I'd like to set up a PowerBook as inexpensively as possible for email, but it needs to run a version of *bleeyech . . ptui!!!* M$Word that'll have as similar look and feel to the current Win rev. as possible and be format compatible to sneakernet files.

It should be able to do VERY light surfing via dialup and also be ethernet capable for use with a cable modem, just in case.

Duos are out because it should have a decent keyboard and built-in FDD and a 2300c probably wouldn't run a new enough Word rev. anyway.

It'll always run off AC, it just needs to be a putaway-when-not-in-use kinda deal, so big/heavy/ugly is not a problem at all.

What's the cheapest thing I can get away with and what's the best available for about $250-325 max?

"Format compatible" lets you go all the way back to Word 5.1, provided you install the 97/2000 translator on the PowerBook and the appropriate Mac Word translator on the PC. That'll get you safely all the way back to a PB 140.

Word 6 is virtually identical to the PC version of 6, can also take the 97/2000 translator, and should run well on a high-end 030 (PB 180) or 040 (520/540/190) PowerBook. Also, there is a translator for the equivalent version of PowerPoint which will let it read 97/2000 files.

That brings us to Office 98- out of the box compatible with 97/2000/XP. System requirements claim it should run on a 6100/66 with enough memory. I'd say the minimum PB would be a 1400/133 with close to max ram.

A PowerBook will probably go over better tho, so more suggestions are welcome and would be much appreciated.

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