Audiovisual dealers are continually searching the for the ideal compact presentation solution. With the flurry at INFOCOMM 2001 around projectors with integrated computers, and presentation solutions designed for use with a PDA, the underlying fact is that these solutions are often underpowered for today's most multimedia-intensive presentations. Many presenters start developing presentations, and before long, they end up with a presentation that is over 10MB in size, contains numerous sound effects or audio tracks, and has motion graphics on every other slide.

Remora Micro-PC

For many presenters, the compromise of not having to carry a computer in exchange for a simpler presentation is an acceptable one. For others, carrying a powerful laptop computer for critical presentations is an absolute must. Many audiovisual dealers realize that today's laptop computers are often too complex and too bulky to be paired with a two to five pound projector (there's some irony in this statement somewhere). Addressing the issues of laptop screen resolutions, activating an external display port, dealing with unwanted or un-needed capabilities and the generally short life span of specific models would discourage many a dealer from providing laptop computers with their projectors for rental applications or packaged solutions for resale.

Enter the Remora micro-PC from Easy Audio Visual (http://www.ezav.com/salescomputer.htm). This nifty little package (and I mean little) weighs in at only 9 ounces. This PDA-sized device is by no means a PDA; it contains a full-blown computer that is specifically designed for portable applications, such as presentations. Since this computer runs the latest Microsoft operating systems, such as Windows ME, 2000 or even the upcoming XP, all of the applications that you would commonly use on a desktop or laptop computer will run here, as well.

The Remora is designed using the same components that you would find in a laptop computer. (A huge advantage for upgrades.) The difference is that presenters do not necessarily require a display other than the connection provided for a desktop monitor or projector. Also, not every presenter would require an integrated keyboard to run the presentation. This allows the Remora to shed a lot of the weight that a laptop computer needs for the LCD display and keyboard. The result is a small package that has all of the performance and connectivity features of a notebook, but without an internal display or keyboard.

On first glance, the Remora is hard to identify as a computer. The device (approximately 1.25" high, 4" wide and 5.9" deep) has an unusual perforated pattern on top. These holes provide ventilation for the computer, and also contain the internal speakers. Also located on the top is an integrated touchpad pointing device with not only left and right mouse buttons, but also buttons for IntelliMouse-like scrolling capabilities.

The left side of the computer offers connections for a microphone or headphones (works well for connecting audio to a projector or sound system). The right side offers two USB ports for connecting external peripherals. Also located behind a door is a 'docking port' to allow connection to one of a couple of proprietary docking modules. The available docking modules include a 24x CD-ROM drive, 8x DVD-ROM drive or 1.44" floppy drive.

The back of the computer contains connections for a PS/2 keyboard and mouse, along with VGA and S-Video display ports. The Remora makes use of a 700 MHz Intel Pentium III or Celeron processor (depending on exact configuration) and supports memory configurations between 64MB and 256MB. Hard drive configurations can support between 10GB and 30 GB of storage.

So what's missing on the Remora? Well, it does not contain many of the other connections that you would find on a notebook computer, such as serial or parallel connections. Another compromise that we found somewhat painful was the lack of PC-Card slots (even one would have been nice), so that we could use a PCMCIA Ethernet adapter, modem or memory card. Instead, you have to make use of the USB ports for these connections. An external DC power supply is required, and the "line wart" is not the smallest. (It is doubtful you would want to run your presentation on batteries, anyway.)

The VGA port allows for simple connections to projectors, and you can simply select the same resolution that your display is capable of, without having to worry about a notebook display. Resolutions through SXGA (1280x1024) work great, but since the Remora only 4MB of shared video memory, any resolution above 1280x1024 will operate at less than 24-bit color. A DVI (digital) connection port or at least a PC-Card slot that would allow for the use of a DVI display adapter, such as a Margi Display-to-Go would have been nice. The Remora makes up for it, though with an S-Video output that actually works pretty well at XGA resolution or lower. This allows you to connect a Remora to a television for presentations or watching DVD movies (with the DVD docking module).

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