Zenith laptop

jim · Post by **jim** » Sun Feb 24, 2002 6:44 pm

I just picked up a Zenith Slimsport 286. Does anyone use one of these with for programming? I am waiting on a 17v power supply and haven't turned it on yet. Is there anything I should know about this unit if anyone's familiar with it?

jim · Post by **jim** » Sun Feb 24, 2002 6:57 pm

Does anyone have DOS boot disks that will actually work on this thing? Where can they be found?

Elroy Jetson · Post by **Elroy Jetson** » Sun Feb 24, 2002 8:32 pm

A 286 is not generally considered to be a good programming platform. A fast 386 or slow 486 (486-25) is superior in that it will run all the classic RSS titles and do it with reasonable speed. And you can get a good one, working, WITH power supply, for maybe 40 bucks.

My programming laptop was a DEC 425 SE color for the longest time. I see them on ebay for 25 to 40 bucks from time to time. The LCD display driver eventually failed on mine, but it still works fine when connected to an external monitor. I consider it to be a better radio programming computer than my newer Compaq 486-25 laptop, though they're both the same speed and the Compaq is better built. The DEC still works better for programming, and the Compaq doesn't have a color display.

Elroy

jim · Post by **jim** » Mon Feb 25, 2002 5:06 am

Okay then....into the can it goes!!

Tom in D.C. · Post by **Tom in D.C.** » Mon Feb 25, 2002 6:12 am

Even an old XT 8086/8088 will run Motorola RSS. It takes forever but it works fine, and
the very slow speed probably helps insure that the program won't glitch for some odd reason halfway through.

Tom, W2NJS
...in D.C.