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Whose is smaller (was: Math errors in python)

Richard Hanson me at privacy.net
Mon Sep 27 00:14:38 EDT 2004 
Cameron Laird wrote:

> In article <adeel054s0qvd0qas7nk1v9i93vk3tdlv1 at 4ax.com>,
> Richard Hanson <me at privacy.net> wrote [comparing 
> Anna Martelli Ravenscroft's Fujitsu LifeBook P2000 to my
> (Richard Hanson's) Fujitsu LifeBook P1120]:
>
> > [...]
> >
> >In any event, the Fujitsu LifeBook P1120 has a 8.9" wide-format
> >screen, is 2.2lbs.-light with the smaller *very* long-lasting battery
> >and 2.5lbs.-light with the very, *very* long-lasting battery, and has
> >-- what tipped the scales, as it were, for my needs -- a touchscreen
> >and stylus.
> >
> > [...]
> >
> >Alex Martelli wrote:
> >
> >> OBCLPY: Python runs just as wonderfully on her tiny P-Series as on my
> >> iBook, even though only Apple uses it within the OS itself;-)
> >
> >ObC.l.pyFollow-up: Python also runs very well on my tinier ;-) P1120
> >with the Transmeta Crusoe TM5800 processor running at 800MHz and with
> >256MB RAM and a 256KB L2 on-chip cache -- even using Win2k. :-) It's
> >really nice not needing a fan on a laptop, as well -- even when
> >calculating Decimal's sqrt() to thousands of decimal places. ;-)
> 			.
> 			.
> 			.
> Is Linux practical on these boxes?  

I've found on the web accounts of two people, at least, getting the
P1120 working with Linux and with at least partial functionality of
the touchscreen -- one individual claimed full functionality. (I found
some accounts of success with getting Linux working on the P2000, as
well.) I'm currently waiting to purchase a new harddrive for my P1120
to see for myself if I can get Linux installed with the touchscreen
fully functioning -- which, as I mentioned in my post, is particularly
important to me.

> How do touch-typists like them

I've been touch-typing since I was about nine-years-old. When I was
looking for a very light laptop for reasons mentioned in my post, I
was concerned that I wouldn't be able to touch-type on the ~85% (16mm
pitch) keyboard. I went to a local "big box" computer store (who shall
remain nameless) and tried one of the P1120s -- within seconds I
realized I could easily adapt and subsequently ordered one from
Fujitsu.

I would estimate that I was typing *faster* and with substantially
*fewer* errors inside of several weeks -- and occasional uses of the
standard-sized keyboard on my HP Omnibook 900B made me feel like a
Munchkin. :-) 

Now that I'm temporarily back on the standard-pitch Omnibook 900B, I
have adapted to the what-had-come-to-seem-a-humongous keyboard, once
again. I most definitely prefer the P1120's keyboard.

I note that on the P1120, I could reach difficult key-combinations
much easier, and also, that I could often hold down two keys of a
three-key combo, say, with one finger or thumb.

Your mileage may vary, as they say, but I now prefer smaller
keyboards.

The "instant on-off" works very well, too. I highly recommend the
P1120 for anyone who isn't put off by the smaller keyboard. (Drawing
on the screen with the stylus is pretty trick, as well.)


Richard Hanson

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