TP Design (was: Why no third party...)

[Don Whiteside <dwhite@shadow.net>]

>In particular, I would cite the following as points to improve:
>
>  - the stupid PCMCIA port covers (this is the WORST design I've seen)
  I concur with this one, sort of. The two alternatives that come with the 
machine - totally covered or the opening for two cards - needs to add one 
more, at least. For a long time I had one card and the other plug was 
therefor open to dirt and dust.  A half-opening cover would have been 
appreciated, or a solid plastic card would have been sufficient to do the 
trick.
  Again, the Toshiba wins on this one with a cover that opens all the way and 
with a smaller door for a dongle.

>  - the port cover (a bit shaky)
  I think this is a no-win situation. Anything that size is hard to make 100% 
stable. The 750 was a big step up on the 720 (which my boss has) with the 
slide for the dock plug.

>  - the legs to tilt your machine with (a bit shaky)
  Never use em so I can't say. My pad is either under a mouse pad at work on 
my desk or on my lap on the road.

>  - the strange outer material which seems to attract all sorts of nasty
>    materials
  I'll take the dirt catcher over the old smooth 720 anyday. That slick 
surface was hard to keep a grip on. My 750 _never_ tries to slide out of my 
hand.

>Add the following:
>
>  - wrist-rest (everyone else has one, how hard can it be?)
  I'll do without in return for the smaller size.
>  - SCSI port instead of the ludicrously priced dock II
  Amen. If you can put it on the Dock, you can put it on the Port Replicator. 
Who the hell needs the PR2 with the 2 extra PCMCIA slots? SCSI would have 
been better. Maybe a VGA->NTSC converter for on the road presentations.

>Yes, Toshiba notebooks are nicely built.  And they are finely getting
>the clue that no one likes the side-mounted trackballs!
  How anyone can be happy with a trackball (read:dirt magnet) with the 
trackpoint out there is beyond me.

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Donald Alan Whiteside			School of Computer Science
Eternal Student				Florida International University
    GCS d-- -p+(---) l u+(-) e+ m+ s !n h f g+ w+ t+(++) r- y++
      I am NSA of Borg: your private key will be assimilated.
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