laptops - Pace and Cap

Chip Napolitano · 07-16-2005, 08:22 AM

big advantage in using these at track

helps with late changes which can alter the race significantly

scratches should move horses around a bit

CN

Jonathan Steele · 07-17-2005, 12:45 AM

I don't have one yet. Any recommendations as far as what to look for specification-wise in a laptop for such purpose?

Thanks,

Jon

Baffalator · 07-17-2005, 09:58 AM

They auction hundreds of laptops a week. Look for a Toshiba or IBM with W98 and 128MB memory. Need Floppy CD-ROM etc. Keep your bid to $250 or less and be patient. Check references of seller.

IBM and Toshiba also sell refurbs but more expensive.

Good Luck

alydar_ David · 07-17-2005, 10:57 AM

For a new laptop I'd recommend Dell or IBM. The notebook will probably come with everything you need; I'd go for 512MB RAM if that's not included. I suggest you buy an extra battery and power unit (the thing you plug in for electricity).

For a used laptop the most important thing to consider is the warranty. I'd recommend a refurbished unit from one of the primary manufacturers. Make sure you get the maximum extended warranty available.

A good friend of mine got scammed on eBay for a $2500 laptop. Turns out the guy never even had a computer and was selling tons of them. He'd hacked into someone else's good rating so he appeared trustworthy. The scoundrel was eventually arrested and my friend got her money back, but it was a major hassle for her. I would never buy a computer online unless it was from a major manufacturer.

socantra · 07-17-2005, 02:21 PM

I, on the other hand, have bought several laptops on line with no problem, but nothing in the range of $2500. Mine were more like $100-$200. I havn't been burned yet, but in that price range it won't hurt too bad if I am

I've never tried Toshiba, but I can speak well of older IBM's and also Compaq.

Browse eBay and make sure you get a popular model that has lots of spares and parts still available at a reasonable price. A Pentium II, or if you get lucky, Pentium III that has a speed in the neighborhood of 300mhz will still allow you to run office and browse the internet without going crazy. Get as much memory as you can

We are using DOS apps, which don't require much power. I did notice that SpecPA ran very slowly on my old 486 laptop, but Val, Synthesis and the earlier Specs did just fine. I don't, however reccommend that old a machine. I just happen to have one, and it will do the job.

Check the old reviews, buy major brand reliable machines from a few years ago, and you can usually resell them for a good percentage of what you paid for them when you move up. If you don't use a new laptop at work all the time, you really don't have the requirements that those users who are 'spoiled' have.

Dick...

alydar_ David · 07-17-2005, 03:33 PM

Speaking of Toshiba, I still have the old monochrome laptop which was featured in the Follow Ups.

That baby is built like a little tank. I've dropped it, kicked it, left it out in the rain, you name it, it still keeps on ticking.

It has no hard drive and runs from a system floppy you must insert to get it up and going. After that you can put in a second floppy and away you go.

It runs very well with the old MPH and Synergy disks.

And because there is no hard drive or color the battery runs for quite a long time, five or six hours.

Another benefit is that cause' it's so darned heavy you can use if for weight lifting between races.

You might be able to pick one of those up for a song on eBay.

Synergy II still works, by the way. One of our experienced handicappers here took it for a spin last week.

Oh yes, and if you get that old Toshiba you'll have lots of company. People like to come over and check out the "dinosaur."

:>)

socantra · 07-18-2005, 07:52 AM

I think that's a tad farther back than i would reccommend going. (g)

My oldest is a Compaq LTE Elite with a 486/75 processor and a 1 gig hard drive. No sound, but the color is nice, and its small and not too heavy. A bit slow though, even for me.

What I had in mind was more along the lines of my Dell Latitude CPiA with a 366 Mhz Pentium II and 10 gig hard drive and 12" screen. It runs Win98 just fine, and, I suspect would handle 2k with no trouble, and is available now in the near $200 range.

Dick...

07-16-2005, 08:22 AM	#1
Chip Napolitano Grade 1 Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 108	laptops big advantage in using these at track helps with late changes which can alter the race significantly scratches should move horses around a bit CN

07-17-2005, 09:58 AM	#3
Baffalator AlwNW2X Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 24	E-Bay Auctions They auction hundreds of laptops a week. Look for a Toshiba or IBM with W98 and 128MB memory. Need Floppy CD-ROM etc. Keep your bid to $250 or less and be patient. Check references of seller. IBM and Toshiba also sell refurbs but more expensive. Good Luck

07-18-2005, 07:52 AM	#7
socantra Grade 1 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Norman, OK Posts: 387	I think that's a tad farther back than i would reccommend going. (g) My oldest is a Compaq LTE Elite with a 486/75 processor and a 1 gig hard drive. No sound, but the color is nice, and its small and not too heavy. A bit slow though, even for me. What I had in mind was more along the lines of my Dell Latitude CPiA with a 366 Mhz Pentium II and 10 gig hard drive and 12" screen. It runs Win98 just fine, and, I suspect would handle 2k with no trouble, and is available now in the near $200 range. Dick... Last edited by socantra; 07-18-2005 at 08:07 AM.

07-17-2005, 12:45 AM	#2
Jonathan Steele Grade 1 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 471	I don't have one yet. Any recommendations as far as what to look for specification-wise in a laptop for such purpose? Thanks, Jon

07-17-2005, 10:57 AM	#4
alydar_ David Grade 1 Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,654	For a new laptop I'd recommend Dell or IBM. The notebook will probably come with everything you need; I'd go for 512MB RAM if that's not included. I suggest you buy an extra battery and power unit (the thing you plug in for electricity). For a used laptop the most important thing to consider is the warranty. I'd recommend a refurbished unit from one of the primary manufacturers. Make sure you get the maximum extended warranty available. A good friend of mine got scammed on eBay for a $2500 laptop. Turns out the guy never even had a computer and was selling tons of them. He'd hacked into someone else's good rating so he appeared trustworthy. The scoundrel was eventually arrested and my friend got her money back, but it was a major hassle for her. I would never buy a computer online unless it was from a major manufacturer.

07-17-2005, 02:21 PM	#5
socantra Grade 1 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Norman, OK Posts: 387	I, on the other hand, have bought several laptops on line with no problem, but nothing in the range of $2500. Mine were more like $100-$200. I havn't been burned yet, but in that price range it won't hurt too bad if I am I've never tried Toshiba, but I can speak well of older IBM's and also Compaq. Browse eBay and make sure you get a popular model that has lots of spares and parts still available at a reasonable price. A Pentium II, or if you get lucky, Pentium III that has a speed in the neighborhood of 300mhz will still allow you to run office and browse the internet without going crazy. Get as much memory as you can We are using DOS apps, which don't require much power. I did notice that SpecPA ran very slowly on my old 486 laptop, but Val, Synthesis and the earlier Specs did just fine. I don't, however reccommend that old a machine. I just happen to have one, and it will do the job. Check the old reviews, buy major brand reliable machines from a few years ago, and you can usually resell them for a good percentage of what you paid for them when you move up. If you don't use a new laptop at work all the time, you really don't have the requirements that those users who are 'spoiled' have. Dick...

07-17-2005, 03:33 PM	#6
alydar_ David Grade 1 Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,654	Speaking of Toshiba, I still have the old monochrome laptop which was featured in the Follow Ups. That baby is built like a little tank. I've dropped it, kicked it, left it out in the rain, you name it, it still keeps on ticking. It has no hard drive and runs from a system floppy you must insert to get it up and going. After that you can put in a second floppy and away you go. It runs very well with the old MPH and Synergy disks. And because there is no hard drive or color the battery runs for quite a long time, five or six hours. Another benefit is that cause' it's so darned heavy you can use if for weight lifting between races. You might be able to pick one of those up for a song on eBay. Synergy II still works, by the way. One of our experienced handicappers here took it for a spin last week. Oh yes, and if you get that old Toshiba you'll have lots of company. People like to come over and check out the "dinosaur." :>)