🚀 go-pugleaf

I used a DataVue for a weekend once to do some word processing -
not extensively, but enough to offer some impressions. The
configuration I had used the full (appr. 1 Meg) memory and a 5.25"
disk drive. The extra memory can be configured, as you say, to
be an extra "disk", but still leaving a full 640K to work with.
I found the performance to be adequate for what I needed it for,
but the single (real) drive proved to be a real nuisance. I was
constantly swapping disks, so if you decide to get one, I'd go 
with a 2-drive system. The screen was pretty nice, too, for an
LCD display - it offers 2 viewing angles and is back-lit for
improved contrast. Mine also had a 1200 baud modem installed (I
don't know if this is standard), but I had trouble getting it
to work with the communications software I had. I later found
out that there is some communications software bundled with the 
modem, but I never had the oppportunity to try it out. I used
WordStar (TM), SideKick (TM), a 68000 assembler, and a couple
of other programs all without incident. It came with DOS 2.11.
One nice feature is that the keyboard uses an IR transmitter, so
no connecting cable is needed (the computer comes with one, though).
Quadram has a reputation for making things really compatible, so
I don't expect you'd have any trouble with the usual software.
All in all, I'd say it was an adequate system as portables go -
much more portable than the COMPAQs (TM). For my money, though, 
I'd seriously consider the Toshiba (TM) 1100+ - I haven't used 
one (have used a 3100, though - very nice!) but it seems to have 
a lot going for it.
                                     Jim Greenlee
-- 
The Shadow
Georgia Insitute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
...!{akgua,allegra,amd,hplabs,ihnp4,seismo,ut-ngp}!gatech!gitpyr!jkg

We had two of them in for display/evaluation in our micro lab. one was
the scummy LCD display. The other was one of the bright displays. They
worked very well from my experience. I used them for a few things including
going on a field service call with Kermit to check out a comm line.
The one I took had the scummy display (useless) and 5.25 floppies.
The one I will take next time is the good display with 3.5 inch floppies.
Nothing bad to say about the one with the decent display, but have you looked
at a Zenith 181. Excellent beast that 181. try it you will like it.
tj
 

> Does anyone have any experience with the Datavue portable PC
> compatible, good or bad, to post?  (The company is at 404-564-5668 if
> you want to find a local dealer).
> 
> This machine is roughly the same size, shape, and price scale as the
> Zenith 171, with the following nice features:
> 
>        - very bright tiltable display (actually, three display options)
> 
>        - wireless detached keyboard (wire available in case
>        of interference)
> 
>        - can increase memory up to 1.2.  Supposedly what you can do
>        with the memory above 640 is logically configure it as a device
>        such as disk or printer and use it that way.
> 
>        - can get with 2 3-1/2 floppies, or one 3-1/2 floppy and one 20
>        meg hard disk (or if you really want one 5-1/4 floppy).  Can
>        add on a 5-1/4 floppy to the back making it a little bigger).
> 
>        - runs ms-dos 2.1.  The store claims they've booted it with
>        more recent version with no problem.
> 
> It sounds like a nice machine for someone who needs a battery operated
> portable.  Are there any users out there with actual experience who
> can comment on things like reliability, pc compatibility, etc.?
> Specific questions I have include:
>        
>        - has anyone tried TI's PC-Scheme?  Any of the TeX's?
> 
>        - with the 20 meg hard disk, does it run Xenix?
> 
>        - is the extra memory really usable?
> 
>        - if you've tried other portables (Z-171, Z-181, ibm pc
>        convertible, toshiba 1100, etc.) how does it compare in overall
>        feel, reliability,  and satisfaction, etc.?
> 
> thanks for any info....
> 
> Margot Flowers
> Flowers@LOCUS.UCLA.EDU [or Flowers@UCLA-CS for old host tables]
> ...!{ucbvax|ihnp4}!ucla-cs!flowers (uucp)


If you can get a Datavue at a good price, do it.  Otherwise, by lighter  
and more state-of-the art portable.  I have an early model which holds
only 640K.  I wanted the 5 1/4 drive for compatibility with my home mac[C[C[C 
machine.  I use the built-in ramdisk or use vdisk.sys to autoload my
programs, allowing me to live comfortably with the single floppy.  By
carefully judging the ramdisk size, one can run relatively large 
programs.  I use PC-DOS 2.1 and have run WordPerfect off the ramdisk.
I have used large graphic programs such as Statgraphics, keeping the
program files on the floppy and putting my datasets on the ramdisk, and
have had no trouble displaying or printing graphic screens.

The keyboard has good and bad points.  It duplicates *all* of the IBM
keys, which few other laptops do.  But in strange locations.  The 
backspace is in an unfortunate location, just above the enter key. 
And the hyphen is up in the function key row where it cannot be touch-
typed easily.  The small keyboards on most laptops take some getting
used to.  The action on the original Datavue keyboard is stiff and 
poor, but the action on the keyboard on the hard disk model is good
[C[C[C[C[D[D[D[D.
and it fits on the earlier models.  By comparison the keyboard on the
the Zenith/Morrow is much more poorly designed, with hard to use 
membrane function keys, and a combination toggle insert/delete that
is absolutely dangerous.

I can live with the LCD screen, but the newer screens are better.  

The Datavue with the 5 1/4 drive does not run long on a full battery
charge, about 1 1/2 - 2 hours in my experience, even with few disk
accesses.  I don't know about the hard disk machine or the dual 
3 1/2 machine.  Toshiba 1100+'s are said to run much longer.

I'm happy with my machine because I had no office machine to supplement
my home machine.  It's a better machine than the Zenith.  But it's 
heavier and less perfect than some of the newer laptops.  Good shopping.