Just a basic M42 - Page 2

strongmanmike (Michael) · #21 30-11-2009, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garyh

Did you boot the pc after it didn`t boot!
What a bummer especially after travelling and setting up. Had a same problem here the other week, darm thing would just turn it`self off any old time, grrrrrr
But still your composite image looks pretty good!
Do you use Registar for the different scale images?
cheers Gary

Cheers Gary

No I use Astroart4 for image registration - it's a great program. Unfortunately, like most excellent European products, it is not as well known in the Aust/US market, shame though as it is really great and the only image processing/camera control program I have used since starting CCD imaging back in mid 2003

.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Davis

Gorgeous!

The PC in my home observatory died (5 years old) and so I just went through the process of reconfiguring a new one. Pain in the b__t. It happens though, oh well...

Tom

Thanks Tom glad you liked it

Yes we have all had these issues, just wish it had happened in my back yard too, rather than an hour from home AND AFTER I had set everything up

Mike

AlexN · #22 30-11-2009, 05:21 PM

I got $10 says from now on you'll put the table out, and fire up the laptop before even pulling the pier out of the car... Not to mention the spaghetti central cable system!

strongmanmike (Michael) · #23 30-11-2009, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexN

I got $10 says from now on you'll put the table out, and fire up the laptop before even pulling the pier out of the car... Not to mention the spaghetti central cable system!

Ahhh...you very smart man (me not

)

Just got word from the computer fixers, seems it may be the motherboard, they are running some more tests

Kal (Andrew) · #24 30-11-2009, 05:50 PM

Sorry to hear about the computer failing to boot

I can sympathise, when I set up last week (only takes me about half an hour in the back yard) I had a problem too, meaning I had to pack up again. It was frustrating wasting that effort from a backyard setup, so I can imagine the frustration with a dark sky site travel/setup with a terminal failure.

spearo (Frank) · #25 01-12-2009, 07:19 PM

That's a great shot Mike!
frank

strongmanmike (Michael) · #26 01-12-2009, 10:21 PM

Thanks Frank

On the laptop front...well according to the computer repair people it is unrepairable

Seems there is a mjor fault on the motherboard and the parts are unavailable. They are removing the hard drive and putting it in an external casing so I can have all the data from it still.

Sooooo looks like Santa will be getting me a new laptop for Christmas...beforehand hopefully

.

Any suggestions as to the best model (under $1000 would be ideal)?

Mike

bluescope · #27 02-12-2009, 01:42 PM

You can get an Acer for under a grand ... as long as you don't want a laptop built like a tank ... I have 2 and they both work fine ... one is a dual core and cost was around $795 plus there was a cash back deal. Actually I ended up getting it for around $450 because it was ex display ... they didn't have a new one in a box so I got a further 20% off

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Thanks Frank

On the laptop front...well according to the computer repair people it is unrepairable

Seems there is a mjor fault on the motherboard and the parts are unavailable. They are removing the hard drive and putting it in an external casing so I can have all the data from it still.

Sooooo looks like Santa will be getting me a new laptop for Christmas...beforehand hopefully

.

Any suggestions as to the best model (under $1000 would be ideal)?

Mike

AlexN · #28 02-12-2009, 05:49 PM

As Steve said, The Acer's can be had cheap... I figure you can't go past a Dell myself... their prices, systems, quality and support are all fantastic...

bluescope · #29 02-12-2009, 09:57 PM

Here you go Mike ...............

http://www.harveynorman.com.au/m/ace...book-win7.html

strongmanmike (Michael) · #30 02-12-2009, 10:06 PM

Thanks Steve and Alex, that ACER Steve may be just a bit too light on..?

I'm leaning toward this:

http://tinyurl.com/yjbrvob

Mike

bluescope · #31 02-12-2009, 10:17 PM

The Asus looks good ... and not much difference pricewise anyway. I tend to prefer Intel chips to AMD Athlon but that's just personal choice. Athlons apparently run a bit hotter than Intel. The thing is that you don't really need a ripper, high speed laptop to guide and image with ... reliability is probably the key. Also when you go out in the field make sure you have some sort of protection from the elements for your computer ... even a cardboard box for it to sit in to stop that dew getting all over everything.

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Thanks Steve and Alex, that ACER Steve may be just a bit too light on..?

I'm leaning toward this:

http://tinyurl.com/yjbrvob

Mike

strongmanmike (Michael) · #32 02-12-2009, 10:25 PM

Quote:

... reliability is probably the key.

Yes but what makes a lappie "reliable" what does one look for? it all sounds so anecdotal? My now dead lappie has been perfectly fine for 4 years and hundreds of images, then one night it decides to pack it in out of the blue

Quote:

Also when you go out in the field make sure you have some sort of protection from the elements for your computer ... even a cardboard box for it to sit in to stop that dew getting all over everything.

Yes, well, that was something I never did bother with even in icey Canberra Winters, so perhaps I will from now on

..never know, could be important.

Cheers

bluescope · #33 02-12-2009, 10:26 PM

This Toshiba looks alright too ............... I only just noticed the Acer only has a 10.1" lcd ... they seem to be going for the smaller sized screens all of a sudden.

http://www.officeworks.com.au/retail...tops/TOL50001K

bluescope · #34 02-12-2009, 10:28 PM

Yes, well, that was something I never did bother with even in icey Canberra Winters, so perhaps I will from now on

..never know, could be important.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ......... I think so Mike ...... they aren't water proof

strongmanmike (Michael) · #35 02-12-2009, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluescope

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ......... I think so Mike ...... they aren't water proof

I never had trouble with dew on the keyboard keys - I think the natural heat in the base prevented this but the screen often got very dewy and then even ice would form on it when I was in Canberra

I always let it dryout first before storing it away though

.

bluescope · #36 02-12-2009, 10:40 PM

Anyway have fun buying a new laptop .... I just want to get back home to my observatory and do some imaging again .... can't even see the stars here in the city

I had surgery to remove a screw from my ankle last Wednesday and get the staples removed from that wound next Wednesday so hopefully it won't be too long before I am back driving and walking and can go home

Cheers