[SPARCbook] First Thoughts: Tadpole/RDI UltraBook

[Bill Bradford]

On Mon, Jun 26, 2000 at 07:02:24PM -0400, Ken Hansen wrote:
> Big screen - check.

Yep.  Very nice screen.

> Fast CPU - check.

They had a 200mhz version available for eval as well, but with a 12.1" screen
and slower graphics adapter.  I'll take slow cpu / big screen anytime, and
an Ultra 170 with Creator 3D aint no slouch.

> Large HD - check.
> Plenty RAM - check.
> Pointer - whoops.

I ended up using a T5 mechanical mouse, worked just fine.

> Case - whoops.

Its pretty.. but looks real fragile.

> 3 Fans - whoops.

One fan suckin air in, one fan sucking air out, and one on the external power
brick as well.

> Battery life -N/A.

No clue of actual battery life so far, but as I joked with a guy at work,
"hope you can type quickly.... you've got 30.2 seconds before it runs out
of battery".

> Weight - N/A.

7.1 lbs.

> And it only costs $10K (I made that up ;^)...

Probably more, actually. 8-)

> A machine that gives off enough heat to need two/three fans *can't*
> be a battery miser. This baby probably dissipates more heat than my
> Tecra 8000 PII/266 (which drops to PII/133 on batteries under
> windows)...

This thing got *really* warm while running on wall power for about two
hours on my desk at work today; according to Tad/RDI, thats normal.  You
definitely would no,t be using this as a "laptop".

> I wonder where the win is for these units over intel-based laptops
> running Solaris/Linux/other OS? If you don't need binary compatibility,
> what reason is left?

Binary compatibility, period.  Thats the only reason I can see for 
buying one of these - or, "penis factor".  e.g., "I have a Ultra 170
with Creator 3D here, what you have?  pentium II/300?  hahaaha..."

I'm not actually buying this unit, just using it as a long term
loan/review.  Tadpole/RDI has some newer UltraSPARC-IIi-based 
UltraBooks out now, that are doubtless much improved over this model
(which is 2-3 years old).  This is one of their old demo pool units.

I'll try to take some pics in a bit.  The video on it kicks ass, btw.

Bill

-- 
+-------------------\ /-----------------+
| Bill Bradford      |  www.sunhelp.org |
| mrbill at mrbill.net  |   www.decvax.org |
| Austin, Texas USA  |    www.pdp11.org |
+-------------------/ \-----------------+