The 386SL notebook is the latest from the Newbury, Berkshire-based Factotum division of Gandlake Computer Services Ltd. Powered by Intel Corp’s 80386SL microprocessor, it offers a 65Mb 2.5 disk with the option of a 90Mb disk as well as on-board controller circuitry for SCSI and IDE drives. It has a backlit VGA liquid crystal display and has 4Mb standard, expandable to 8Mb. Digital Research Inc’s DR-DOS version 6.0 with Filelink is bundled. Gandlake is particularly excited about the batteries, claiming a battery life of almost 10 hours, attributable to the use of BatteryMax software and innovative battery design. BatteryMax switches off system components when idle and the battery packs consists of four D-type 1.2V cells producing 4.8V alongside four C-cells that together supply 6.5 Ampere-hours. John Gandley, managing director, acknowledged production delays because of shortage of the Intel 80386SL microprocessor but he said the micro would arrive in January at UKP2,000 to UKP2,500.
