I wonder if anyone can point me in the right direction. I have the need for a specific type of hardware that I just cant seem to find anywhere. What I am looking for is a small notebook computer (perhaps around the size of the libretto or maybe a bit larger) on which I can run a basic text only program, which has around 10MB and a floppy drive. I use various PCs and applications but neither need nor want to buy a notebook or laptop. I just want something I can carry around in my (large) pocket and write text on, then put it on a floppy whenever I need to transfer it to another computer; dont want to be messing around with links etc. I would have thought 50-100 pounds would be the range for something like that, and that such hardware would be quite common for students and tight fisted people like me who just want to do their basic wordprocessing wherever they happen to be and take it home to format on the family's PC or whatever. I have searched the internet a few times and come up with nothing. Can anyone help with some links? Cheers, Alastair McGowan, Stirling, Scotland

Hi Alistair
I personally can't think of anything that fits your requirements. There are lots of machines that almost do, however.
The main trouble is your requirement for a floppy disk drive. I know why you want to avoid links and cables because they can be troublesome but that really is the only way to do it nowadays.
You're right -- there are Toshiba Libretto-type machines out there but they're not pocketable. They're baggable. In particular, I saw one recently called the Palmax which borrowed much from Toshiba. See http://www.amherst.co.uk/palmax.htm for details. But even this costs a fair bit of money -- certainly much more than the £100 you mentioned.
The second best best is a palmtop -- either Psion based (5 or 3) or Windows CE-based (see Hewlett Packard or Compaq for examples). Again, these aren't cheap -- around £400 at least. And they don't have floppies built-in.
If I were you I'd try and get a second-hand Tosh Libretto. I've no idea of prices and suspect they won't be as low as £100 but you never know. But do check it out first -- people tend to be very rough and tumble with their Librettos.

I've been thinking about this a little more.
You might be able to get hold of some secondhand Sinclair or Epson portables from around fifteen years ago. The trouble is that these are so old they're turning into antiques and their value is probably rising!
But I can't remember the names of them to save my life. Sinclair Q1? Epson EF-330?
They were little more than keyboards attached to a small LCD four or five line display. They MIGHT have had a floppy drive -- I'm not sure, but never really got above 32k of memory. The Epson might even have been a primitive PC compatible.
I just have a happy memory of a magazine cover of some bloke dressed in private detective garb in a red phone box. He had his portable Epson plugged into the phone handset via an accoustic coupler.

Regards Librettos, go to www.silverace.com for specs and www.ebay.co.uk for prices. I've checked a few action siters etc and ebay seems to be the best.
As an alternative to a floppy you could try a PC Card compact flash adapter. This would be a good deal more reliable than a floppy, can store more data and is pretty cheap. For your desktop get a USB card reader (you can also get smartmedia only and combi readers). This would also save on you actually carrying around a floppy drive and cables.
You could also look into the USB Thumb type drives (flash memory that plugs directly into a USB port) if thats your bag.
Hope this helps