Show Laptops - opinions?

[swamidog]

yeah... the top U in my rack is actually a shelf. typically i have the network switch, the etherdream, and sometimes the qm.net zip tied to it. it fits fine, but i can slip it in there and take a photo, if you like.

I agree there are plusses and I'm sort of giving it consideration. I've been running through your parts list and checking prices online. Can a QM fit in something like that? I see you have a .net box sitting on top of the rack.

[Bradfo69]

No, not in the flight case. I meant inside the 2U server case so the card is seated on the motherboard or on a daughtercard.

[swamidog]

the qm2k card is pretty old school huge. you'd probably have to use a horizontal riser adapter. best check with pangolin.

No, not in the flight case. I meant inside the 2U server case so the card is seated on the motherboard or on a daughtercard.

[The_Doctor]

An Etherdream might fit in there, depending on how space is used. I'd aim for an optical mouse because those can use as little as a 3'' wide space, I used one on the narrow arm of an armchair for years. Software to amplify screen motion according to the speed of mouse movement helps. And some keyboards have trackballs but that puts cost up and choices are dramatically reduced.

Screens can vary, but you get choice. I looked up Norty's recommendation of the ThinkPad, and it's a very nice looking machine, but I have trouble reconciling 'wafer thin screen' with 'robust'. Maybe modern methods managed things beyond my imagining, but I like an ELO touchscreen that is solid enough such that if some angry geezer decided to punch it, he'd likely break his knuckles and nothing else. Those screens add weight for sure, but the bulk is fairly low, and they turn up cheap on eBay often enough to be considered. The combination of touch screen and awesome video quality is hard to beat. And as many of them run on 12V it's easy to use one big PSU at 12V for that and the computer, plus the easy choice of battery power if needed.

The main thing is that if something breaks, it's usually a cheap peripheral, so no serious downtime or expense.

[norty303]

I use ELO touchscreens where I need a touchscreen, but for laser control these days I use a control surface exclusively. Once I'm running I very rarely have to touch the laptop so it becomes a display device only.
I've got a second surface of just knobs to add at some point, exclusively for modifying abstracts on the fly.

The T series are really very robust. They have a titanium chassis and shock proof disks. They are very popular with sound and lighting guys, along with the Toughbooks

[The_Doctor]

Toughbooks I have heard of, but I got scared by the price. Titanium chassis sounds scary expensive too. Incidentally I might be looking for a 1280x1024 19'' ELO touchscreen with surface wave sensing if you or someone else in the UK is selling one. I know Jem has one, but he's using it. I have two 17'' ones, but my eyesight would be relieved to get a 19'' screen. Open frame type is good, I prefer that to fancy stand mounts...

[norty303]

T series Thinkpads are very expensive from new (starting at £900, up to 'lots'), but you don't need new.
As they are 'business class' they come with 3 year on site warranty, so a 2 year old one can be had for a few hundred quid on ebay if you shop wisely.
If its bust, you just call the warranty in.

I paid ~£250 for my Core2Duo T61 2GB RAM, 100GB HDD hi-res screen about 3 or so years ago, with 10 months warranty remaining. That was a £1500 machine when new.
Even with 4 FB3 connected I can't really stress the CPU even running some very complex abstracts and multiple zones, the limit seems to be RAM for the workspace, and thats easily and cheaply expanded.

W series are the workstations, so come with a slightly friendlier screen size, number pad keybaord layout, but can go up to even bigger money. I think they also pack the hardcore chassis, etc

T540p is the one to look for I think in a couple of years time on the used market.

T530 for the here and now, usually with biometric fingerprint scanner which is a great way of securing a show laptop on site

No spare ELO's unfortunately, and all mine are 15's as they align screen legends correctly with my lighting desk wing.

[masterpj]

No laptop. Microsoft surface pro all the way man

[The_Doctor]

W series are the workstations, so come with a slightly friendlier screen size, number pad keybaord layout, but can go up to even bigger money. I think they also pack the hardcore chassis, etc

T540p is the one to look for I think in a couple of years time on the used market.

Nice. While I never wanted a laptop before, this would be the way to do it if I change my mind. Good gear as it begins to reach its end-of-line drop in cost. It looks like a very good machine too. I left the workstation comment quoted too because that looks like something to watch. It's a long time since I had a computer more powerful than I imagines I'd need for anything. I think that moment was very short anyway. Once I got used to the restriction I focussed on the OS and program choices, reduced power demands, etc. It made my life easier in the long run, but I lost touch with advances, and new computers are looking like a change might be exciting enough again to do it.