Laptop Upgrade - Advice Please

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

I don't recall having used the DSI to autoguide with using the T20, normally I just use the ToUcam. However the T20 does recognize the DSI (I have the original version of the DSI) through both the Autostar Suite, Envisage plus I can also bring it up on K3CCDTools V3 so I don't see any reason why it wouldn't. If I get a chance tonight I'll see if I can try it out for you. One thing though, if it is anything like the LPI you will need DirectX 9 to run it.

[Kal (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Tamtarn

We're looking at paying up to $700

If you are looking to go up to $700 then you are entering the entry price for a brand new notebook as well. You might want to consider:

$798 (before cashback) with a $149 cashback + free bag offer (effectively $649)

Acer Extensa 5210-300508 - Celeron M 520 / 1.6 GHz - RAM 512 MB - HDD 80 GB - DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM - GMA 950 - Gigabit Ethernet - WLAN : 802.11b/g - Vista Home Basic - 15.4" Widescreen TFT 1280 x 800 ( WXGA )

Edit: Also just saw an Ad on TV for a hp notebook that was $597 after cashback at Harvey Norman. Not sure of the specs but it might be worth looking into.

[norm]

Norm, on info we have been able to obtain correct me if I am wrong is the T42 a 2002 model and the T41P a 2004 model ?

Hi Barb/Dave,

Apologies for the late response. To be honest, not sure on the years, but checking thinkwiki, it states 2004 and 2003 respectively. I recall getting my T42 around late 2003.

[Tamtarn]

Thanks for the advice on helping us choose a laptop everyone.

We were very lucky yesterday to pick up an IBM T42 in excellent condition for $649 at the same company we purchased our recent new desktop.

It certainly is a good little notebook.....very light and very fast.
2GHZ Processor 1GIG Ram 40GIG HD

Thanks Geoff : Norm : Doug : Paul : Paul (Zuts) : and Eric for your help in steering us in the right direction

The info you sent Geoff was a great help.

It amazes us to think that this laptop new 3 years ago was worth over $2000.
A bit like buying a new car I guess

David

[Tamtarn]

Originally Posted by gbeal

OK, curved ball. Does it need to be portable? What I am saying here is, can a desktop be used? If so (and this is what I do) think a better quality desktop, on a trolley that allows you to move it outside.
Gary

Thought about a desktop on a trolley Gary, and this would work good on our homesite but we decided on the laptop for portability for when travelling.

Thanks for the suggestion

David

[Tamtarn]

Andrew, thanks for info on the Acer Extensa it seemed like a nice unit.

We really wanted to stick with XP as our two desktops are running XP and there seems to be some uncertainty on running certain programs with Vista at this time.

When we queried several dealers they said they could not remove Vista and set up the Acer with XP. ( maybe they didn't want to ).

So in the end we went for the IBM T42 as it suited our needs for auto guiding with the DSI Pro.

Thanks again for your input.

David

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

I queried a number of places about replacing Vista with XP and the reply I received was that they could only sell the machines as is, if Vista was bundled that was how they had to sell them. If I replaced it with my own copy I would void warranty (don't know how that would be as I am not changing anything in the way of hardware only adding software). The only success I had was with Asus. I could install my own copy of XP with np.

[Tamtarn]

When purchasing our laptop, we also tried to see if we could trade in our old Toshiba but nobody really offered us much for it, so we decided we would keep it as a spare.

On heading back to our car after purchasing the IBM a guy approached us in the carpark and said he had overheard in the shop we that we had a laptop to trade or sell and he wanted one for his son.

So we finished up getting a reasonable price for our old machine as well which helped to make our day

[Tamtarn]

Maybe it's a store thing Paul

The dealer where we have bought our last two units ( the laptop and recent desktop ) simply said tell what you want and I'll set it up that way.

Then again he is an IT technician and these things don't seem to be such a problem to him.

I think for any other purchases we will just go back there for their service is good as well.

Having just said that, it looks like our printer is dying !!!!

[Kal (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by [1ponders]

I queried a number of places about replacing Vista with XP and the reply I received was that they could only sell the machines as is, if Vista was bundled that was how they had to sell them. If I replaced it with my own copy I would void warranty (don't know how that would be as I am not changing anything in the way of hardware only adding software). The only success I had was with Asus. I could install my own copy of XP with np.

I used to work on the phones doing IT support and the warranty only effectively covered hardware anyway. With regards to software, as soon as you powered it up and the OS was running, you pretty much void software support as soon as you use it. From then on if you wanted software support you had to pay for it. The only time the warranty would cover the software was if you powered it up for the first time and it didn't load properly. In other words, double click an icon, or install a completely new operating system is just about the same thing from a support point of view! This was nearly a decade ago when I worked for DEC (still work for the same company now, just after two takeovers and doing different work) , I doubt much would have changed.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

I was thinking along the similar lines as well Andrew. Well the shop didn't make a sale that day and I kept my money in my pocket as they didn't have an Asus that appealed to me.