Oxford-based Research Machines Plc has launched a range of portable computers aimed at users in the education sector – from primary school pupils to university lecturers (CI No 1,641). Research is one of the top few computer manufacturers in education, according to Bob Garret, Research’s marketing manager for higher and further education. Last year the company sold around 28,000 personal computers into the sector. The portable range consists of an 8086-based notebook and a 80286-based laptop, with an 80386SX laptop to be launched in six months. Initially Garret expects volume sales to come in the 80286 machine, with applications being widespread. Schools, he suggests, may use the laptop as an alternative to personal computers to save space, while hard pressed headteachers might take it home to finish some financial planning and marketing, now required by the government. Primary schools are apparently interested in laptops because younger pupils can use and relate more easily to smaller machines. The 80286 and 80386SX machines can both be networked, which Garret believes to be very important in education. So far Research Machines has installed 7,000 networks in the sector, most of them in schools and colleges. Hard disk versions of the 80286 and 80386SX laptops come bundled with Microsoft Windows 3.0 software, another feature which Garret says is essential in education machines. However the laptops also support Rsearch Machine’s PC-186 educational software. Both arrive with a 1.44Mb disk drive with an optional hard disk of 20Mb on the 80286 and 40Mb on the 80386SX as well as 1Mb of RAM on both, expandable to 8Mb. For users that spend many hours in front of the screen – students writing essays, teachers who have to write lengthy reports, the laptops can be expanded with external alpha or numeric keyboard and VGA monitor options. Power Management is a key feature of the laptops, with the machines automatically powering down when not in use, to save battery. Batteries last for around three hours. The 8086 notebook is solely for text entry and Garret says it may compete in the personal organiser market. The notebook is 1.1 thick, 8.7 long and 11 wide, it weighs 3.5lb. A 3.5 1.44 Mb disk drive is built-in and it has 1Mb of RAM. It costs UKP500 for education users. The 80286 weighs 6.8 lbs, is 1.9 by 8.7 by 11 and costs UKP950 for the floppy disk only model, UKP1,200 with a hard disk. The 80386SX machine will be launched at UKP1,400.
