Computer Advice Needed
#41
That would be more than adequate for both tuning and sitting-on-the-couch web surfing.
Folks don't seem to recognize just how little computing power it takes to tune a Megasquirt. My old tuning machine was a Fujitsu Stylistic 3400, which had a 400 Mhz Pentium 3 and 128 megabytes of RAM.
Folks don't seem to recognize just how little computing power it takes to tune a Megasquirt. My old tuning machine was a Fujitsu Stylistic 3400, which had a 400 Mhz Pentium 3 and 128 megabytes of RAM.
I have an old, ancient Via Epia 800mhz tuning it atm with 128mb of RAM in WinXP.
For those just tuning in, an 800mhz Via Epia is as fast as a 400mhz P3 on a good day.
On the other hand, pr0n surfing may take up a lot of hardware if he's into videos. /Uh oh, did the topic just drift to what **** he surfs?
#42
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For what it's worth I had one of those Dell Minis die after 6 or so months of moderate usage. It was quite a while ago though I'm sure by now it's different hardware.
I still say don't go with a minibook/netbook/etc.. Get a 15.6" laptop so you actually have a decent resolution. I hate looking at webpages or tuning the MS on anything smaller. Might as well just use a smart phone or something.
As for power required to tune, I used a PIII ancient Dell for a bit just fine
I still say don't go with a minibook/netbook/etc.. Get a 15.6" laptop so you actually have a decent resolution. I hate looking at webpages or tuning the MS on anything smaller. Might as well just use a smart phone or something.
As for power required to tune, I used a PIII ancient Dell for a bit just fine
#43
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I hate looking at webpages or tuning the MS on anything smaller. Might as well just use a smart phone or something.
#45
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+1.
I have an old, ancient Via Epia 800mhz tuning it atm with 128mb of RAM in WinXP.
For those just tuning in, an 800mhz Via Epia is as fast as a 400mhz P3 on a good day.
On the other hand, pr0n surfing may take up a lot of hardware if he's into videos. /Uh oh, did the topic just drift to what **** he surfs?
I have an old, ancient Via Epia 800mhz tuning it atm with 128mb of RAM in WinXP.
For those just tuning in, an 800mhz Via Epia is as fast as a 400mhz P3 on a good day.
On the other hand, pr0n surfing may take up a lot of hardware if he's into videos. /Uh oh, did the topic just drift to what **** he surfs?
For what it's worth I had one of those Dell Minis die after 6 or so months of moderate usage. It was quite a while ago though I'm sure by now it's different hardware.
I still say don't go with a minibook/netbook/etc.. Get a 15.6" laptop so you actually have a decent resolution. I hate looking at webpages or tuning the MS on anything smaller. Might as well just use a smart phone or something.
As for power required to tune, I used a PIII ancient Dell for a bit just fine
I still say don't go with a minibook/netbook/etc.. Get a 15.6" laptop so you actually have a decent resolution. I hate looking at webpages or tuning the MS on anything smaller. Might as well just use a smart phone or something.
As for power required to tune, I used a PIII ancient Dell for a bit just fine
I'm not really concerned with screen size or resolution. Like I said earlier, I have other computers, just none I can take with me in the car anymore. At this point I don't think it's worth shelling out the extra cash for screen size.
A 10-12" machine is not only perfectly adequate for tuning and web surfing, but far easier to deal with inside a small car. I'm typing this on one right now while watching Big Bang Theory and drinking rum & coke, and I can honestly say that at no point during the evening have I thought to myself "gee, I wish I had something several inches larger and several pounds heavier sitting on my lap."
Once TunerStudio (or something like it) is available on any tablet platform, I will immediately buy one.
Once TunerStudio (or something like it) is available on any tablet platform, I will immediately buy one.
As soon as Android phones/tablets can do Tunerstudio.......I would get one immediately.
Pretty much irrelevant for my interests with the netbook. I have a nice monitor on my main computer.
#48
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If you are okay with 10-12" that is fine. I had a nice netbook with a 10" screen and could not stand it for tuning. It had a 95% full size keyboard but still felt off every time I used it. After it died on me I switched back to a 15.6" and realized how much better it was. Never really had issues it's size while in the miata. In fact I had more issues with the smaller netbook which didn't fit very well anywhere I put it. I could set my laptop in the seat next to me and very easily see everything. Or even on my lap if need be. The netbook kept falling off me since it didn't have much surface area and didn't balance well. And setting it on the passenger seat meant it was hard to glance quick and see.
But in the end it's all preferences.
But in the end it's all preferences.
#51
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If you are okay with 10-12" that is fine. I had a nice netbook with a 10" screen and could not stand it for tuning. It had a 95% full size keyboard but still felt off every time I used it. After it died on me I switched back to a 15.6" and realized how much better it was. Never really had issues it's size while in the miata. In fact I had more issues with the smaller netbook which didn't fit very well anywhere I put it. I could set my laptop in the seat next to me and very easily see everything. Or even on my lap if need be. The netbook kept falling off me since it didn't have much surface area and didn't balance well. And setting it on the passenger seat meant it was hard to glance quick and see.
But in the end it's all preferences.
But in the end it's all preferences.
First world problems, lol.
#53
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For general use, I agree that 800x600 is too small. Both of my subcomact laptops, fortunately, have good displays. The 11" Sony Vaio TXN was 1366x768, and my 12.5" Dell E4200 is 1280x800. When I am on the road (which is usually for weeks or months at a time) I honestly don't feel deprived by this. And the keyboards? Admittedly, some of the Netbooks have crappy keyboards, but it's more about key placement (especially right-shift) than size. I have fairly large hands (I wear an XL in motorcycle gloves) and don't have any problem at all with them.
The 1024x600 displays on the $200 machines would fall into the range of "acceptable" for general-purpose use (eg: sitting on the couch), although we're starting to see 1366x768 displays on some of the better netbooks.
If you are okay with 10-12" that is fine. I had a nice netbook with a 10" screen and could not stand it for tuning. It had a 95% full size keyboard but still felt off every time I used it. After it died on me I switched back to a 15.6" and realized how much better it was.
For the first 9 years that I worked for Harris (1999-2008) I always had company-issued Dell laptops in the 15" class. In 2008 I bought my first "small" laptop (the aforementioned 11" Sony Vaio) and was immediately hooked. I'm now on my second "small" laptop (the aforementioned Dell) and have decided that I will never buy a laptop larger than 11-12" class again. And again, remember that when I'm away from home and living in a hotel, often for a month or two at a time, this is my primary computer. At home, I have a 28" monitor on my "big" computer, and yet I just don't want anything larger than 11-12" when I'm using a laptop.
#55
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I'm stuck in this hotel for 5 weeks and I would kill myself if I had anything smaller than my 15.6". Browsing webpages and having to scroll forever is so annoying. I like my desktop space. I often have two screens side by side as well for super efficient multitasking.
I've considered hooking the laptop up to the 32" TV (the hotel room actually provides you with a decent VGA cable and they have a nice input on the desk for it). But I won't be able to increase the resolution this way any so not much of a point.
I've considered hooking the laptop up to the 32" TV (the hotel room actually provides you with a decent VGA cable and they have a nice input on the desk for it). But I won't be able to increase the resolution this way any so not much of a point.
#56
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I'm stuck in this hotel for 5 weeks and I would kill myself if I had anything smaller than my 15.6". Browsing webpages and having to scroll forever is so annoying. I like my desktop space. I often have two screens side by side as well for super efficient multitasking.
I've considered hooking the laptop up to the 32" TV (the hotel room actually provides you with a decent VGA cable and they have a nice input on the desk for it). But I won't be able to increase the resolution this way any so not much of a point.
I've considered hooking the laptop up to the 32" TV (the hotel room actually provides you with a decent VGA cable and they have a nice input on the desk for it). But I won't be able to increase the resolution this way any so not much of a point.
#57
Yo Bro,
1280x800 or 1366x768 or bust. Browsing the web on my 10" Acer EeePC netbook at 1024x600 is not very optimal.
12" screen size minimum 14-16" preferred, I believe this will exclude the above resolution limitation.
Processor: Aim for at least 2ghz dual core. My Acer netbook, even with the best 1.5ghz dual core processor, can make internet browsing a waiting game.
HP and Acer are my current favorites. I should mention the Dell Vostro 1000 I purchased many years ago is still going strong without any sort of design flaws. The battery has needed replacement and I had to clean a quilt of dirt off the heat sinks, but that is to be expected every few years.
Last note: Screen finish can have an effect on visibility for tuning in the miata. I much prefer the matte finish on my vostro 1000 vs the glossy finish of my sager np8690.
Here, have some vodka.
1280x800 or 1366x768 or bust. Browsing the web on my 10" Acer EeePC netbook at 1024x600 is not very optimal.
12" screen size minimum 14-16" preferred, I believe this will exclude the above resolution limitation.
Processor: Aim for at least 2ghz dual core. My Acer netbook, even with the best 1.5ghz dual core processor, can make internet browsing a waiting game.
HP and Acer are my current favorites. I should mention the Dell Vostro 1000 I purchased many years ago is still going strong without any sort of design flaws. The battery has needed replacement and I had to clean a quilt of dirt off the heat sinks, but that is to be expected every few years.
Last note: Screen finish can have an effect on visibility for tuning in the miata. I much prefer the matte finish on my vostro 1000 vs the glossy finish of my sager np8690.
Here, have some vodka.
#58
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Bit of a slight sidebar as it's probably outside of the target price range, but I just came across the new Asus Zenbook/Ultrabook, and from the specs alone, it looks like a hell of a nice machine. If my Dell were to kick the bucket anytime soon, I expect I'd probably grab one of these:
http://usa.asus.com/Notebooks/Superi...specifications
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+U...8#BVRRWidgetID
11.6" display, 1366x768, 128 gig SSD, and available with any of the Core i-series processors.
#60
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I bought the Dell that I last posted (250gb) and after talking to Lars (shuiend) I am going to install Ubuntu on it and have a good setup for car tuning and internet on the go.
I'm actually really excited to try Ubuntu. If I like it enough I'll install it on my frankestein desktop/laptop.
I'm actually really excited to try Ubuntu. If I like it enough I'll install it on my frankestein desktop/laptop.