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Leading Edge D/LT386SX Plus. (laptop computer) (evaluation)
by David Sears

Nothing makes the time go by on a long plane ride like a good laptop, and whether you use yours for spreadsheets or Star Control, the Leading Edge D/LT386SX Plus certainly beats a talkative stranger when it comes to airborne companionship. Whatever your reason for carrying a laptop, you'll want to balance weight, display readability, and price against its usefulness. Formed in January, 2008, Leading Edge Technologies, LLC became what it is today from the desire of three close friends to start a computer service center with fresh ideas, lower prices and the idea that our clients deserve the best possible service. The friends knew the odds were against them with the economy starting its downward spiral.

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On the plus side, the D/LT does run a 16-MHz 386 processor, providing thenecessary micro horsepower to make Windows run at a usable speed, and the 40MBhard drive provides more than ample storage space for on-the-road applicationsand their data files. The 3 1/2-inch 1.44MB floppy drive port faces you, soyou can keep an eye on disk activity. All the standard ports--serial,parallel, and PS/2 mouse--further enhance the D/LT's versatility. For youavid telecommunicators, the roomy modem bay looks as if it should easilyaccommodate the Leading Edge $199 proprietary modem. Should you have thechance to plug the D/LT into a color monitor, you won't be disappointed by thegraphics; this laptop's crisp-VGA 640 x 480 pixel output does justice to yourgames as well as your chart generators.

A winner all around, the D/LT's keyboard doesn't complicate typing byshrinking its keys; they're the same size as those of larger, stay-at-homemachines. While the keyboard won't detach from the D/LT entirely, it doeshave the surprising ability to sled forward away from the rest of the machine,putting just enough distance between you and the LCD screen for a comfortableworking relationship at your hotel room desk. Well, maybe not quite farenough for some; the glare from this laptop's 8 x 6 inch backlit display canquickly tire your eyes. Compared to many other laptop displays, this one'sdownright fatiguing. And despite a purported antiglare feature, text on theD/LT display, like text on many laptop displays I've looked at, is best readin indirect light. The brightness and contrast sliders do little to improvethe situation. Also problematic is the screen's tendency to fall forward atthe slightest disturbance and to resist proper positioning. Setting thedisplay in place often requires multiple attempts. Practice patience here;the manufacturer warns against bending the screen back too far, though itremains a constant temptation. A more effective locking and tilting mechanismis definitely in order.

Those traveling computerphiles who remember the heyday of the KayPro luggablewon't much mind carrying the hefty D/LT for short distances. After all, thiscomputer's 13 pounds doesn't compare to the weight and bulk of most earlierportables. More contemporary users, though, might not want the burden of thismuch weight, especially in this age of 386 notebooks. The D/LT thankfullybalances on its edge quite well. Even if the D/LT should fall over, Iwouldn't worry much about damage--this machine's case could stop bullets.

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This laptop doesn't spare you the cold reality of mysterious battery charges. You should expect about two hours of use per full recharge of the ni-cadbattery. Expect less if you access your hard drive and floppy frequently. Leading Edge has built in some features to help you conserve power and keeptrack of the D/LT's battery life. Left unattended, the D/LT dims its screento conserve power. A battery check light flashes when power's low, and if youdon't soon save and shut down, you might damage your hard drive and willcertainly lose your work.

Alarm software, such as Battery Watch, warns you when battery failure willoccur, but you'll need to buy such software separately. The D/LT comesbundled with DOS 4.01, Windows 3.0, and Microsoft Works.

You might think that a laptop with a VGA port makes the perfect go-between forhome computing and computing in your hotel room, but think again. Mostlaptops just don't offer the expandability that full-size PCs do, and even thelarger-than-average D/LT won't adequately serve as a substitute. With a 2MBRAM limit and no card slots, the D/LT won't replace your versatile desktop PC.And for true portability, you'll want to try the Leading Edge NB 300S notebookcomputer. The standard unit packs less RAM and hard drive space than theD/LT, but its reduced weight and increased operating time per battery chargeprobably bring it closer to your idea of what constitutes a laptop these days.At only about $400 more than its larger cousin, the notebook warrants afrequent traveler's attention.

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So, who needs the D/LT? Well, for shoppers who appreciate a bargain, the D/LTcould turn out to be a surprise hit. To compete with other manufacturers inthis market of increasingly smaller and lighter portable computers, LeadingEdge lowered the suggested retail price of the D/LT laptop by about $1,000. Any further price cuts could carve out quite a niche for this machine,especially with computer users who travel only from time to time but want tomake sure they can work out of town if they need to.