Notebook computers, equipped with the power, memory and storage of desktop systems, are among the hottest products in the personal-computer industry. Intense competition has sent prices plunging to levels undreamed of just a couple of years ago.
A number of manufacturers now offer PC-compatible notebook systems with 386SX microprocessors, 2 megabytes or more of memory and 40- to 60-megabyte hard disks for less than $2,000. Most of these bargain models come from mail- order houses such as ZEOS, CompuAdd and Austin.
That`s good news because buying through the mail isn`t nearly the crapshoot it used to be. Mail-order houses now provide much better technical support and on-site service. And their reputation for quality manufacture has improved dramatically in recent years.
But there`s a problem. Notebook computers, loosely defined as those weighing 7 pounds or less with keyboards large enough to type on and 24-line screens, require some compromises that make buying one sight-unseen a bit risky.
No matter how powerful and memory-packed your laptop is, it still won`t be fast enough if you find the keyboard uncomfortable and the screen unreadable. You, the operator, are still the critical factor in your computer`s efficiency.
Simply noting, for example, that a notebook computer has a black on paper-white VGA display is not enough to assure that you will find the screen easy to read. Displays are very much a matter of personal taste. Keyboards are even more so. The layout that you find easy to master may drive another user to distraction.
You can, of course, always send for a system, try it, and send it back if you don`t like it. Your chances of avoiding this inconvenience may be enhanced, though, if you keep an eye on a couple of things. Many notebook buyers, for instance, are already using a desktop system whose keyboard has become second-nature.
You are not going to find a notebook with the exact same layout, but some notebook-system keyboards will be closer to your desktop system then others. Check the ads in PC Magazine, PC Computing or PC World for a picture of the system you have in mind. Or ask the manufacturer to send you literature with a photo. A picture won`t tell you how the keyboard will feel or exactly how bright the screen will be, but it will give some idea.
For some users addicted to entering data using their desktop computer`s numeric keypad, no laptop system will ever feel right. Most laptops have
”embedded” keypads, which means a set of keys on the right side of the keyboard double as the numeric keys. You activate this keypad with a special shift key. Many number crunchers find it awkward.
If that describes you, consider the variety of add-on keypads sold by such firms as Genovation of North Irvine, Calif., (714-833-3355). They attach to your printer port using a ”pass-through” connector that also allows your printer to be attached.
If you don`t need the power and memory management of an 80386 system, there are some striking bargains nowadays in less powerful laptops. In the 80286 class, for example, the Sharp PC6220, which weighs only 4 pounds and has a 20-megabyte hard drive, VGA display and built-in 2,400-baud modem, is selling for less than $1,000 at many retailers. Check your local computer store ads, or the ads in such magazines as PC LapTop.
The 6220 (which also is sold by Texas Instruments as the TI Travelmate 2000) has some quirks. There is no built-in floppy-disk drive, for example, which may be the reason it has been discounted. You can get an external 3 1/2- inch floppy drive for about $200, which may be good enough. Some users also consider the 20-megabyte hard drive too small. Still, it`s a bargain, especially since it weighs so little.
In the 8086-8088 class, Toshiba`s 1000SE can be had for about $600. It has no hard disk, but it does have a built-in 3 1/2-inch floppy disk. For travelers who don`t need massive storage, the Toshiba has an unusual option that may be as good as a hard drive-a 2-megabyte memory-expansion card that can be configured to act as a disk drive.
