| Sharp's
Mebius line of notebook computers, famed for their wide-screen cinematic aspect ratios,
was first introduced in Japan in 1996 and has featured prominently on the best-seller
lists ever since. With the 3.0lb PC-A250, the 5th in the
ultraslim Mebius series, Sharp set out to produce a mini-notebook computer that would,
feature-for-feature, blow away the Sony Vaio & Toshiba Portege 3110. They
largely succeeded, the weight and form factor of each computer are essentially identical.
However, the design feature that is most
obviously different and which strikes you most immediately is the display.
Commanding more than 90% of the Japanese LCD market, Sharp so dominates the field of
TFT technology that the chances are that the display in your Toshiba or Panasonic
notebook was supplied by Sharp.  
The screen is a massive, superbright
11.3" TFT AGAR. Visible viewing area is some 20% greater than
that of the Vaio 505, no mean feat considering that the footprint of each machine is
virtually identical. Sharp achieved this in two ways: First, they have pushed the
screen right to the very edges of the display body. Second, they have placed the Mebius
battery internally rather than along the spine of the display/keyboard interface.  The
display of the Mebius is so bright, that it makes the Vaio display look dull by comparison.Featuring
specifications that one would normally expect in a regular sized - and much heavier -
notebook. |
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In use, the Mebius mouse is superior in both construction and response.
 
The Mebius PCA100 features design
innovations of its own. The floppy disk drive unit features parallel, serial and
PS/2 ports at its rear, thereby rendering any kind of dedicated mini-dock obsolete.
Often overlooked when calculating total travel weight, is the size and weight of the
AC adapter. The PC-A250 AC adapter breaks new ground in power-supply design and, at
0.4lbs, is the lightest and tiniest AC adapter we have ever seen.
 
Featuring a silver magnesium alloy body,
the PC-A2500 is as reassuringly solid to the touch as the Vaio, and has a smooth,
polished finish to it, in contrast to the 505's rough, matt finish.
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