Sharp Actius UltraLite Notebook Adds Muscle, Features, and a Non-Glare Screen, Maintains Slim Figure.MAHWAH, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 10, 1999-- New PC-A250 Improves Upon Award-Winning Design To Meet The Increasing Needs Of The Mobile Professional Sharp Electronics Corporation, a world leader in mobile computing Using a computing device while in transit. Mobile computing implies wireless transmission, but wireless transmission does not necessarily imply mobile computing. Fixed wireless applications use satellites, radio systems and lasers to transmit between permanent objects such as buildings and communications solutions, today announced the Actius PC-A250 UltraLite Notebook, the third offering in Sharp's award-winning Actius line of notebook PCs. Just one-inch thick and weighing less than three pounds, this unit packs many improved features and a new non-glare and low-reflectivity screen on a very slim frame. The A250 -- equipped with Intel's 300MHz (MegaHertZ) One million cycles per second. It is used to measure the transmission speed of electronic devices, including channels, buses and the computer's internal clock. A one-megahertz clock (1 MHz) means some number of bits (16, 32, 64, etc. Mobile PentiumII PE Processor, 64MB SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM) A type of dynamic RAM (DRAM) memory chip that has been widely used since the late 1990s. SDRAM chips eliminated wait states by dividing the chip into two cell blocks and interleaving data between them. (expandable to 128MB) and a 6.4GB hard drive-- offers the increased performance, mobility and flexibility that corporate users require. The full-featured lightweight notebook has a brilliant 11.3" SVGA (Super VGA) A screen resolution of 800x600 pixels. Third-party vendors extended IBM's VGA display standard and were the first to use the term. SVGA has also referred to 1,024x768 resolutions. See PC display modes. TFT (Thin Film Transistor) The term typically refers to active matrix screens on laptop computers. Active matrix LCD provides a sharper screen display and broader viewing angle than does passive matrix. See LCD and thin film. TFT - Thin Film transistor display -- the highest quality in the three-pound class. Improved Ultra-bright LCD Technology The Actius A250 adds a new non-glare and low-reflective design to Sharp's revolutionary 11.3" 800x600 (SVGA) active matrix (TFT) super bright LCD screen. The screen, which shows more than 16 million colors, is the largest screen available in the three-pound notebook class. It is ideal for viewing over extended periods of time, offers ultra-wide angles for presentations and multimedia applications, and can be used in any lighting condition. Increased Connectivity The Actius A250 adds a built-in 10Base-T and a 100Base-TX LAN (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. The "clients" are the user's workstations typically running Windows, although Mac and Linux clients are also used. that gives users simple connectivity in the office. The A250 also utilizes a dual mode ITU (International Telecommunication Union, Geneva, Switzerland, www.itu.ch) A telecommunications standards body that is under the auspices of the United Nations. Comprising more than 185 member countries, the ITU sets standards for global telecom networks. V.90/ K56Flex software upgradeable modem that allows users to quickly and conveniently connect to e-mail and connect to the World Wide Web while traveling. Having both an integrated 10Base-T/100Base-TX LAN and 56Kbps HSP (Hosting Service Provider) An organization that specializes in hosting Web sites. There are various levels of offerings from sharing a Web server with several other companies to having a dedicated Web server or to providing co-location services. See co-location. modem solution keeps the A250's PC card slot A socket for inserting a printed circuit board or a PC Card (CardBus card). See PC Card. available for other applications. Award-Winning Design The Actius line, including the PC-A100 and PC-A150, has received many of the industry's most prestigious awards honoring its design and feature set as the best in its class. Awards include: - PC Magazine's coveted cov·et v. cov·et·ed, cov·et·ing, cov·ets v.tr. 1. To feel blameworthy desire for (that which is another's). See Synonyms at envy. 2. To wish for longingly. See Synonyms at desire. Editors' Choice Award, January 1999 - C/NET's Editors' Choice Award, March 1999 - Home Office Computing Gold Medal gold medal traditional first prize. [Western Cult: Misc.] See : Prize Award, December 1998 - Mobile Computing and Communications Product of the Year 1998 - PC Week Winners' Circle Award for Best of Show at PC EXPO A trade show for resellers, corporate managers and technical professionals from CMP Media LLC, a subsidiary of United Business Media. First held in New York in 1983 with 120 exhibitors and 9,600 attendees, the show grew from the personal computer's early years to 550 vendors and more than June '98 Optimized PC Functionality for the Mobile Professional Measuring just 10.4"(w) x 8.3"(d) x 0.83"(h-front) / 1.02" (h-rear), the Actius A250 comes fully featured with two built-in USB ports A USB socket on a computer or peripheral device into which a USB cable is plugged. See USB. , a VGA (Video Graphics Array) The display standard for the PC. All PC display adapters support VGA, and Windows machines boot up in "VGA mode" before switching to higher resolutions. external monitor port, a Type II PC card slot and a Fast IrDA infrared port A transmitter/receiver for infrared signals. See IrDA and IR remote control. . Each ships with an external Port Replicator A device used to quickly connect multiple peripherals to a laptop using only one connector. The desktop devices are permanently plugged into the port replicator, which connects to the laptop via the USB port, PC Card slot or proprietary expansion port. and Floppy Disk Drive floppy disk drive - disk drive Combo Unit that includes a serial port, parallel port and a PS/2 mouse/keyboard port for fast and convenient desktop connections. An optional 20-speed (max) CD-ROM drive A device that holds and reads CD-ROM discs. CD-ROM drives generally also play audio CD discs by sending analog sound to the sound card via a 4-pin cable. For specifications of 10x, 20x, etc. drives, see CD-ROM drives. See CD-ROM, CD-ROM changer, CD-ROM server and CD-ROM audio cable. is available for loading software or running multimedia presentations and other applications. The Sharp drive works at full speed when connected to AC power and operates at a power-efficient 12-speed (max) when powered by the main unit's battery. Extended Computing Power The Actius A250's Lithium-Ion battery Lithium-ion batteries (sometimes abbreviated Li-ion batteries) are a type of rechargeable battery commonly used in consumer electronics. They are currently one of the most popular types of battery for portable electronics, with one of the best energy-to-weight ratios, no provides almost two hours of continuous computing  This article about a company does not make it clear whether the subject meets the Wikipedia criteria for . power. For mobile professionals who
require even longer periods of remote power, Sharp offers a
hot-swappable External Lithium-Ion battery option that extends computing
time an additional four hours. Thus, fully charged batteries will
provide up to a total of six hours of power -- the ideal solution for
coast-to-coast travelers.Both the main unit and the external battery have smart power indicators that, with a simple push of a button, provide an LED readout (1) A small display device that typically shows only a few digits or a couple of lines of data. (2) Any display screen or panel. of how much charge remains in each device - an invaluable tool for presenters and those constantly on the go. Both indicators work whether the unit is turned on or off. Pricing/Availability The Actius A250 will be available June 4, 1999 through Sharp's Mobile Information Systems Division, computer retail stores, and through authorized au·thor·ize tr.v. au·thor·ized, au·thor·iz·ing, au·thor·iz·es 1. To grant authority or power to. 2. To give permission for; sanction: corporate resellers. The Actius A250 has an estimated retail price of $2,499. For users looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. similar features in a lower cost solution, the award-winning 266MHz A150 and 233MHz A100 are available now for estimated retail prices of $1,999 and $1,799, respectively. The optional external CD-ROM drive is now available at an estimated retail price of $299, and the optional External Lithium Ion A rechargeable battery technology introduced in 1991 that provides greater charge per pound than nickel metal hydride. In 1993, Toshiba introduced the first notebook in the U.S. with a Li-ion battery. battery attachment at an estimated retail price of $279. Actual selling prices are determined by the reseller and may vary. For more information, contact Sharp Electronics Corporation, Mobile Information Systems Division, Sharp Plaza, Mahwah, New Jersey Mahwah is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 24,062. The name Mahwah is derived from the Lenni Lenape word "mawewi" which means "Meeting Place" or "Place Where Paths Meet". 07430, or call 1-800-BE-SHARP. For on-line product information, visit Sharp's Web site at http://www.sharp-usa.com. Sharp Electronics Corporation is the U.S. sales and marketing subsidiary of Japan's Sharp Corporation, a worldwide developer of the core digital technologies that are playing an integral role in shaping the next generation of mobile computing products for consumer and business needs. Since creating the Wizard(R) electronic organizer See PDA. in 1989, Sharp has led the market in introducing innovative handheld computing products. Sharp is also the global leader in LCD technology, which is incorporated into leading-edge LCD monitors A flat panel display that uses liquid crystals. Although laptops have used LCDs as their flat panel technology almost exclusively, LCD is also the most popular for flat panel desktop monitors. Toward the end of 2003, sales of LCD displays for desktops overtook CRTs for the first time. and projectors. From the small office/home office See SOHO. (SOHO Soho (sōhō`, sə–), district of Westminster, London, England, known for its continental restaurants. Once a fashionable quarter, it became popular among writers and artists in the 19th cent. ) to large corporate environments, Sharp provides a variety of innovative, computer-related solutions designed to help increase productivity while providing functionality to meet customer demand. Dedicated to improving people's lives through the use of advanced technology and a commitment to innovation, quality, value and design, Sharp Electronics employs approximately 3,100 people nationwide to support its more than 50 product lines. SPECIFICATIONS ATTACHED
ACTIUS
PC-A250 PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS
PROCESSOR 300MHz Mobile Pentium II PE Processor
CHIPSET Intel 440DX
L2 CACHE 256KB (integrated on chip)
SYSTEM BIOS 512 KB Flash EPROM, Includes System BIOS and
VGA BIOS
MEMORY 64MB SDRAM Standard, Upgradeable to 128MB
Maximum
DISPLAY 11.3" SVGA Active Matrix (TFT) Display with
Backlight (viewable area measured diagonally)
o Colors: 16 Million
o Resolution: 800 x 600
o Type: Active Matrix
o New AGAR technology reduces reflection and
increases viewing angle
PIXEL PITCH 0.288mm x 0.288mm
VIDEO CONTROLLER Trident Cyber 9525DVD
VIDEO MEMORY 2.5MB
EXTERNAL VIDEO OUTPUT Maximum Resolution: 1024 x 768
HARD DISK DRIVE 6.4GB
FLOPPY DISK DRIVE External 3.5" for 720KB/1.44MB, Includes Port
Replicator
DATA/FAX MODEM 56kbps software modem (V.90 & K56flex)
KEYBOARD Windows 95 keyboard, 81 keys, 12 function keys,
Imbedded number pad, Key pitch:
17mm, Key stroke: 2.5mm
POINTING DEVICE PS/2 Compatible GlidePad (touch-sensitive
control pad), 2 buttons
AUDIO SYSTEM Built-in sound board, microphone, and speaker,
Sound Blaster Pro compatible, 16-bit sampling
and playback, full duplex
PC CARD SLOT One Type II, CardBus support
NETWORKING Built-In Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX
EXPANSION PORTS o (2) USB Ports
(MAIN UNIT) o Floppy Disk Drive Interface Connector
o IR Port - Complies with IrDA and ASK
(4Mbps and 115.2Kbps)
o Modem Port
o Microphone In
o Audio Out
o DC Power In
o External Monitor Port
o External Battery Connector
o RJ-45 Ethernet Port
EXPANSION PORTS o Parallel Port
(FLOPPY DISK DRIVE /
PORT REPLICATOR) o Serial Port
o PS/2 Port for keyboard/mouse
INDICATORS o Power
o Battery Power
o Hard Disk Drive
o Num Lock
o Caps Lock
o Scroll Lock
o Internal Battery Charge Indicator
SOFTWARE o Windows 98
o Internet Explorer 4.0
o LapLink Professional
o Adobe Acrobat Reader 3.01
AC POWER Universal AC adapter,
Input: 100-240V, 50/60Hz AC
BATTERY (INTERNAL) Rechargeable Lithium Ion
BATTERY LIFE o 1 hour, 50 minutes with internal battery
using Ziff Davis Battery Mark
o 6 hours with internal and optional external
battery using Ziff Davis Battery Mark
DIMENSIONS (w x d x h) o Main Unit:
10.4" x 8.3" x 0.83"(min)/1.02"(max)
(263mm x 212mm x 21mm(min)/26mm(max))
o Floppy Disk Drive/Port Replicator:
4.65" x 6.81" x 0.94" (118mm x 173mm x
24mm)
o AC Adapter:
1.83" x 4.09" x 1.04" (46.5mm x 104mm x
26.5mm)
WEIGHTS o Main Unit:
Under 3 lbs. (Under 1.36kg)
o Floppy Disk Drive/Port Replicator:
0.94 lbs. (425g)
o AC Adapter:
0.61 lbs. (275g)
ACCESSORIES (included) o AC adapter
o AC cable
o Modem cable
o FDD with port replicator
o Operation Manual
o Window 98 Manual
o Recovery CD & hard drive re-installation
instructions
OPTIONS o External CD-ROM drive (via PC Card Slot)
- CE-CD01
o External Long Life Battery - CE-BL03
WARRANTY 1 year parts and labor limited warranty
Accessories
CE-BL03 External Long Life Battery Specifications
BATTERY TYPE Rechargeable Lithium Ion
RATED OUTPUT
VOLTAGE & CAPACITY 14.8 VDC, 3000mAh
DIMENSIONS (w x d x h) 10.5" x 2.2" x 0.94" (266mm x 55.9mm x 23.8mm)
WEIGHT 0.93 lbs. (420g)
INDICATORS o Battery Charge Indicator
ACCESSORIES (included) o Battery Bag
CE-CD01 CD-ROM Drive Specifications
INTERFACE ATAPI (Interface card: PCMCIA 2.1)
Buffer Size 128KB
DATA TRANSFER RATE o With power from PC card slot:
Normal mode: 800KB/s(inner:5.3X) to 1800
KB/s(outer:12X)
Power Save mode: 375KB/s(inner:2.5X) to
900KB/s(outer:6x)
o With AC adapter:
1275 KB/s (inner:8.5X) to 3000 KB/s
(outer:20X) (When the vibration detect
function is on, 1100 KB/s (inner:7.3X) to
2400KB/s(outer:16X)
POWER SOURCES o Power from PC card slot: DC5V
o Power from AC adapter: 100-240V, 50/60Hz
DIMENSIONS (w x d x h) 5.12" x 6.41" x 0.96" (130mm x 162.8mm x
24.3mm)
WEIGHT 0.72 lbs. (330g) without PC Card and
interface cable
ACCESSORIES (included) o AC Adapter
o PC Card
o PC Card Interface Cable (15.75" long, not
including connector)
Compatible CD, CD-ROM
Format CD-DA(Audio CD)(a), CD-I(b), VIDEO CD(b), CD-ROM
(Mode 2 Form 1), CD-ROM XA(Mode 2 Form 2),
Photo CD(c) (Multisession compatible), CD Extra
(a) Audio CD titles can only be played if the computer has audio CD
player software.
(b) CD-I or VIDEO CD titles can be viewed if the computer has
software or hardware MPEG decoding capability.
(c) Software required for viewing Photo CD titles is not included.
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