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OT: Cheap Laptop
flak monkey - 24/5/08 at 04:22 PM

I am after a cheap, but reasonable spec laptop for carting around when on holiday etc to dump photos and videos onto, and to use to retrieve the datalogged info from my Aim Digidash.

Basically looking for something along these lines:

Win XP - with the disc preferably!
Wireless
A decent battery or 2
USB
Something nice and slim/small

Theres loads on ebay, I know, but I would rather buy from a 'reliable' source.

If anyone has something let me know, and how much.

Cheers,
David

tegwin - 24/5/08 at 04:35 PM

Find a used Dell X300 on ebay...should be around £300 or so..

Wireless, really thin and light...decent disk...Doesnt have a serial port though...


Or the IMB x31, similar size, but a bit stiffer....(I have used the x300 as a frisbee and its still going!

russbost - 24/5/08 at 05:32 PM

David
Is it worth risking a second hand unit with no warranty? You can buy brand new for £299 & get half reasonable spec.

Jubal - 24/5/08 at 07:00 PM

Several of the older Dells are super light and small for taking with you. I have two Dell X1s for just this purpose. The X300 is nearly as good. Anything you buy new at the price point will be larger. However, when my X1s die I am going to buy an Eee and stick XP on them. Hopefully there will be something with a decent screen at the right price by then.

pajsh - 24/5/08 at 07:39 PM

quote:
Originally posted by russbost
David
Is it worth risking a second hand unit with no warranty? You can buy brand new for £299 & get half reasonable spec.


No it ain't worth it.

I bought one from a "reliable source" on here and the battery was US, the mouse pointer dodgy and the screen finally went pop.

Returned to seller 8 month ago and still no laptop & no cash. Despite many U2U's

Buy new!

[Edited on 24/5/08 by pajsh]

tegwin - 25/5/08 at 12:58 AM

I guess its just luck...

But I have bought 3 laptops off ebay and none of them have given me any grief...

Incidentally, a dDell x300, and IMB X31 and a JVC mini note...

The mini note is pretty cool and seriously small!

ChrisW - 25/5/08 at 02:44 AM

I've got a Toshiba Libretto 100CT mini laptop which would be ideal. I've had it from new, and been hanging on to it in case it might come in handy one day..... but that day hasn't come in the last 5 years, so I'd let it go if it was any good to you. If I remember correctly, it's a Pentium 233 chip underclocked to 166.

Ok, it's crap compared to today's spec, but it is tiny, has a serial port, and an 'upgraded' 6gb hard disk and 64MB ram. I've run XP on it, but it's a lot quicker on an older version. Needs a new battery, but comes with with the original box and as many accessories as I can find. The original receipt is probably in there too.

Perfect for Megasquirt, or whatever you are running, and easy to stash away when you park up.

£75 ono

Chris

flak monkey - 27/5/08 at 03:03 PM

Thanks Chris, but I really want something a bit higher spec than that as I need to run XP or win 2k as a minimum due to the drivers for my Aim dashboard.

Serial port isnt an issue for me as I dont run Megasquirt. Though it would be useful if Sarah decides to go that way with hers.

David

flak monkey - 28/5/08 at 07:36 PM

Got myself a Dell Latitude L400 in the end. Should be here friday....