notebook/portable PC with SCO Unix/Xenix 386

[IT Manager]

In article <1991Feb27.040717.26460 at cs.umn.edu>, swie at cs.umn.edu (S. T. Tan) writes:
> I will try to repost my previous question since I got "zero" reply.
> Has anybody tried to run SCO Xenix-386 or SCO Unix-386 on a notebook or a
> portable PC? If you are using it, could you please share your experience?

I haven't specifically used any of the systems you mentioned, but I am a
"portable" Xenix/Unix user so I'll make my comments.

The machine:  Computer Products Unlimited - CPU 386 "lunchbox" portable
		20MHz 386 - no 387
		CGA, 6MB RAM, 2 serial, 1 parallel
		100MB 3.5" hard drive
		3.5" internal floppy, plus really neat 5.25" external
		(when the external drive is connected, it can be selected as
		 either A or B with easy access switch)

This machine started out with only 2MB RAM using Xenix 2.3.3.  It ran fine
for news, mail, remote access (via a pocket modem connected to one of the
serial ports), and C programming.  With only the 2MB RAM, it was very slow
at times when doing database work.

A desire to upgrade to SCO Unix required the other 4MB RAM since SCO Unix
would install with 2MB RAM, but would not run after linking in the TCP/IP
kernel routines (Oh Yeah, the machine has four accessible slots, one of which
holds an ethernet board).

The machine is heavy, but portable, and when I bought it, it was very
affordable, compared to other portable systems.  These days, though, the
portables that resemble laptops (Toshiba T5XXX come to mind) are coming
down in price.  If I was going to spend the same money again, I'd go for
one the lighter machines.

Things to looks for in a machine:

RAM - get as much as you can afford from the start.  Xenix doesn't need as
	much as Unix, but adding RAM to a portable machine can be a pain
	and often more expensive than to desktop machines

Floppy Disks - I like the machines (like mine) that can have both 3.5 and
	5.25 drives, and switch select them as either A or B.  This provides
	the greatest flexibility.  I know SCO's OS products come in 3.5 and
	5.25 both, but I don't know about application products, or third
	party software.

Hard Disks - Like RAM, get as much as you can get from the start.  Most
	portables are only going to have room for one hard drive, so if
	you need more space, you'll have to replace the first one.  So far
	I haven't seen any vendors offering drive upgrades for their portables,
	so you may get stuck with the original drive.  The rise of high
	capacity IDE drives means you should be able to get 200MB for a
	reasonable price.  On my portable, Xenix installed with room to
	spare (lots of room to spare).  I left a lot of the optinal Unix
	stuff off so I'd still have room for application software and data
	files.

Misc - Test drive any machine before you buy to get a feel for the screen and
	keyboard.  The keyboard on my porta has a full 102 keys, but several
	keys (most notbably the '/' key) are in strange positions.  If you
	don't so a lot of number crunching, a keypad isn't necessary, but if
	the arrow keys are laid-out weird (Compaq'sLTE keyboard comes to
	mind), you might go through keyboard shock.  Also, I've found that
	gas-plasma screens, while almost completely negated any chance for
	battery powered operation, are much nicer to look at for long
	periods of time.  If you can get 16 or 64 level gray scale with a
	gas plasma screen you may decide you don't need an external monitor
	for extended use.

Final conclusion:  portable Unix is entirely feasible, but to create a
	"portable workstaion" you have to put together a machine with
	workstation-like capabilities.  That could get expensive, but in
	my case it has been worth it.

--jim

------------- 
James B. O'Connor			jim at tiamat.fsc.com
Ahlstrom Filtration, Inc.		615/821-4022 x. 651