Uni laptop

[stevo1210]

Re: Uni laptop

the tecra m2 has an nvidia fx5200 chip... So maybe thats okay?

[Scenic]

Re: Uni laptop

damn.. the model you're talking about is actually the one i wanted to get.. hella overpriced here though
(200-250euros.. that would be 286 - 357AU$ ... ouch)

haven't heard of issues with those other than the keyboard (which is a drop-in replacement.. so a non-issue)

edit: it's a FX5200 Go! with 32MB DDR-RAM (common) or 64MB DDR-RAM.
better than onboardcrap at least.. as it doesn't eat up your RAM..

[mockingbird]

Re: Uni laptop

Geforce FX was an OK series and didn't have the design problems or BGA problems of the later generations.

I use a Geforce FX5700 myself. Very underrated. Kicks Radeon 9700 in the dirt (except in certain D3D 9 apps).

[stj]

Re: Uni laptop

what's the programmer you need to hook up?

[pentium]

Re: Uni laptop

I'm using a T30 here which is nice and fills your requirements. Get the Docking station for it and you're really cooking (you get a PCI slot!).
The only problem they seem to have is one of the two ram slots getting cold joints but a reflow fixes that.

I'm assuming you are using a cheap (to programming standards...) EEPROM burner, right?

[stevo1210]

Re: Uni laptop

it's not an EEPROM burner, but it's similar. It's a programming box that's connected to a robot and a few other entities...

[stevo1210]

Re: Uni laptop

Aw. shit. The Toshiba Tecra M2 doesn't have inbuilt Wi-Fi and that's one thing I need!

Well this particular one anyway... cause they usually have Wi-Fi inbuilt but not this one I'm looking at for some reason... what should I do...?

[stevo1210]

Re: Uni laptop

Okay... I am down to two choices of laptops...

Choice 1:

Toshiba Tecra M2
Intel Pentium M 1.4Ghz CPU
256MB DDR RAM
40GB HDD
64MB nvidia FX5200 graphics
DVD/CDRW combo
14" LCD screen
WORKING battery
No wireless

Choice 2:

Compaq Evo n1000c laptop
1.8Ghz Pentium 4 CPU
256MB RAM
32MB ATi 7500 AGP graphics
DVD/CDRW combo
30GB HDD
15" LCD screen
DEAD battery
In built wireless


Both are the same price of $195AU shipped.... now I'm stuck with the choice of which one?!

The Toshiba is good overall with a Pentium M CPU, good graphics, working battery but no wireless... the Compaq has a power Hungry P4, dead battery, slightly larger screen (dont really care), and inbuilt wireless.

I may be able to solve the wireless issue by using a PCMCIA wireless card? I have a Netgear 108Mbps PCMCIA card collecting dust somewhere... but I've been told using a PCMCIA card is a very dangerous choice because they harm the laptop?


Help me please guys.

[pentium]

Re: Uni laptop

I have a Netgear 108Mbps PCMCIA card collecting dust somewhere... but I've been told using a PCMCIA card is a very dangerous choice because they harm the laptop?


Help me please guys.

Who the hell told you that?
If they made a PCMCIA wi-fi card and you couldn't use it in a laptop, what was the point of even designing the card? All you got to worry about is bumping the card very hard (or dropping the laptop off the table and landing onthe card) and ripping the PCMCIA internals clean off the board.

[stevo1210]

Re: Uni laptop

All you got to worry about is bumping the card very hard (or dropping the laptop off the table and landing onthe card) and ripping the PCMCIA internals clean off the board.

That was the exact reason why... when I was told they were lethal weapons...

[mockingbird]

Re: Uni laptop

Working battery or dead battery, the "working" battery won't be working for long since LION batteries just die based on time no matter how many charge cycles they've been through, and don't expect a several year old battery to hold more than 15 minutes, even if that.

$195 AUD is a terrible price for either of those.

I paid $280 for a dual core laptop and this was almost a year ago.

At these prices I would seriously consider investing in a new laptop.

[stevo1210]

Re: Uni laptop

To add to that... I am a generally careful person and I've never ever dropped a laptop before. The worst I've done is put my netbook on the passenger seat of the car and then slam the brakes, making it slide down onto the two layers of floormats and carpet in the footwell. O.o

[stevo1210]

Re: Uni laptop

Working battery or dead battery, the "working" battery won't be working for long since LION batteries just die based on time no matter how many charge cycles they've been through, and don't expect a several year old battery to hold more than 15 minutes, even if that.

$195 AUD is a terrible price for either of those.

I paid $280 for a dual core laptop and this was almost a year ago.

At these prices I would seriously consider investing in a new laptop.

Actually $195AUD was the best deal I could find... normally at places like the 'laptop factory outlet' I'd have to pay $299-399 for a similar item... but thanks to eBay I can save a few pennies.

A new laptop will set me back at least $700AUD, and unfortunately they don't have LPT ports. And seeing as I'm only going keep this for 6-8 months until I finish the programming section of the course, it isn't a good investment.

[dood]

Re: Uni laptop

How about a Dell Latitude d400?

[seanc]

Re: Uni laptop

Agreed, D400 - I had one and loved it, I think the D600 have a couple of issues... don't hold me to that.

[mockingbird]

Re: Uni laptop

For a little more than $195 you can get a cheap netbook and grab a cheap USB to Parallel adapter..

[Scenic]

Re: Uni laptop

i'd take the toshiba and add a miniPCI WiFi/WLAN Card. antenna should be integrated already..

[kikkoman]

Re: Uni laptop

there are few REAL usb<->parallel adapters.
basically everything on the market is just usb printer adapters that don't work for anything else besides printers and scanners.
if it's just for programming µCs why don't you ask around if someone can lend you an old lappy?
-or try to get a different programmer. what exactly is it you intend to program?

[stj]

Re: Uni laptop

That was the exact reason why... when I was told they were lethal weapons...

they can be dangerous if you use them for long periods.
the antenna is very close and you get a lot of microwave exposure.
built-in wifi has the antenna in the lid behind the display so that the user is shielded.

[c_hegge]

Re: Uni laptop

To answer your question stevo, I'd go with the tecra. Just make sure you upgrade the RAM. IMO 256MB is nowhere near enough for any computer today, unless you use it only to run some old app in windows 98. I always recommend at least 1GB for any PC nowdays.

I don't think PCMCIA or USB wireless will be more harmfull to you or the laptop than inbuilt wireless.