What Laptop Are You Running DSMlink on??

[95CarbonEclipse]

I'm thinking of getting DSMlink sometime in the near future and would like to have all the components in place before receiving the software. My question is... what laptop to get? I know that it needs to have a DB9 port, and that most older laptops have that... but I'd really like to get a laptop that isn't solely dedicated to just DSMlink. I mean, I'd like to be able to log on to the net wirelessly with it and be able to store a few gigs of music. It'd be nice if it could play DVD's too.

Any suggestions? Also, where's the best place to pick up an older laptop for a good price?

 

[MrBoxx]

I'm using a 3 year old Compaq Presario, no DB9 port. Get yourself a Keyspan Adapter ($40 or so at an electronics store) and you're set. It converts DB9 to USB 2.0, and is the one recommended most by DSMLink users.

My laptop also plays DVD's, holds music, pictures, goes online, and did homework when I went to school.

 

[95CarbonEclipse]

Okay... so whats a good laptop for around $200-300??

 

[absolute_DSM]

eBay! I just picked up my Dell Latitude LS laptop for $95 shipped. Perfect condition, XP came with it even. Its solely for the car so it only has a 6gb HD but thats plenty for DSMlink and music

 

[asexton6969]

I spent $600 and got a brand new dell inspiron 1.66 dual core processor. 2 gigs ram, 100+ gb hard drive, dvd-rw drive, etc, etc. It will run dsmlink just fine and hey works great for games and everything else.

BTW I have an older compaq laptop. I no longer use. Boots up and everything but sometimes gets the blue screen of death. If you installed a new version of windows to wipe this out. Im sure it would be a perfect laptop for dsmlink. I honestly don't want much out of it. $50 and you pay shipping or something. Its only taking up room. Its not the best laptop as I have taken apart a few times but it works. OR go with something else.

 

[95CarbonEclipse]

^^^Yea dude... I'm not looking to spend $600.

Absolute, I don't suppose your laptop has wifi? I guess for $100 I could live without wireless... but if there's one out there for like $200 that does have wireless, I'd like to know what it is.

 

[snowborder714]

I'm running an ancient Dell Inspiron that has 32MB of RAM and was meant to have Windows 95 on it. It takes about 10 minutes to fully start up, but it still works. However, I've been looking for something a bit better.

I would check eBay, classifieds, local ads in the paper, craigslist, etc. If you're willing to spend a bit more (say $400 - $550), you could look at the very basic computers from Dell, HP, etc.

 

[big_d]

I saved mine from the dumpster Its an old HP Omnibook. It needed a hard drive, so I shelled out $35 for a 40 GB on ebay and put XP on her. Works great for logging

 

[95CarbonEclipse]

I'm looking at one of those Toshiba Portege M200 tablet notebooks.... I kinda like how you can fold it up and flip it. I just think that it would be easier to work with while sitting in my car.

 

[99gst_racer]

Yeah, just go to eBay and search "Dell Latitude". I have a couple of these things - one that I leave in the car just for Link. I traded my old AFPR for one of them, and a 6-bolt block for the other. You should be able to pick one up from eBay for about $100-$150.

Whatever you get, make sure it's relatively small. You'd be surprised at how large a laptop can appear when sitting in the cabin of a DSM. Also, for older laptops, the more "crap" you load the hard drive up with, the slower Link will run/compute. I eventually ended up reformatting mine and only put the Link program on it.

 

[SBR Joe]

IBM thinkpad. I picked mine up on EBAY for 160 shipped with Windows XP installed.


Joe

 

[housegsx]

I use an old Dell Latitude c610 I "borrowed" from work. And I have 6 spare batteries.
Actually, I have 3 latitudes and two newer Inspirons. And a IBM, but it needs a battery. The 610 is the best for me to use with dsmlink.

Does anyone have or know where to get something that would make the cig lighter switch to a regular plug so I could run on my power supply instead of just battery? Radio Shack maybe???

 

[99gst_racer]

Does anyone have or know where to get something that would make the cig lighter switch to a regular plug so I could run on my power supply instead of just battery? Radio Shack maybe???

I keep a power inverter under the seat. It's made to be plugged into the cig lighter, but I'm going to hardwire mine to the car this winter. I just keep my laptop plugged in all the time while in my car. They can be had for $25-$40 almost anywhere (Best Buy, Walmart, meijer, AutoZone, etc....).

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[SBR Joe]

I use an old Dell Latitude c610 I "borrowed" from work. And I have 6 spare batteries.
Actually, I have 3 latitudes and two newer Inspirons. And a IBM, but it needs a battery. The 610 is the best for me to use with dsmlink.

Does anyone have or know where to get something that would make the cig lighter switch to a regular plug so I could run on my power supply instead of just battery? Radio Shack maybe???

you can get a power inverter at Advance Auto or sears, probably Radio shack too. It plugs into the cig lighter and has one or two plugs outlet plugs on it. A must for tuning, it sucks when the battery dies..

EDIT: ^^^^ 99 gst beat me too it.

Joe

 

[housegsx]

^Thank you guys. That's what I was thinking of, I just couldn't remember what they were called.

Yeah, my battery died on my first pull and I was pissed.

 

[90laserRSfwd]

So any laptop would work, new one I mean, with the keyspan adapter. I've always paid a guy to tune my car because I didn't know what laptop to buy and I would not even consider putting my desktop in the car!

 

[snowborder714]

So any laptop would work, new one I mean, with the keyspan adapter. I've always paid a guy to tune my car because I didn't know what laptop to buy and I would not even consider putting my desktop in the car!

Yep, any laptop should work (with Mac's and Linux laptops taking a bit more to get working) with the Keyspan adapter.

 

[95CarbonEclipse]

Yeah, just go to eBay and search "Dell Latitude". I have a couple of these things - one that I leave in the car just for Link. I traded my old AFPR for one of them, and a 6-bolt block for the other. You should be able to pick one up from eBay for about $100-$150.

Whatever you get, make sure it's relatively small. You'd be surprised at how large a laptop can appear when sitting in the cabin of a DSM. Also, for older laptops, the more "crap" you load the hard drive up with, the slower Link will run/compute. I eventually ended up reformatting mine and only put the Link program on it.

Thanks for the advice... I figured since it's a major PITA just to get my cell phone out of my pocket when in my car, that I would want something reletively small when looking for a laptop.

Just for the record, does the Dell Latitude fold up like a tablet PC does? I know I can search for it on ebay, but I like to get information like that inserted into the thread for the few people that still use the search button.

 

[snowborder714]

Just for the record, does the Dell Latitude fold up like a tablet PC does? I know I can search for it on ebay, but I like to get information like that inserted into the thread for the few people that still use the search button.

I believe the Dell Latitude XT is their only tablet.

 

[Big Al 389]

I got a Dell lattitude c600 with xp and a new wireless card,256 megs of memory and a new 40 gig hard drive off ebay for $210 shipped.I works great for Dsmlink.
Al

 

[absolute_DSM]

Like I said above, Its a Dell Latitude LS... 500mhz, 128mb of RAM, 6gb HD. Solely used for DSMlink and an auxilary port on my cd deck in the car. Oh and I can throw a $10 card in it and be wireless.

Its running XP fairly well and remember - I picked this up for $95 shipped on eBay. You just have to keep your eyes open and the deals will show up.

I use a DB9 to USB connecter for DSMlink and a 200w DC to AC power inverter wired into the car so I never have to use the battery.

Check out how small this thing is. Im 5'9" and 165, so Im not a big guy

 

[99gst_racer]

^^^ I have that EXACT same laptop in my car right now. I love it. I couldn't imagine comfortably using anything larger.

 

[95CarbonEclipse]

I'm sold!! I'll be keeping my eyes open for something similar with maybe 256mb of RAM so that XP won't give me as many problems.

 

[absolute_DSM]

I'm sold!! I'll be keeping my eyes open for something similar with maybe 256mb of RAM so that XP won't give me as many problems.

It came with XP, Ill eventually be swiping it and going back to 98 SE! (Although, no problems so far with running XP on it)

 

[95CarbonEclipse]

The Dell C400's look to be a pretty sweet setup with the features I'm looking for and for a good price