Buying a PC110

Due to the nature of these things, I'm not going to tell you where to buy your PC110, or what you should expect as a fair price. These change over time. However, what I can advise you on is what to buy, depending on your anticipated usage of the machine. I'm also assuming that you are at least conversant with the specification of the PC110.

Do not take my words as criticism of the PC110; it is a wonderful piece of technology, it's just that it's 1995 technology, and these things move on so quickly.

1. Size

That's the appeal of the PC110 - the size. After all, who would get excited over an A4 laptop with the same spec as the PC110? It's simply because the PC110 fits what it has into a package two-thirds the size of a video cassette that we are still interested in it.

You must not underestimate the compromises that come with the PC110. The keyboard is cramped, the screen is tiny, and storage is usually at a premium. However, with practice you adapt a sort of touch typing using four fingers, you'll notice that the tiny screen is very sharp, and you'll not even raise an eyebrow when you close the machine and slip it into a pocket.

If you've never seen a PC110 before, do what I did - make a paper model. Draw out the rough dimensions on a sheet of A3, add in a rectangle for the screen, and a grid representing the keyboard, then cut it out and glue it together. You may feel silly, but you'll get a good feel for it.

Still keen? Good - that's the major hurdle. Now have a good think about what you're really going to use it for...

2. Docking station

The first decision you should make is whether or not you need a docking station, also referred to as a port replicator. Without this, you will not have access to the following:

There are some of these units still available. Try and get a floppy drive with the docking station; don't panic if you can't, as the drive is used on some of the recent ThinkPads. The main thing is to get the docking station.

Why is the docking station so important? Well, without it you can't do things like:

I have seen docking station and floppy drive sets for a couple of hundred dollars. The sellers know they have you by the short and curlies, but having used a PC110 for nearly two years now, I'd say it was money well spent every time.

3. Memory

You generally have two choices with PC110 memory - 8MB or 20MB. The basic machine comes with 4MB soldered on to the system board, and one empty - custom - memory socket. An 8MB model therefore contains a 4MB upgrade, and a 20MB unit contains a 16MB upgrade. (There was an 8MB upgrade, so you may see 12MB models occasionally, but I do not recall the last time I saw one of these mentioned.)

Because of the memory configuration, and the politeness of most Japanese dealers, you will find that almost everyone has a 4MB expansion module - some will be using it in their 8MB machines, others will have them spare from their 20MB machines. But if you buy an 8MB machine, you too will have a 4MB expansion card, and no free expansion socket. You must think carefully about what you want to do with the PC110. You will not find third party memory for the PC110, except in Japan.

If you're going to use DOS, or Windows 3.1, or Linux, then 8MB will see you through. If you've got your heart set on having Windows 95 in your pocket, you'll really appreciate the 20MB model. That said, an 8MB with Windows 3.1 on it will seem faster than a 20MB with Windows 95 at times, but that's for other reasons than the absolute amount of memory. Seek advice from other PC110 owners if you are unsure. Have I confused you now?!

4. Storage

The storage you use will be guided by what operating system and applications you want to run on the PC110, but your desired use of peripherals will also have a strong bearing.

Remember that the PC110 has a clever BIOS that will allow you to use some PCMCIA and CompactFlash devices as if they were IDE drives. Your choices basically boil down to three routes:

Storage	Pros	Cons
CompactFlash	plenty of cards up to 48MB available uses the CF slot so both PCMCIA slots free getting cheaper all the time due to digital camera owners. low power consumption silent	still pricey for larger cards maximum capacity currently around 128MB
PCMCIA flash (type I or II)	type I or type II cards, so one PCMCIA left free low power consumption 3.3V cards are supported for even lower power consumption silent	older technology, so cards tend to be lower capacity (32MB or less) avoid SRAM and non-ATA flash cards - these will not give you what you're after avoid DRAM cards - the seller does not know what these cards are, and has mistaken them for PCMCIA cards
PCMCIA hard drive (mostly type III)	available in capacities up to 1GB rumours of a type II 260MB hard drive out soon older drives up to 105MB can be very cheap	almost all are type III drives, so they'll occupy both PCMCIA slots watch out for type IV drives - too tall to fit in the PC110 watch out for drives sold pre-compressed - take out the drive compression and you'll lose half the quoted capacity robust, but more fragile than flash memory at least twice the power consumption of flash memory some whirring noise, depends on drive

5. Modems & network cards

The PC110 CompactFlash socket supports only CompactFlash v1 storage devices.

The important words are v1 and storage. This means that the following CompactFlash devices will not work in the PC110 CompactFlash slot:

If you want to add a SCSI card, you'll be using a PCMCIA one. If you want to add a modem, your choices are wider. Network cards can be either PCMCIA or parallel port ones.

Modems

The PC110 ha a built-in 2400 baud modem. If you use only e-mail, with few messages per day, or text-based web browsing tools (no downloads, mind!), you will survive with this. I view the integral modem on mine as an emergency backup. If you plan to process any normal quantity of mail, or do any web browsing, this will not be sufficient.

Network connections

The last of these three is difficult and usually slow; if you're not already familiar with this type of connection, discount it from your list of options.

6. Finding a PC110 for sale

The most logical route is to check if any current owners want to sell - send a note to the PC110 mailing list to enquire. Some dealers still sell PC110's, even though they were discontinued by IBM two years ago. You'll also see PC110's popping up on the on-line auctions occasionally, and on some of the newsgroups like comp.sys.palmtops and comp.sys.

Generally, if you buy second-hand, you'll get better value for money, as you tend to get some accessories thrown-in with the machine.

7. Hardware warranty and repairs, general support

through IBM. You do get a year's warranty on a PC110 if purchased new, but this is only valid in Japan.

If it's support and advice you need, join the PC110 mailing list. If it's a hardware repair, you're going to be stuck. Try the dealers that still sell PC110's, to see if they'll tackle the problem. Again, your best bet may be the mailing list.

There are two people I know of who offer to repair broken PC110s; both are in the US: