Re: 560x v. 600

[Randal Whittle <rwhittle@usa.net>]

At 03:51 PM 4/5/98 , David Ross wrote:
>> My view of the subnotes means
>>smaller dimensions--smaller screens, smaller keyboards (excepting
the
>>unique 701), and limited ports.
>
>I'm confused.  This comment makes me think you view 'subnote' as
a
>pejorative; however, your next:

 No, I don't view it as a perjorative--I just think there are good
reasons & criteria from seperating the class from "Thin and
Light".  The 701 is a subnote with a full-size keyboard &
large display (for the time).  The 560 is too big to be considered a
subnote--but its thinner and for that matter, also lighter.  I think
it can and should be considered a new class of notebook, significantly
differentiated from subnotes.  Of course, there may be some
crossover, but that's to be expected (just as there is some blurring
& crossover between classes of cars).

>> Ever seen the Toshiba CT series?  *Those* are subnotebooks! 
There are
>>people sweaing by those as PDA-type devices and recommending the
use of
>>them over palmtops, [etc]
>
>...sounds like you support these machines.

 I neither support nor "don't" suport them.  I think
whatever people want, the market (hopefully) can provide.  Your
needs/wants are different from mine & vice versa.

>My comment on categories is mainly that we shouldn't have too many of
them
>(or it spoils the function of categorization), and that the 560 seems
more
>naturally comparable (in daily function) to other
carry-with-you-all-the-time
>machines like the 701 and the HP (and even the CT) than to the
bigger
>machines.

 I'd just disagree with the belief that "there shouldn't be too many
categories".  Or maybe its just a definition of how many is too
many?  Here's the way I see them:

 - Full-Function (Desktop replacements--the 770 series, Toshiba
Tecras.  Almost no feature compromises at all.)
 - Lightweight Modulars (These are just beginning to come
out.  It would include the TP 600 and the NEC Versa 5000
series.  They split the difference between Thin & Light and
Full-Function, allowing for *pretty* thin (about 1.5") and *pretty*
light (about 5 to 6 lbs.), while allowing limited ability to swap out a
Floppy, CD, or Battery.
 - Thin & Light  (560's, Digital Hi-Note, certain Sony
notebooks)
 - Subnotes (seem to be trailing off, but 701 & Toshiba
Portege's fit here--I already described what these gain & lack, but
they are largely being supplanted by the Thin & Light machines)
 - Micro Subnotes (Toshiba Libretto CT machines, Hitachi's
Visionbook Traveler--these run around 2 to 3 lbs. and have *very* small
screens (like 6 to 8").
 - Palmtops & PDA's.  These cover all Win CE machines,
the HP 200LX, PalmPilot, Palm PC, Psion, etc.  They're all about the
size of a large calculator, usually under 1 lb., and have *very* limited
ports & expansion capability.  They also don't use Intel x86
CPUs.

 If you ignore the Palmtop/PDA stuff, that means 5 distinct classes of
notebooks (my classifications, anyway).  If, as I believe, the
subnotes go away in favor of either Thin & Lights or Micro Subnotes,
that would leave 4 classes.  Off hand, that's what I believe will
happen--the only viable subnote I can see left in the market is the
Portege.

 Is there some blurring between?  Some.  But largely, I think
these categories of notebook computer all stand by themselves. 
Depends on what you want.  When I bought my 750C, it was (then) a
Full-Featured notebook (in 1994, that was as close as it got to a desktop
replacement--considering Pentiums were just barely introduced on the
desktop, the 750C's 486-33 was as good as it got for notebooks).  I
then got a 701C because I liked the smaller form factor without
compromising the keyboard.  I later got a 560 because I wanted a
faster machine than the 701 (and they discontinued the 701 and didn't
make faster ones with Pentiums) and the larger SVGA screen didn't hurt my
feelings either.  I learned from my 750C that I'm not fond of toting
heavy notebook machines (and today's full-featured's are heavier than the
750C ever was!).

 Personally, I've settled into the Thin & Light or Lightweight
Modular class.  I gave up on the Full-Functioned's because (A) I
don't want to spend that kind of money ($5 to $7K), (B) I don't like
carrying 9+ pounds, and (C) I have a desktop machine--I don't need to
replace it.  I use the notebook for portability and convenience
(like surfing the web from my couch while watching TV) and my desktop
when I've got more hardcore work to do and want the peripherals (scanner,
removable drives, tape backups), beefier CPU, and screen real estate
(mainly page layout work where I have the benefit of a 20" screen at
1600x1200 resolution).  I recently figured it might be convenient to
go to the Lightweight Modular class just so I can more easily plug in a
CD drive, yet still travel "empty" for the benefit of weight
(about 1 lb. more than I have with my 560--I think still doable).

 I don't want the subnotes because their keyboards are too cramped (or
miniaturized) and a palmtop is fine if you just want an
addressbook/calendar (I do use one), but not for regular computing
work.  The *can* do E-mail & etc., but its painful on the
eyes...

-------

Randal J. Whittle          whittle@usc.edu         (213) 740-7775

Director, Electronic Commerce Program

Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California