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Used laptop suggestions wanted

F

Fatt

Senior member
I need to get myself an inexpensive used laptop to use for PCM programming in a car I own.


I plan to run Windows 3.11 on it and basically, all I need to do with it is to use a serial connection to upload and download programs in my car's PCM, and the only wordproccessor I need is notepad.


I'm looking for something with a fairly decent color display. Obviously all it needs to handle is a 800x600 display in 16 colors, but monochrome annoys me, so I don't want that.


Obviously, I don't need a lot of power. Anything from a 486 to a PII would be just fine, and I'd want something that either had, or could take, say... 32 meg of RAM.

A hard drive in the 1 or 2 gig range is plenty. CD-ROM is completely unneccessary. I would reject a laptop for having it of course, but I certainly don't need it.

Finally, I like a touchpad, NOT that little wiggle-stick think that always reminds me of an ugly nipple.


So, since I'm not particularly familiar with what is, err... was available, I figured I'd ask you all.

What particular brands and models should I be looking for?

(Note: I don't want Compaq.)
 
Toshiba and IBM have made great laptops since the 486 days, and both have had some of the best keyboards and displays. Parts are also easier to find, though finding 486 parts can be iffy for any brand.

www.truedataproducts.com has been selling used laptops for years: a friend got a 486 for word processing from them in '99 and was happy with it.

(ed) www.pcsurplusonline.com has a couple of 4.1 pound IBMs for $160 (p133, DSTN display) and $175 (p166, TFT display) if you don't find anything better at TDP or FS/FT

The FS/FT forum here might be a little cheaper though, people are often selling oldies like this for $50-150.
 
True, but before i made a post in that forum LOOKING for a laptop I wanted to have a good idea of what I was looking FOR.
 
Fatt,

I got a Toshiba 200CDS from a friend for free, Pentium 100, 800 meg drive, CD & Floppy, 8 Meg ram onboard & added 32 Meg for $25.00 shipped from pcliquidator.com.
This runs surprisingly well, I am impressed, I got it for my Dad to take to Florida on vacation (5 weeks) so he can surf and get email.

Anyway, I see these on Egay for $50.00 all the time, no battery, no a bad option.
 
Oooo... Sounds nice.

Toshibas' a good brand too.

I'll go take a look. Thanks for the suggestion.
 
I guess you can rule out IBM. They are the inventor of the "ugly nipple" and I don't recall ever seeing a Thinkpad without one.
 
That "ugly nipple" actually always reminded me of a more southerly portion of a woman's anatomy.

But before you cry "sexism," I must point out that it was my sister who first voiced the idea tome.😀
 
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