CONTACTS 

SUBJECTS
Laptop Computer, to demonstrate SDS
Presentation Tools, e.g. Color
Extra Disk Storage
EasyStor Portable Disk Storage

0506 -    ..
0507 - Summary/Objective
0508 -
050801 - Purchased an EasyStore external disk storage system to supplement the
050802 - capacity of the Sharp 80 MB notebook we are purchasing.
050803 -
050804 - Delivery in 2 - 3 weeks.
050805 -
050806 - Should get confirmation of order.
050807 -
050808 -
050809 -
0509 -
0510 -
0511 - Market Research
0512 -
051201 - This morning I purchased the Aug, 1992 issue of Byte and the current
051202 - issue of Laptop Buyer's Guide and Handbook.  The latter cost $5.50 and
051203 - turned out not to have what I wanted which was a review of the latest
051204 - color notebook computers.  It mainly reviewed LCD composite laptops
051205 - and a few notebooks.  It reviews the NEC, Toshiba, Compaq and AST
051206 - color systems, but they are earlier models than what is currently on
051207 - the market.  Therefore, I thought this was a complete waste of money.
051208 -
051209 - However Byte had an several ads for portable disk storage for
051210 - notebooks.
051211 -
051212 -
051213 -
051214 - Laptop Solutions
051215 -
051216 - Received yesterday, ref DRT 1, which follows up my call, ref SDS 8. I
051217 - called them yesterday and learned that they only support Toshiba's,
051218 - but are close to an agreement with Compaq.  In any case it costs
051219 - $1,149 to get 130 MB internal storage upgrade on the T4400sx, which is
051220 - comparable to the Sharp.  For $1,000, we are getting 260 MB of storage
051221 - on the Sharp, per the below information.
051222 -
051223 -
051224 -
051225 - Unistore, EasyStor External Disk
051226 -
051227 - Saw an ad today in the Aug, 1992 issue of Byte magazine from:
051228 -
051229 -    UniStor Corporation
051230 -    23402 South Pointe Drive
051231 -    Laguna Hills, CA  92653
051232 -    714 581 3442   800 422 2115       Neal Augustine
051233 -    714 581 7564  fax
051234 -
051235 -    Advertisement states
051236 -
051237 -    You're with a very important customer at a remote site. Bad
051238 -    time to discover that the file you need isn't on one of
051239 -    the 200 floppy disks in your brief case. You even brought
051240 -    your removable cartridge, but unfortunately your customer
051241 -    doesn't have that type of drive. You would have brought it
051242 -    on you're notebook, but you exceeded the limited capacity
051243 -    of your drive last year. Now there's only one thing left to
051244 -    do. Panic.
051245 -
051246 -    Fortunately dataphobia is easily cured...with EasyStor.
051247 -    When you need more disk space, transportability of your
051248 -    data, or the security of removable storage, the EasyStor
051249 -    Portable Data Module is your best prescription.
051250 -
051251 -
051252 -    UP TO 180 MB
051253 -
051254 -    Just attach EasyStor to your parallel port and add an
051255 -    additional 40, 60, 80, 120 or 180 megabytes of on-line
051256 -    storag to your notebook or desktop computer instantly.  An
051257 -    optional parallel port multiplexe: cable allows
051258 -    simultaneous use of printers and other devices, as well as
051259 -    extended connection.
051260 -
051261 -    EasyStep SET-UP
051262 -
051263 -    Unique EasyStep device driver software configures virtually
051264 -    any PC in minutes.  You only need to configure your PC
051265 -    once, after that, it will automatically recognize the
051266 -    EasyStor PDM upon installation.  EasyStor also provides the
051267 -    added security of data encryption and personalized password
051268 -    protection.
051269 -
051270 -    SMALL AND RUGGED
051271 -
051272 -    EasyStor's small size and light weight make it ideal for
051273 -    transportability between locations.  EasyStor also features
051274 -    patented Areal 2.5-inch disk drive techndlogy with rugged,
051275 -    high-impact glass disks that offer smaller size, lower
051276 -    power consumption, and reduced heat dissipation.
051277 -
051278 -    3-HOUR BATTERY LIFE
051279 -
051280 -    EasyStor's patent pending power management circuitry and
051281 -    rechargeable NI- CAD battery sub-system provide up to three
051282 -    hours of portability.  A unique design featurc allows the
051283 -    EasyStor PDM to "sleep" whenever your notebook transfers to
051284 -    the sleep mode.
051285 -
051286 -    ONE-YEAR WARRANTY
051287 -
051288 -    EasyStor PDM's are backed by a one-year warranty and
051289 -    UniStor's dedicated team of customer and technical service
051290 -    "doctors".
051291 -
051292 -
051293 - Called and talked to Neal Augustine
051294 -
051295 -    Neal said the unit weighs 1 pound, and the AC adapter power
051296 -    supply, weighs about another pound.  The drive is rated at 17 MS
051297 -    average seek time.
051298 -
051299 -    30 Day Refund Period
051300 -
051301 -    He said we can try the unit for 30 days and if it does not meet our
051302 -    needs, can return it for a full refund.
051303 -
051304 -    Placed Order
051305 -
051306 -    He quoted a price of $1000 for the 180 MB system, plus $80 for the
051307 -    optional parallel port multiplexer cable to split the connection of
051308 -    the notebook's parallel port so we can connect the computer to both
051309 -    the EasyStor drive and a printer at the same time.  Initially, I
051310 -    decided not to purchase the optional cable, but it might be nice to
051311 -    demonstrate how a printer can be driven immediately.
051312 -
051313 -    Asked Neal to send us a confirmation of the terms of this order,
051314 -    including the 30 day refund.  Also requested a spec sheet on the
051315 -    unit.
051316 -
051317 -
051318 - Simplicity Portable Disk Drive
051319 -
051320 - This is another ad in the Aug, 1992 issue of Byte magazine from:
051321 -
051322 -    Simplicity Computing
051323 -    126 W. 23rd Street
051324 -    New York, NY,  10011
051325 -    212 229 1625   800 275 6525
051326 -    212 229 2938  fax
051327 -
051328 -    Advertisement states
051329 -
051330 -    Are you crampted for disk space?
051331 -
051332 -    Add up to 170 MB of detachable storage with a simplicity portable
051333 -    drive.
051334 -
051335 -      •  Attaches instantly to any PC parallel printer port, no card
051336 -         needed.
051337 -
051338 -      •  Gives you extra storage.
051339 -
051340 -      •  Lets you use the same programs at home, offfice, and client.
051341 -
051342 -      •  Perfect for laptops, PS/2s, and demos.
051343 -
051344 -      •  Reliable.  Rugged.  Small.
051345 -
051346 -
051347 -    170 MB $1,299, 120 MB $899, 80 MB $699, 40 MB $499
051348 -
051349 -    Seven hour battery, carrying case and 220 V power available.
051350 -
051351 -    To order or for free info:  call  800 275 6525.
051352 -
051353 -
051354 - Called and talked to sales representative (did not get a name).
051355 -
051356 -    Verified their best price for 170 MB is $1,299, which is $300
051357 -    higher than the price for the EasyStor unit which provides 180 MB.
051358 -
051359 -    The unit weighs 3 lbs with the AC power supply.
051360 -
051361 -
051362 -
051363 -
051364 -
051365 -
0514 -

SUBJECTS
Laptop Computer, to demonstrate SDS
Presentation Tools, e.g. Color
Notebook Computer
Product Specifications
Extra Disk Storage
General
Purchase Information

1010 - Summary/Objective
1011 -
101101 - Ordered a Sharp notebook computer and an EasyStor supplemental disk
101102 - storage device.  The order for the Sharp still needs to be fully
101103 - established, because at the end of the day, we got a very competitive
101104 - price from a firm in New York.
101105 -
101106 -
101107 -
1012 -
1013 -
1014 - Tot-A-Lap, talked to Hecter    415 578 1901
1015 -
101501 - Sharp PC 6881
101502 -
101503 -
101504 -     8 MB Ram 120 MB disk                                $4,741
101505 -
101506 -
101507 - Hector said he does not have any product in stock and does not know
101508 - when it will be available.  I reminded him of their ad in Computer
101509 - Currents on page 4 which says "120 MB version Now Available."
101510 -
101511 - Hector said that is an old ad.  I explained it is in the most recent
101512 - issue of Computer Currents dated July 21, 1992.  Hector apologized and
101513 - said they simply do not know when they will have more product
101514 - available.
101515 -
101516 -
101517 - Toshiba T4400
101518 -
101519 -
101520 -     T4400c  12 MB Ram, 120 MB disk   486sx              $5,359
101521 -                                         dx               5,678
101522 -
101523 -
101524 -                   9600 modem                               298
101525 -
101526 -
101527 -                                                    $5,359
101528 -                                                       298
101529 -              Mouse                                     80
101530 -              Carrying Case                             50
101531 -                                                    -------
101532 -                                                     5,787
101533 -                        Tax  8.5%                      492
101534 -                                                    -------
101535 -                                                    $6,279
101536 -
101537 -
101538 -     He said he can supply this unit within 2 days of placing an order.
101539 -
101540 -
101541 -
101542 -
1016 -
1017 -
1018 - Connecting Point - 415 323 8195 Ext 2101 for John Lynch
1019 - 490 California Avenue, #100,
1020 - Palo Alto, CA  94306      323 8308 fax
1021 - Corner El Camino & California in Palo Alto
1022 -
102201 - Called John and asked him to send a fax with a firm quote, to Millie's
102202 - office, but it did not arrive before she left for lunch.  I called him
102203 - back after lunch and he quoted as follows:
102204 -
102205 -
102206 - Sharp PC 6881
102207 -
102208 -
102209 -     2 MB Ram 80 MB disk                                 $4,099
102210 -     6 MB Ram                                               650
102211 -     80387 math co-processor                                130
102212 -     Mouse                                                   80
102213 -     Carrying case                                        -----
102214 -                                                        --------
102215 -                                                          4,959
102216 -                     tax 8.5%                               422
102217 -                                                        --------
102218 -                Total................................... $5,381
102219 -
102220 -
102221 -          Note the above amount was originally $5,215, but I added for
102222 -          comparison purposes amounts for a mouse, which increased it
102223 -          to $5,318.
102224 -
102225 -
102226 -
102227 - Toshiba T4400
102228 -
102229 -
102230 -     T4400c  12 MB Ram, 120 MB disk   486sx              $5,774
102231 -                                         dx               6,223
102232 -             20                          sx               6,398
102233 -                                         dx               6,847
102234 -
102235 -
102236 -   Placed Order
102237 -
102238 -   I therefore placed an order with Connecting Point for the Sharp PC
102239 -   6881 in the amount of $5,381, as shown above.  John's price is $8
102240 -   higher for an 80 MB system than Tot-a-Lap's price for a 120 MB
102241 -   system, but he has product and did a good job in explaining the
102242 -   options.  Gave John my credit card number.  John said I can pick up
102243 -   the unit tomorrow from Rex Horne.  Rex will configure it and set up
102244 -   the external mouse to run with the internal trackball.
102245 -
102246 -   This will give us a system with 260 MB of storage, which should
102247 -   be adequate.
102248 -
102249 -
102250 -
102251 -
102252 -
102253 -
1023 -
1024 -
1025 - Ca -O-Lap
1026 - 95 Broadway, Hicksville, NY  11801        talked to Todd
1027 - 516 933 8434   800 886 8434   516 932 9305 fax
1028 -
102801 - These guys have an ad on the last page of the Laptop Buyer's Guide,
102802 - and it states:
102803 -
102804 -    While Supplies Last!  Quantities Limited.
102805 -    Free Mouse & Mouse Pad
102806 -
102807 -    Sharp New PC 6881
102808 -
102809 -       386SL/25 Mhz
102810 -       2 MB/80 HD
102811 -       Active Matrix Color
102812 -
102813 - So I called and spoke to Todd.  He quoted $3,958 for the above
102814 - configuration.  I asked for a price including a co-processor and 8 MB
102815 - of RAM.  Todd said it was 8 PM in NY, so he cannot confirm the price
102816 - until Monday, but he expects he can furnish this unit for:
102817 -
102818 -
102819 -     2 MB Ram 80 MB disk                                 $3,958
102820 -     6 MB Ram                                               400
102821 -     80387 math co-processor                                130
102822 -     Mouse                                                -----
102823 -     Carrying case                                        -----
102824 -                                                        --------
102825 -                Total................................... $4,488
102826 -
102827 -
102828 -       He agreed to include a carrying case, if we purchase the extra
102829 -       RAM and co-processor.
102830 -
102831 -
102832 - This presented a conflict, because I prefer to work locally.  The
102833 - price differential, subject to confirmation is:
102834 -
102835 -
102836 -
102837 -                Connecting Point                         $5,381
102838 -                Cam-O-Lap                                 4,488
102839 -                                                       =========
102840 -                                                          $ 893
102841 -
102842 -    I gave Todd my number and asked him to call me to confirm the price
102843 -    for the RAM and co-processor.
102844 -
102845 -
102846 - Thus, it appears that for about $6 which I was disappointed in
102847 - paying, we might save nearly $900.
102848 -
102849 -
102850 -
1029 -
1030 -
1031 - 1705 called Connecting Point
1032 -
103201 - Explained our pricing conflict to John, but that I prefer to give them
103202 - the business.  He asked me what price they need to meet to get the
103203 - order.  I said the price for this scope should be $4,800 including
103204 - tax.  He will call me in half an hour to advise if Connecting Point
103205 - can do this.
103206 -
103207 -
103208 -