[Cialug] laptop suggestions

[Matt Stanton]

My answer for "I need a machine that I can use to keep track of email, web, video/music, and my servers via SSH or Teamviewer/RDP/VNC" has been my Asus Transformer tablet.  Over the years it has gone from Android Honeycomb all the way to ICS in OS upgrades, and it offers everything I could possibly need in a machine for everything except PC gaming (though there are some impressive 3D games in the Android market that make use of the NVidia Tegra 2 and 3 processors, which these tablets use).  I paid for Better Terminal Emulator Pro to get a full-featured terminal/SSH client, which cost something like $5.  TeamViewer lets me take full control of my Windows 7 desktop when the need arises (and even the GUIs for the Linux desktop OSs that I have running in VMWare Workstation).  All of this functionality is make possible in a friendly fashion thanks to the keyboard dock that can be bought as an accessory.  Without the dock, you can use the "Hacker's Keyboard" software keyboard, but the dock makes SSH a dream in comparison.

In addition to giving me access to my "actual computers" remotely, it handles 720p video content fine without stutter if it is encoded with H.264.  The Tegra3 tablets can play back 1080p, I hear (but I have the first version of the Transformer tablet, which they no longer sell retail).  You can use most of the apps you are used to from your Android phone, so long as those apps are compatible with ICS.  

Of course, you can get a netbook for much cheaper that one of these tablets + the keyboard dock, but you get something that comes with a lot of media goodies that might make it worth it to you over a netbook that may not be able to play HD media.

-- Matt (N0BOX)

Sent from my ASUS Transformer



-----Original Message-----
From: PAUL COWLEY <pncowley at msn.com>
To: "cialug at cialug.org" <cialug at cialug.org>
Sent: Thu, 04 Oct 2012 9:54 AM
Subject: Re: [Cialug] laptop suggestions


+1  
If you're not going to be using for gaming or anything really system-intensive, pick up a surplus laptop and put the rest of your money back in the bank.  I'm up in Ames, so my local favorite is ISU Surplus (http://www.public.iastate.edu/~centrals/isusurplus.htm) every Wednesday.  Some days the deals are great, other days not so much, but if you ask the manager of the place really nice (think his name is Mark), I've found he'll occasionally knock a few bucks off the price.  You just have to ask.  
For about $125, I picked up a last-generation Dell for my daughter a while back.  Came with Ubuntu preloaded and everything working, but you can throw on your distro of choice.  Perfect for a teenager to beat around, and I don't have to feel too bad if it sees a bit of abuse.

Paul.

> Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2012 09:01:10 -0500
> From: nicolai-cialug at chocolatine.org
> To: cialug at cialug.org
> Subject: Re: [Cialug] laptop suggestions
> 
> On Thu, Oct 04, 2012 at 08:15:19AM -0500, Hawkins wrote:
> > I need a device, laptop or tablet to:
> > 
> > -Check my email
> > -some websurfing
> > -down load photos from my camera
> > 
> > Pluses
> > -wifi and ethernet <-- my sister in law in western N.Y. actually still 
> > has dialup as the only option other then satellite which her son down 
> > the road has.
> > -upload a move to watch on a long flight.
> 
> Get a used/surplus laptop for $100 or less.  Save or reinvest the money
> you would have otherwise spent into something more demanding than email
> and webpages.
> 
> Peel off any Windows stickers and clean the surface with some Goo Gone.
> Good as new... that fresh new car feeling.
> 
> Nicolai
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