[PCR-1000] PROBE1K on HP Palmtop

[John Lawson]

On Tue, 23 Sep 2003, ed wrote:

> tom,
>

[snip]

> if you don't need a pocket-sized computer, DOS laptops are practically
> being given away and will run PROBE1K very well.  dedicating a machine in
> the shack to running the PCR-1000 has many advantages, and can cost very
> little.

  I just bought 10 (ten) Dell 486 laptops (with a B/W monochrome LCD
screen) at a swapmeet for $20. That's $2 ea. They were represented as 'as
is, unknown problems' 2 were, in fact, junk; 8 merely want batteries
refreshed and deep charged, and 5 of those batteries are holding long-term
charges...   all had various versions of MS Office - they were copporate
'pulls'.

  BTW: You'd think IT departments would scrub HDs a little more carefully
- all of them had their previous owner's files, as well.  OF course, I
erased all those right away.    ;}

 So now I've got unlimited shack 'puters, Linux play-boxes, field-day
machines, etc.

  All it takes is a little looking.  On eBay, (Half.com) one can get more
modern computers for ridculously cheap, as well.  My IBM Thinkpad suffered
a CD drive controller failure, and I found an exact replacement, with Win
2K Pro, a 1 yr warranty, and a fresh battery for about $450.

  On the 'modern laptop' front: I have a cute little PCMCIA - to - HD
adapter cable and software ("Drive Link" by Simple Technologies) that
allows 'mirroring' of the contents of your laptop's HD to another one...
this includes the ability to boot the computer.  It's the equivalent of
"Copy C:*.* = D: /S".  I run it about once a week, takes 4 to 5 hours to
completely copy 40G HDs.  I run it overnight, it's ready in the morning.
If my laptop HD woofs it's cookies, no prob, just take out the dead one
and insert the back-up. Total cost is $80 for the cable and software, and
I paid (ISTR) $160 for the second HD...  worth its weight in platinum if
there's a Crash...

  Cheers

John  KB6SCO