(c)1990 Golden Triangle, Inc. (c)1990 Wilson Van Alst All rights reserved. Fm: Tony Anderson To: [F] All An interesting Concept -- a "Portable Office". I think it's one worth discussing, and perhaps capturing the messages as a thread, which might include some answers to the frequently asked question "what are the `best' programs I should get". As a starter, I'd like to propose the following for a "Portable Office": 1. Obviously, an attractive, business-like carrying case to hold it all... Exact make and model determined by user's preference. 2. Tandy 200, with 3 banks of RAM (72K), plus a Node DataPak (256K of storage space), plus the EME Systems extRAM Fourth bank/ROM emulator. 2A: AC power supply, direct connect modem cable, printer cable; extra batteries, RS-232 cable, Cassette recorder cable. 2B: External battery operated modem. 1200 baud minimum, 1200/2400 preferred. 3. Tandy Portable Disk Drive-2. 3A: Power-Disk DOS for the 200. 3B: LapDOS, MacDOS, or equivalent software for the user's desktop 3C: AC power supply; extra batteries 4. Bag of tools and adapters to connect to anything, anytime, anywhere. 4A: Include a portable telephone, lineman's test set, Trimline or similar compact telephone 5. A small notebook - memo size (6.75 x 3.75), to contain important operating information, program notes, cold-start recovery, FLOPPY IPL loader program notes, etc. Any other suggestions??? - 0 - Fm: BILL BADGER To: Tony Anderson Gee, this sounds just like the arrangement my wife and I have. She has a 200 (less the Node Datapak/EME Fourth Bank), UR-2, a PDD-1, a TTXpress printer, plus modem and printer cables, AC adaptors, etc. I have the same setup, except I have a M100 w/BoosterPak, SuperROM, UR-2, Multiplan. The rest is the same. The printer remains a very handy feature. I've been in too many places that didn't have a printer and I _needed_ hard copy. The notebook is also a lifesaver. I've got the documents to PALETT.100 and such reformated and printed on 6.75 by 3.75 paper. It's just like carrying a manual! - 0 - Fm: Tony Anderson To: BILL BADGER Sounds like you've been using the "portable office" concept for some time. And with both a UR-2 and SuperROM at your disposal, you have the best of both worlds available. I've been thinking about that notebook concept some... and it seems to me what we need is a neat, automatic text formatter that will optimize any text file for just that size. I've done some work along those lines, making a catalog of disks, using Van Alst's FYLDOS program as the base. In the memo book form, it's real handy. So why not reformat DOC files, and even redo some manual information in that size, so it'd always be handy? I've even found a company that sells continuous form paper in that size, pre-punched to fit the binder. A little expensive, but really nice. - 0 - Fm: BILL BADGER To: Tony Anderson RE: notebooks in the portable office I'll admit that I've been cheating a bit. I use my Macintosh to reformat and print the files for my notebook. A six- or seven-point font printed at high quality looks great and is a snap to print. I've been meaning to try cut sheets on a laser printer, but I haven't gotten to it, yet. I'll admit to having gotten some of my ideas from "The Portable Office" by Jerrerson Bates and Stuart Crump (Washington, DC: Acropolis Books, 1987). The book has a bunch of good ideas, although technology is rapidly overtaking some of it. - 0 - Fm: Tony Anderson To: BILL BADGER Sounds like you've worked out a good solution to the notebook question. I'm afraid that for many of us, me included, we'll be stuck with something like compressed print and eight lines per inch - whatever is standard on the available printer. I do fairly well with a 54 column/50 line page, with my old Epson FX-80, which can be increased by using sub or superscript fonts, allowing more lines on the page, but sacrificing readability somewhat. I think the basic idea here is that the memo-size notebooks are a useful way to carry basic documentation and information along - rather than the whole manuals. Also, there are punches available for that format, so you can copy some information from books that might be usable, using a copier that reduces the copy, punch them, and put them in your manual, too. The hand-punch is only a couple of bucks, and is available in many stationery stores; the six-hole punch is imported from England or Sweden (two different models), and costs a lot more. Apparently the only US company that made a punch in this size, discontinued it long ago, leaving only the Swedish ($45) and English ($60) punches available. That's why I was pleased to find a source of continuous paper in the correct size that was prepunched. - 0 - Fm: BILL BADGER To: Tony Anderson I believe DayTimers has one in their catalog for about $15-20. If you are interested, I'll dig out my catalog. - 0 - Fm: Tony Anderson To: BILL BADGER Yes - dig out the catalog. I have a flyer from DayTimer, but there is no punch featured. Perhaps you have a more complete catalog - I'd like to get a copy of it if possible. - 0 - Fm: BILL BADGER To: Tony Anderson Day-Timers has a six-hole punch for 6.75 by 3.75 paper, catalog #10890, K908 Sr at $17.50. They also sell one for six-hole 5 by 2.75 paper, catalog #10690, J908 Jr at $17.50. I haven't tried it (I bought a Filofax punch years ago) but it looks sturdy. Their address: Day-Timers, Inc One Day-Timer Plaza Allentown, PA 18195 (215) 395-5884 - 0 - Fm: Tony Anderson To: BILL BADGER Interesting. The catalog I have shows nothing but 3.5 x 6.5 inch bound daytimer and appointment scheduler books, and wallets. Nothing about any punches, or binders to match them. Thanks for the numbers. I'll call them tomorrow and get hold of a catalog. - 0 - Fm: Gene Nestro To: Tony Anderson Printer cables to go with the "borrow any printer" concept. - 0 - Fm: Jim Samuel To: Bill Badger In a meesage a few days ago, you cited a book called "The Portable Office" published by Acropolis Books. Can you give me the address for Acropolis? I'd like to get ahold of a copy of this book. Thanks. - 0 - Fm: BILL BADGER To: Jim Samuel Jim - Acropolis Books 2400 17th St NW Washington, DC 20009 - 0 - Fm: RITA LAURA POTOK To: BILL BADGER Bill: Saw your message about the book the Portable Office. I just got my first copy of mag. just subscribed to called the Mobile Office. An article in it mentioned that some time in 1990 a new edition of that book is to be published. So wait and get that one--is still same publisher. - 0 - Starting message #: 24241 Starting date: 16-Apr-90 03:12:55 Participants: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 BILL BADGER 71310,705 Paul Globman 72227,1661 Gene Nestro 73727,1015 Jim Samuel 72557,1617 MEL ZWILLENBERG 75746,3705 RITA LAURA POTOK 73617,2275