screen" such as a 4" b/w tv/monitor.  There are
a few available for reasonable prices (DAC has some for about $50), but
unless you are fond of getting your nose about 12" from the screen
(ideal viewing distance is 3xwidth of screen), the fatigue can get
quite uncomfortable.  I suppose you could mount it on a small
tripod :-).

Last option would be a "viewfinder" such as those used on VCR cameras.
In this case, there are two problems, one being the ability to "mount"
the device near the eye (a "helmet" has been suggested :-).  The second
is the eye fatigue of having the finder on one eye for several hours at
a time.

There is a market for a "lap computer", or more acurately a "coat
pocket computer", which can have the keyboard, monitor, and drive
"plugged in", but as the price of computers goes down, especially to
the level where the individual rather than the company can make the
"home" purchase, the trend seems to be to "communicate instead of
commute" the computers.

When you stop to think about it, the bulkiest, and most expensive parts
of the computer are not the CPU/RAM but the peripherals.  The keyboard,
monitor, disk drive, and mouse are the expensive and bulky parts of the
package, the "main board" of the ST could fit in a coat pocket (let
alone your back-pack).

There are "compromise systems" with features such as "chicklet
keyboards", extra small displays, limited memory, slow mass storage.
These are acceptable to a small market of "traveling salesmen" type
people who just want to "dial in" for some quick figures, but not for
heavy, regular use.

Two novel keyboard approaches have also been used.  In one case, a
dvorak layout makes a "chicklet keyboard" 8"x3" very useful.  In
another case a "one handed" keyboard unit was squashed into something
about 4"x5"x2".  Notes taken "in the field" could be downloaded via
RS-232 or modem lines.  It also had a 5x1 character diplay.  At $500,
it was an "expensive toy", at $50 (what it would cost to make today),
it might be a "useful tool".

One alternative to mass storage is very high speed communications.
Perhaps when "digital lines" become more readily available, portable
computers will use a "host" as the "disk drive".

As to the original question, "will Atari make a 'lap-top'?", I don't
suppose they will.  The possibility of someone makeing an electronic
notepad which can "feed" the Atari?  The probability is very good.

In the long term, my guess is that Atari will drop the direct floppy
and printer interface, expand the DMA interface to full SCSI, and run
the one cable out of the "keyboard/console" box.  One rumor has it that
the TT (Thirtytwo Thirtytwo) will connect to the ST, which will work as
a "Very Intellegent Terminal/Workstation" as well as a stand-alone
computer.