Compaq Computer Corp reckons it has the smallest, fastest notebook computer in the new LTE 386s/20, launched yesterday. Using a 20MHz 80386SX with 4Kb four-way associative cache memory claimed to provide zero wait state operation 93% of the time, mono VGA display and 30Mb or 60Mb 2.5 disk plus floppy, it runs for three hours between charges, and can also be slipped into a new UKP700 Desktop Expansion Base with space for two mass storage devices and boards. At 7.5 lbs and 8.5 by 11, the new LTE comes with 2Mb of 80nS RAM expandable to 10Mb, 1.44Mb floppy and the screen is an edgelit display with 16 shades of grey. It uses rigid flex printed circuit board technology, originally developed by Teledyne Electro-Mechanisms for aerospace applications: it starts as an 8 by 11 sheet and folds at key points into a multi-planed part that measures 4.75 by 6 by 1. The machine is $6,500 – UKP4,000 – with 30Mb disk and $7,000, UKP4,300, with 60Mb. Compaq reduced UK prices of its other laptops 8% to 20%.
