EUG PD

1st August 1996
Mitac 3027F Notebook Computer

 
Published in EUG #27

The product description is as follows:-

  • 25MHz 80386SL microprocessor
  • 3.5", 1.44MB floppy disk drive
  • Hard disk drive
  • NiCad rechargeable battery pack
  • Mains power connection through PSU
  • 2MB of RAM expandable up to 10MB
  • 16KB Cache memory
  • VGA controller
  • Power management feature to conserve in idle time
  • Suspend/Resume feature if called away
  • Socket for 80387SX or 80387SL numeric coprocessor
  • Multi-layer security system

The following can be added to the computer:-

  • An internal fax/modem via a serial port
  • A 9pin port for a serial device such as a serial printer, mouse or modem
  • A 25pin port for a parallel device such as a parallel printer
  • A 100pin connector for an expansion box into which two 16bit AT-bus add-on cards can be installed
  • A 6pin mini-DIN port for connecting an IBM PS/2 compatible mouse or keyboard
  • A 15pin analogue port for connecting a monitor. I have put a bid for a VGA colour monitor for my birthday!

The display is a flat-panel, backlit LCD with a resolution of 640x480 dots in 16 shades of grey. Brightness and contrast controls give personal preference.

The computer is preloaded with the following software:

  • DOS Version 5.0
  • DataGeneral's CEOwrite Rev. 2.10 word processor
  • WordPerfect Version 5.0 word processor
  • Harvard Graphics Version 2.3
  • Microsoft's GWBASIC
  • Computer Associates' SuperCalc5
  • XTreePro Disk Management System

So far I have only used the two word processors and SuperCalc to any extent, and a little bit of direct DOS. The volume of manuals is considerable and I am somewhat astonished at what can be achieved. I have not worked out the hard disk capacity yet, but looking at the directories I am using, there is a total of 47095808 bytes free. I have used 3233432 bytes in CEOwrite and 3317679 bytes in SuperCalc; another 179202 bytes in the DOS files.

At the moment I am concentrating on transferring my spreadsheet-type calculations for my financial databank to SuperCalc. The SuperCalc spreadsheet capacity is vast and can support linked systems (far beyond the MITAC itself) up to 32Mb. The range is rows 1 to 9999 and columns A to IU. Therefore I can get several different spreadsheets on the one document and SAVE it; and then SAVE it again as a BACKUP (i.e. C:\SC5\FILE.CALC and C:\SC5\FILE.BAK). BACKUPs cannot be saved directly; the file has to be saved first. Also, I can SAVE the differing subjects within the overall document which gives me an additional backup safeguard.

This little computer (i.e. in size compared with the vast spread of an Electron with its numerous add-ons) is going to keep me amused for some considerable time, and so I have gone completely off the idea of a PC system.

Notebook computers with speakers and CD ROM drives are coming on the market now - so we will wait a little longer, I think.

Tony Boarer, EUG #27

Tony Boarer