Computer networking

[telecasterguru]

I want to buy a little notepad to use while in the field imaging so that I don't have tyo drag the laptop around and also because the laptop really sucks the juice. I understand that notebooks require less power to operate.

Therefore I have a couple of questions.

What is a good netbook to buy?

Also, I have been told that the easiest way to use the software programs that are on the laptop is by networking it to the netbook. Is this correct. If it is, how would I go about doing it?

Thanks for any help,

Frank

[pmrid]

Frank, I would caution you about setting your expectations for these small computers too high. These little sub-notebooks just don't have the processing grunt to do all that much. My ASUS, EeePC 701, for example, is fine running a guide cam and PHD, for example, but almost comes to a halt if I try to run an imaging program either alone or, worse, in parallel with PHD or others. Their CPUs are just not as capable as the larger machines.
In the field, if you want to guide and image, you'll need to be able to run either MaximDL or PHD/Nebulosity and you may also want to run a planetarium program: these little guys just can't cut it.
Peter

[telecasterguru]

Peter,

I was hoping to use both PHD for guiding and either Canon utilities or Nebulosity for capture.

Frank

[DavidU]

I think Octane is a big fan of the Aspire 1. My son has one and it is VERY good with battery life. When (and if) I ever get my camera etc I will probably get one too.
http://www.pcauthority.com.au/News/115784,first-pics-acer-aspire-one-better-than-the-eee-pc.aspx

[pmrid]

I understand a new generation of low-power CPU is either in place or coming: a dual-core ATOM processor that, because of hyperthreading actually thinks it is a quad-core. This may well be worth investigating or even waiting for.
Peter

[multiweb]

Hi Frank, you saw the Toshiba satellite I ran with an inverter off a gel cell battery in Crago. I can get two full nights out of it. If you dim your screen and run only the services needed to run the rig you can still go a long way.

[AstroGuy]

Hi Peter, :)

Sounds like you have been there and done that! :D Peter, Have you tried a small program on a netbook called guidedog? was playing around with it some months ago and it seems quite lite on the cpu. I ask because I too am thinking along the same lines as Frank.

I'm thinking if worse comes to worse, I'll write my own guiding software. The ST4 guide port protocol is simple enough to get around, just turn on a line and the scope slews in that direction, easy. You can control the port using a modified USB to Parrallel port (printer interface) converter to drive the ST4 port with some simple wiring and cheap optocouplers. Using the 8bit data lines on the USB>Parrallel interface, connections on the ST4 guideport can be turned either on or off through software. Those USB to parrallel thingoes are so cheap on eBay, like $5 delivered worldwide. I could probably build the whole thing for under $20.00 AUD and a few hours work. ;)

Sorry guys I tend to rave on at times :P

[White Rabbit]

I have an eepc 1000h with two gig of ram installed and I can run just about anything on it. If I'm stackin with dss it can take a while but it handles photo shop cs4 no problem.

I use back yard eos, phd and starry night pro plus 6 at the same time with out a problem.

Make sure you up the ram when you get it.

[GrampianStars]

Yep agree Just get one of these Toshiba's
https://www.mln.com.au/product/?itemID=812&typeID=special
will do all you ask of it :thumbsup: