More Laptops/netbooks

[versedaaron]

So I programming captain this year and my team has more programmers on the programming sub-team as all of our previous years combined , but also we are low on funds due to new PR leadership.
what would be a good idea for a few (about two or so, so that its more groups of 2 looking at the code and not groups of 4 using a mentors notebook as one) cheap notebooks that can run labview and aren't as slow as the driverstation/classmate .

[kamocat]

What do you call cheap?
I think $1000 is a reasonable price for a MacBook Pro, but that probably wouldn't be considered cheap.
Are you looking for something that comes with a Windows license?
It looks like the classmates are about $400. You can probably get something better for the same price (preferably with a CD drive). I would check newegg.com

One thing that slows down computers is installing lots of software. If you want to use a cheap computer for programming, don't install CAD software on it too. There are also system settings which can affect the computer performance.

[davidthefat]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834100063

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834200068


Those look fine, pretty cheap for easily affording 3 for the price of 1

[kamocat]

I actually would not recommend the iBook for running LabVIEW. NI has stopped supporting powerPC-based Macs, so unless you have a copy of LabVIEW 8.5, you won't be able to run it.

The Dell laptop looks pretty good. Realize, however, that it's only a 600MHz processor. You won't see amazing performance out of it, but it will work. Expect builds to take around 2 minutes.

[AdamHeard]

We just picked up a 15" inspiron from dell for $400 or so, not my personal tastes, but it is good for the pricerange.

[NotSoSiniSter]

If I were you, I would look for a local Computer store. They will always have used laptops to sell for cheap. Maybe you can find a good deal there.

[MrForbes]

Walmart....$350 for a cheap full size laptop. New. With dvd drive.

[EHaskins]

Originally Posted by squirrel

Walmart....$350 for a cheap full size laptop. New. With dvd drive.

I'll second that. There's no reason to be buying out dated or used equiptment when you can get a new machine for about $400 at WalMart.

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by kamocat

The Dell laptop looks pretty good. Realize, however, that it's only a 600MHz processor. You won't see amazing performance out of it, but it will work. Expect builds to take around 2 minutes.

It's a dual core 1.66 ghz processor, much better then a netbook. You're confusing the speed of the front side bus with the speed of the processor.

[vivek16]

Hey, I got my 1.6 ghz c2d, 2 gb ram, 120 gb hdd thinkpad tablet off ebay for about 650 with a dock. I thought it was a pretty good deal considering it's a tablet. Consider buying used (although it is a pain to sort through). Buy PC, they tend to be cheaper for similar performance (not a stab at apple, just something I've noticed). I've seen nice older models on ebay for about 400 which would be much better than what you would get new for 400.

[Tom Line]

Ebay, Ebay, Ebay.

Look for Dell Laptops coming back off corporate lease. $200-$225 for a 1.8 ghz intel with half a gigabyte of ram. I've bought 4 for various reasons (watching movies on my boat, etc). They're cheap, durable, and best of all parts can be had off ebay for next to nothing.

For example:

Here is a higher end one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/DELL-LAPTOP-LATi...item2eb070dd90

Here is a mid-range-price one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=200525052103

Here is a low end one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/LAPTOP-1-DELL-LA...item3cb1738bcd

All three will run labview with ease.

[kamocat]

Originally Posted by Joe Ross

It's a dual core 1.66 ghz processor, much better then a netbook. You're confusing the speed of the front side bus with the speed of the processor.

Thanks, I missed that.

[joek]

why duo core? get one w/ a quad-core (they do make those for laptops, right?)

[bscharles]

They're making laptops now with 8 cores (i7), although those are much higher-end (macbooks, alienware, etc.)

[gblake]

Originally Posted by Tom Line

Ebay, Ebay, Ebay.

Look for Dell Laptops coming back off corporate lease. ...

Tom - Do you happen to have puzzled out a good set of search keywords I/we could use to sort through the Ebay clutter and home in on just these offers? If you have, please post a copy of the search query they create.

Blake

For example, here are the terms from one of my Vex searches: vex -chest -dress -guitar -drum -zvex -z.vex -skateboard -benchmade -"sol-vex" -"Vex Red" -"Diablo 2" -"Hi Hat" -halter -"E-Vex" -xbox -"C-Vex" -"Vex x4" -roost -Nintendo -handlebars -verde -exemplars -airtronics -MTG -neopets -"controller chip"