8 Jun
2004
8 Jun
'04
10:42 a.m.
I'm still using a Compaq 286 laptop to drive my EPROM/Device programmer.
I still use a real IBM PC/XT for that ;-)
Another use for older laptops, of course, is a portable data
logger/measuring system. Make an ADC module that connects to the printer
port. Actually I use an HP71 + HP3421 for this (very nice toys...) and
that has ample processor power to, say, connect different loads to a
power supply and measure the output voltage for each load. Sure beats
doing it by hand!.
Another point that's often missed is that if a task can be done
automatically, it doesn't really matter if it takes 5 minutes or 15
minutes, or even longer. You set it going and come back when it's
finished (and do something else while the computer is doing the job for you).
I also use an XT-class laptop with dual 720K floppies and a Xircom PE3
"pocket Ethernet adapter" and Kermit as a portable "telnet terminal"
Not a laptop, but as I've menitoned before I routinely use the HP95LX and
HP100LX palmtops as portable (pocket, even) RS232 terminals. Very useful
for testing serial ports, configuring those Qbus disk controllers with
the RS232 config port, and so on.
The most expensive of these was $15 with a carrying
case. Batteries are
an issue, but the XT laptop uses a wad of C-cell-sized NiCds - easy enough
to rebuild.
My Amstrad PPC640 laptop (which I paid a little more than $15 for, but it
did come with TechRef and Service manuals) runs off primary C cells. 10
of them. I normally connect it to my bench PSU :-)
-tony