Looking to get a cheap Anti-Boredom laptop

[fustercluck]

Been thinking about getting a cheap laptop for a long time to play old 2d games (legal emulation of course - SNES, NES, GBA, etc.). I would mostly only use it for time's when i'm bored, like when i'm stuck at some kind of family event for hours where everyone just talks and drinks coffee, or when i'm sitting in a waiting room for 30+ minutes. Would also be real nice for taking on vacation. Also it needs to be online capable for looking around the net and reading. Just want to get some recommendations as to which models i should be looking at, i'll probably buy used. Want to keep it pretty cheap (under $200 or $300). Can get this one for $499, it's pretty nice looking, but probably more than i need. I don't know much about laptops.

 

[cw42]

check out ebay for some old laptops. maybe an old thinkpad would be sufficient.

 

[fustercluck]

Ok. Just needs to have a good enough CPU and Video card to run most emulation stuff (probably before the PSX N64 era). Wouldn't it be hard to find old laptops with internet access built in? Like Centrino or whatver it is (told you i don't know much about laptops )? I would prefer a wireless internet connection for a laptop.

 

[ubercaffeinated]

Don't pick up an old laptop unless it's a thinkpad or apple... but those two brands retain their resell value so much... you might as well buy a cheapo dell.

 

[fustercluck]

Have a feeling i won't be able to get what i'm looking for for cheap like i was hoping, so i'll probably just skip this idea for a while.

 

[RedBeard]

If you can get a Dell inspiron 8100 or Latitude C810 in good condition, they would be a good deal.

Some models came equiped with 32mb nvidia video cards. These would be more than sufficent for 8-16bit systems.

N64 emulation might be a problem though. Also keep in mind that batteries for older laptops are almost ALWAYS dead or near dead. (even LiOn)

 

[cheesehead]

N64 emulation is a pain in the kiester.

My advice?
Snag an IBM Workpad Z50. (I'm looking for one myself.)
It's essentially a Pocket PC (Old-style 130mhz MIPS processor; 16mb of RAM) in a laptop shell. It's got a 10" LCD, and a standard keyboard and trackpoint-no touchscreen.

However, it runs Windows CE games (of which there are tons), can surf the internet with a standard PCMCIA card, and uses a standard CompactFlash card for storage. (You might be able to get it to play MPEG video). An added bonus is the battery life of up to sixteen hours with an extended-life battery.

On ebay, they go for less than 50$.

 

[RedBeard]

16 bit is going to be impossible on a system as old as the Z50.
They are good systems, but it can be a pain to find software for the MIPS style processor.
Most windows CE software is designed for ARM cpu's.

 

[fustercluck]

Thanks for the replies. I don't need a laptop to emulate N64/PSX, i mentioned i was thinking about one to run games before the N64/PSX era.

So i probably can't get an online capable laptop for cheap? It's no big deal i guess, it would be nice to have internet access on the go. I don't know anything about how that would work though, do you have to pay monthly fees to get online with a laptop?

 

[RedBeard]

If you get a WiFi card, you can connect to a wireless network and get internet access. Most will have an internal modem you can use for dial-up, but dial-up will cost you.

 

[fustercluck]

How much does dial-up cost with a laptop? I guess i wouldn't mind having to plug it into a modem port. Doesn't have to be wireless-online. How would you go about paying to get online wit a laptop, wired or wireless?

I could skip the online part, it would be nice though.

 

[RollWave]

just get that comp you linked or something like http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopp.../V2000_series&storeName=computer_store

This compaq isnt very heavy so you can tote it aroudn and I'm sure it'll handle anything you throw at it quite well. Plus with integrated wireless, hip hip hooray!

 

[fustercluck]

Ok, thanks. Could someone chime me in on how you're supposed to pay to get online with laptops? Is it a monthly fee kind of thing?

 

[1EZduzit]

Originally posted by: jacktackle
Ok, thanks. Could someone chime me in on how you're supposed to pay to get online with laptops? Is it a monthly fee kind of thing?

What do you mean? You have to go thru an ISP. It can be either telephone, cable, or satellite. Most laptops have at least a built in telephone modem and a lot have built in 10/100 LAN ports to hook up to a cable modem.

How are you hooked up the the internet now?

Edit: I would suggest getting a wireless router and a wireless card for your laptop, then you can take it anyplace in the house or even on the deck.

 

[fustercluck]

Originally posted by: 1EZduzit

Originally posted by: jacktackle
Ok, thanks. Could someone chime me in on how you're supposed to pay to get online with laptops? Is it a monthly fee kind of thing?

What do you mean? You have to go thru an ISP. It can be either telephone, cable, or satellite. Most laptops have at least a built in telephone modem and a lot have built in 10/100 LAN ports to hook up to a cable modem.

How are you hooked up the the internet now?

Edit: I would suggest getting a wireless router and a wireless card for your laptop, then you can take it anyplace in the house or even on the deck.

I have cox cable but i don't want to use the laptop online here at my house, want to be able to access the internet when i'm out and about. So i would have to get a different ISP if i wanted to do that?

 

[1EZduzit]

Originally posted by: jacktackle

I have cox cable but i don't want to use the laptop online here at my house, want to be able to access the internet when i'm out and about. So i would have to get a different ISP if i wanted to do that?

If by "out and about" you mean away from the house then I think you will need to do it thru a cell phone modem of some type. I don't know anything about that, except that they are expensve and if your just looking for cheap entertainment that isn't going to work for you.

I think in some of the bigger cities they have WLAN networks that you might bew able to suscribe to, but am not 100% sure about that.

 

[AlgaeEater]

Honestly, if you're open about emulation as you are, then you're just better off buying a used Nintendo DS / Nintendo DS Lite. Then add in a flash device + Passkey and you'll be able to run tons of applications from PDA style to emulators. (Including your major three you wanted)

If you're still going the cheap laptop route, the cheapeast you can get a laptop that is under 6 years old is still going to be $275, and that's with extensive bargain hunting. Laptops don't loose value much over the years, and all start to hit a "minimum" cap at around $200ish for technology on or after the year 2000.

 

[corkyg]

For real anti-boredom, get a recent Dell Inspiron with a Sony battery.