Classmate PC

[lon.bushweiler]

Does anyone have a link where our team could purchase a second Classmate PC that has been configured for FIRST? All of the places we have found so far are the standard Classmate.

[Joe Ross]

Is there any reason you specifically want a FIRST customized classmate?

You can run the DS software on any computer, or buy a cheaper netbook.

[lon.bushweiler]

We were hoping to keep our platform consistent during development.

[Pausert]

Just buy a normal Classmate from any source and then image it with the backup flash drive that FIRST gave you in the KOP. Will that serve your purpose?

[umangv620]

The Classmate PC has been discontinued. I am sure FIRST has a few extra, but you won't find them easily on the internet.

[tdressel]

Like the originator of this thread, I'm interested to acquire a 2nd Classmate to allow parallel work. Given the unit is discontinued, I was thinking of two veins of thought.

1 - acquire a similar model Classmate and HOPE the Restoration USB stick works on it.

2 - interrogate what's on the classmate and go about seeing if I can replicate everything that's on it onto 'some other laptop' and see if that works for us.

I was wondering if anyone has purchased a similar model Classmate and was able to do route 1 above -and-or- gone about 'creating' a Classmate like DS?

-Ted Dressel, Mentor, Team 1111

[SuperJake]

The GDC responded to posts in the official Q&A. Here is their response: http://forums.usfirst.org/showthread.php?t=13805

Basically, you can order this model as a direct replacement and it is authorized for use at a competition.

[nitsua60]

Ahh... but does anybody know if the image works on the authorized REPLACEMENT classmate? I've asked that question to FIRST and will post if I get a response. But has anyone been bold enough to actually pull the trigger and buy a replacement and see whether the KoP image works on it?

[Greg McKaskle]

Beta teams used a variety of Classmates, but they were imaged by hand. You can certainly use the installers and updates to get pretty close to the classmate. I don't know how the current restore USB image was built. I would expect it to be fine, but if doesn't work on the other classmate model, one can certainly be built.

Greg McKaskle