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I'm looking for a cheap laptop (probably new not second-hand) for a student. Mainly for word processing, a bit of spreadsheet stuff, etc. Certainly no programming, and I don't care about games!
Since it is certain to be lost / stolen / broken / filled with coffee, I have no interest in buying anything even remotely state-of-the-art.
I have seen a laptop using 1GHz VIA C1, 256Meg RAM, 40Gig HD, WinXP Home, for 25% cheaper than any other new laptops. Any comments?
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IIRC the via chip only does half/cycle as a p3/athlon does, so performance wise it's a athlon 500, or p4 650. Shouldn't matter for what you intend but you should be aware of what you're actaully getting.
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Thanks.
For what it's worth, I got the processor wrong - it's a VIA C3, not C1.
I found some reviews (Tom's Hardware, etc) which indicate that the floating point unit on a C3 is lousy.
On benchmarks, the 1GHz C3 performs between a 433MHz Celeron and a 1GHz Celeron (depends on the test.)
Since I was happy until recently with my 667 MHz Celeron (when I wasn't building projects in Visual Studio 6), a student can live with a 1GHz C3 notebook!
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I've got a compaq presario notebook with a relatively small and slow 60Gb/4,200rpm drive. I want to upgrade to something bigger and faster but I'm having trouble finding info on the type of drive I need.
The drive I have has 2 rows of female connectors. The drives I've seen have 2 rows of male connectors. I'm assuming this is a UDMA/ATA issue but googling has only muddied the water.
Can anyone give me the low-down?
cheers,
Chris Maunder
CodeProject.com : C++ MVP
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Whats the model of your notebook? I have only seen notebook HDDs with male connectors.
Farhan Noor Qureshi
if (this == this) thow this;
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Compaq Presario 2140CA
cheers,
Chris Maunder
CodeProject.com : C++ MVP
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Well found this pdf[^] on this page[^]. On page 5-16 of this pdf look for "To Replace the Hard Drive Holder". This section mentions how to reuse "holder" from old HDD. I hope that helps.
Farhan Noor Qureshi
if (this == this) thow this;
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[Edit: Mystery solved. Your pointer to the PDF about the holder made me open up the case again to have another look. Lo and behold there's a gender-bender attached snug to the HDD. I'm back on track]
Thanks! Just a pity that the illustration and what I have in front of me are completely different!
No holder, just a HDD with female bits.
cheers,
Chris Maunder
CodeProject.com : C++ MVP
-- modified at 16:40 Thursday 27th October, 2005
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Glad to hear this.
Farhan Noor Qureshi
if (this == this) thow this;
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Hello,
I am developing a project and l need to be able to access the infrared port on my computer.
My project has 2 applications that run on 2 notebook computers. I have data that I have on one notebook that has to be sent to another notebook.
The client will click a button and all the data that is being displayed in the text boxes will be sent to another notebook to be displayed in some other text boxes.
Does anyone know how to do this. I am using the c# language.
Thanks in advance,
Steve
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when I am executing SET MAX ADDRESS(0xF9) of ATA command, it is Aborting...For Aborting there are 2 reasons specified in "IBM HD Spec.pdf"
> when Volatility bit -1 for permanent removing of HPA is specified and in Address offset mode, command is aborted...
> READ_NATIVE_MAX_ADDRESS should be immediately called before SET MAX ADDRESS, otherwise command is aborted...
I wish to remove HPA temperorily and take care of the above 2 precautions, still SET_MAX command is aborting... IDENTIFY_DEVICE, READ_NATIVE_MAX_ADDRESS cmds are executing perfectly...
Before executing READ_NATIVE_MAX_ADDRESS, IDENTIFY_DEVICE cmd is executed...When IDENTIFY DEVICE cmd is issued 10th bit of word 82 is 0 returned by device i.e, HPA feature set is not supported...If that is the case, I'm able to execute READ_NATIVE_MAX_ADDRESS CMD and with one tool I'm able to create & remove HPA...
Please send me suggestions or solution if possible for not aborting SET MAX ADDRESS cmd....
Regards,
mohan.
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I am trying to send ATAPI commands to a cdrom in VB.Net. While researching this it seems to me the VB is not the best at this. I am sure their is a way though. Can anyone steer me in the right direction? I read something on calling the Windows API to do some hardware speaking, but it said that that is being Phased out with VB.Net.
I am able to send these commands through 2 other test programs that we use.
Thanks!
Ken
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I am Sushanti, Msc Part 2 student from Mumbai, India. I have selected JTAPI as my project topic. Till now I have planned to add the following features in my project :
1) Making phone calls from PC.
2) Receiving phone calls.
and if possible
3) Conference
4) transfer
5) answering machine
I have downloaded JTAPI 1.2 class files. My java files are getting compiled successfully. I have doubts regarding the hardware
configuration required to run these. Will I be able to really make a call by using a microphone, speaker or even by using our modem. Is cost required for each call. Is a provider service is obligatory. How should I go ahead with this project if I won't be able to show the examiner the call really being processed. Need your guidance in this. Waiting for your positive response.
Sushanti
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hello there
we did a similar project in VB for our final year engineering... you need a modem... a full duplux voice modem.... and ofcourse a phone line connected to the modem.... making calls through PC is like having phone instrument virtually in the PC.... call charges and others are same as that of using a phone... u wont need any special hardware..... actually you can show the examinar the real process like we did.... Note: remember we did our project in VB using TAPI... we have some dll's and ocx using that we did this project.... our project is an answering machine.... it is going to be implemented in our college... our project is like when a parent or some one calls this number the PC will pickup the call and ask for the detail they want, like college detail or student detail then the calling party can respond by pressing option number in their phone.. the software will read this signal called DTMF and then respond as per the option or choice dont worry this is simple and if you have any other doubts you message me........ my email id is urdreammaker@rediffmail.com
Madhu
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You're taking on a huge project for a student, but it can be done. I think you may have found a great resource in Madhu - he's been there, done that. I found TAPI utterly baffling when I attacked it with VC++ and the MFC classes, but the Java community has done a far better job of implementing classes for communications of all kinds than Microsoft has ever done. I would certainly embrace any ideas that Madhu offers and run with them. Spend some time on the Sun website, too. They offer some very good tutorial material and sample code, if you can find it. The website isn't organized as well as it could be, but it's an excellent resource. Best of luck to you....
BTW - When you're done with this project, it will be a great article to post here to help others learn from your experiences.
"...a photo album is like Life, but flat and stuck to pages." - Shog9
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hi
Tapi is difficult but possible and i have used ocx so it was quite easy like wise you can refer for helps in jtapi which will help you a lot.... you will be able to finish your project only if you try using available functions... if you try to implement functions then that itself will become a project........ take care
Madhu
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In your opinion, what is the best laptop for programmers? What attributes make a laptop better suited for programmers?
Currently, I have a Thinkpad T40 and find it more than adequate. Getting a little old though, so I thought I would ask.
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Look for a fast hard drive (7200 RPM ) and 64-bit CPU (Athlon 64). I'd recommend such a notebook b/c a fast drive will make all trivial tasks like compilation, DB access etc finish faster and a 64-bit CPU will ensure building/using newer 64-bit OS and apps. Oh, get lots of RAM.
Farhan Noor Qureshi
if (this == this) thow this;
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flipdoubt wrote:
What attributes make a laptop better suited for programmers?
It should be very comfy to sit on, and have great patience for being ignored for hours at a time. It should be happy to disappear once in a while to clean house, pay bills, and - ideally - cook an occasional real meal rather than sending out for pizza. Judging by many of the bio pics here, it should also be fairly large, in order to support excessive loads without damage.
"...a photo album is like Life, but flat and stuck to pages." - Shog9
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5 for you
Farhan Noor Qureshi
if (this == this) thow this;
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the only problem with that laptop is it is far more expensive than any computer I have ever bought, for work or for home. Otherwise it is a great idea...
_________________________
Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau.
Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
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Yes, such an ideal laptop would necessarily be a high-maintenance item. They do require a lot of upkeep. But I think that, in the long run, it would be money well spent.
At my age, I've given up the quest for the perfect laptop, and taken to the hobby of birdwatching. I'm currently seeking a red-headed, double-breasted mattress thrasher. Please let me know if you spot one, especially if it's unmated.
"...a photo album is like Life, but flat and stuck to pages." - Shog9
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I've heard they inhabit this area, but I haven't seen any evidence. I promise, if I catch a picture in the wild, you'll be the first to know...
_________________________
Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau.
Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
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I have a T43 it's the BOMB?!?! It's soo small light and fast, I love it.
/\ |_ E X E GG
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I have been given a task which requires my program to be able to monitor (in realtime) a person speaking. In particular, I need to know when he starts and stops talking.
The environment is that there is a dedicated microphone connected to a PC running WinXP and my "C" program (MSVC 6.0).
Being a software person, I do not have much experience working with speech and sound.
Any suggestions on how to do this?
All comments and suggestions will be appreciated.
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