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[joff]

I'm looking at buying new/secondhand laptop so i can download the Stag dio and also use the tis on it. So what do i need

[RobG]

I'm looking at buying new/secondhand laptop so i can download the Stag dio and also use the tis on it. So what do i need

A laptop

[joff]

I'm looking at buying new/secondhand laptop so i can download the Stag dio and also use the tis on it. So what do i need

A laptop

You funny guy i shoot you last

[TheBoy]

Anything recent with a USB port.

Personally, I wouldn't buy anything that's not Core2 or later, and with a legit version of Win7. Core2, I'd go up to £40, i3 I'd go up to £120 if its 3rd gen with Ivy Bridge. Earlier i3's would be somewhere in between.

I'd avoid Pentium and Celeron, and *anything* AMD make. I'd also avoid discrete graphics, and rely on the 965/Series4 chipset graphics, or the onboard CPU graphics.

[joff]

Anything recent with a USB port.

Personally, I wouldn't buy anything that's not Core2 or later, and with a legit version of Win7. Core2, I'd go up to £40, i3 I'd go up to £120 if its 3rd gen with Ivy Bridge. Earlier i3's would be somewhere in between.

I'd avoid Pentium and Celeron, and *anything* AMD make. I'd also avoid discrete graphics, and rely on the 965/Series4 chipset graphics, or the onboard CPU graphics.

Thanks TB, so which makes does that give me?

[TheBoy]

I haven't narrowed it down to makes, and all manufacturers produce shite as well as good stuff.

My first choice if buying new would be something like HP 250 G2, but would not ever buy an HP Pavilion. Or I'd consider Dell Lattitude (but too pricey), and avoid Inspiron. I have a soft spot for Toshiba, and wouldn't allow any Acer in the house.

[joff]

Thanks TB I will have a look around

[TheBoy]

A 3rd gen, Ivy Bridge'd HP 250 G2 i3, 4Gb RAM can be had for around the £300 mark, brand spankers.  Mrs TB's older generation G1 (but still same 3110M i3) has been great (other than a Crucial SSD failing a few days ago, but that wasn't supplied with the laptop). Can't recommend it enough if you want a smaller laptop without a numeric pad added to the keyboard (a pet hate of mine). If you want the heavier type with numeric pad (and wider screen), Tosh have a similarly specced machine at a slightly cheaper price.

[chrisgixer]

For diags, both stag software and the lap top based code reader that must not be named, I use a netbook. Albeit with extra ram to make it usable.

Anything will do that runs at a reasonable speed.

So that aside, your just looking for a decent lap top. Period.

[chrisgixer]

To add, net book fits in the glove box. With leads.

[TheBoy]

You'll be hard pressed to by a netbook now.

Netbooks underspecced for everyday use, but do have the advantage of size and glovebox friendly. Low screen resolutions tends to cause trouble with manage laptop based diagnostics kit.  They definitely have a place in life, but I'm a bit wary of recommending them due to their downsides, any potential buyer needs to know their requirements before committing

[Gaffers]

I use a netbook for mine

[chrisgixer]

You'll be hard pressed to by a netbook now.

Netbooks underspecced for everyday use, but do have the advantage of size and glovebox friendly. Low screen resolutions tends to cause trouble with manage laptop based diagnostics kit.  They definitely have a place in life, but I'm a bit wary of recommending them due to their downsides, any potential buyer needs to know their requirements before committing

I wasn't recommending anything. But a netbook is ok for diags with a stick of ram. Therefor, anything will do for diags. That was all.

The point being, just buying a decent lap top is the priority. As diags will just work.

Did I mention not to worry about diags? ....and just look for a decent machine.


Jeez.

[chrisgixer]

Or, before Mary pipes up again, a small lap top.


...unless you have other more general uses of course.

[TheBoy]

You'll be hard pressed to by a netbook now.

Netbooks underspecced for everyday use, but do have the advantage of size and glovebox friendly. Low screen resolutions tends to cause trouble with manage laptop based diagnostics kit.  They definitely have a place in life, but I'm a bit wary of recommending them due to their downsides, any potential buyer needs to know their requirements before committing

I wasn't recommending anything. But a netbook is ok for diags with a stick of ram. Therefor, anything will do for diags. That was all.

The point being, just buying a decent lap top is the priority. As diags will just work.

Did I mention not to worry about diags? ....and just look for a decent machine.


Jeez.

Aye, no diags software should tax a modernish lappy

Beware, if your diags hardware relies on bit bashing a serial port, go for a laptop with a proper, genuine COM1 port, as most will struggle through an adapter, even modern, fast laptops. This tends to be older diags hardware like cheapo tech2. Proper serial ports do not exist on modern laptops.


Size wise, that's preference. I like the smaller size of the type mrs gixer has. Perfect compromise of portability and function IMHO. Some prefer the extra size of those with the wider screen, and don't mind the reduction in portability. Netbook is what gets thrown in suitcase for holidays etc.

Obviously I'm lucky enough to have a couple of dedicated laptops for diags (both older, both with real serial ports).