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World: r3wp

[Hardware] Computer Hardware Issues

Louis
10-Apr-2006
[51]
Does a cell phone have enough memory to run View?
BrianH
10-Apr-2006
[52]
For the smartphones, likely yes, but it doesn't matter yet as there 
is no build of View for a cell phone.
Louis
10-Apr-2006
[53]
My wife wants a computer so small she can put it in her purse and 
not even know it is there. But it has to be able to do all the work 
of a desktop with a 21 inch monitor.  You can see that her's is a 
real reasonable request.
Graham
10-Apr-2006
[54x3]
Try a UMCP, or, Origami device.
UMPC.
About US$700 I think.  Runs windows tablet os.
BrianH
10-Apr-2006
[57]
PDAs can do as much work as a desktop (of similar speed) with a 21in 
monitor, but limitations in the input and output methods can make 
it so difficult to use that it will be less effective. Try an OQO, 
Microsoft's Origami platform, or maybe RT can make a build for the 
Nokia 770.
Louis
10-Apr-2006
[58]
Graham  and Brian, thanks!  I'll check out those devices.
Louis
23-May-2006
[59]
Is it possible to transfer the entire contents of the harddrive on 
a desktop computer to the harddrive on a laptop? I mean including 
the registry settings etc. I have Norton Ghost; would that do it? 
or are there hardware issues that would prevent it?
[unknown: 9]
23-May-2006
[60x2]
No, that won't work.
There are too many drivers that will fail, and some low level programs 
need the MAC address not to change.

But it IS worth trying.  You might be able to correct all the errors, 
and since it is ghosted (both sides) you can return everything.
DideC
23-May-2006
[62x4]
There is many issues when you do that.

Appart from what Reichart said, there is also SID and other things 
like that.
But
If you can, I recommand to ghost your disk to another one (as an 
image),

then, use the SYSPREP command to prepare your Windows system to be 
ghost,
then, ghost it to your Laptop HD.
SYSPREP can be found on your Win XP CD. I don't have one with me 
right now, so I can't say where it is exactly.
Louis
23-May-2006
[66]
Thanks Reichart and DideC. I'm shopping for a laptop now. Once I 
buy it, I'll probably be back for more help.
[unknown: 9]
23-May-2006
[67]
You should, we can talk to you about how to configure your drive 
in the first place.  I have some simple tricks I do for my laptops 
(I only use laptops, and live on them). 

Quick list:

Put everything in PGP folders.

Install XP to a small partition, and have a ghosted version on the 
same drive (seperate partition).

Basic layout is C: = Boot and XP, D: = Data (your personal Data, 
E: = Extra applications, Z: = Archive og Ghost of C:.
Keep the custom Ghost CD for your laptop with you.


With this, if somoene steals your computer they don't get your data.
If C gets corrupted, you can recover.
And, it is REALLY easy to back up just your data fast.
Louis
23-May-2006
[68x2]
I'll definitely try to get back for more detail, Reichart.
The the laptop I have been eyeing:


http://www.xtremenotebooks.com/index.php?section=specs&model_id=1054


But it is too expensive for me. Does anyone know of a similar one 
at a cheaper price?  Or perhaps someone knows that  this would not 
be a good choice anyway. I'm open for suggestions. I just need a 
big, high resolution screen, large harddrive, and lots of speed. 
I'm not particularly worried about weight.
[unknown: 9]
23-May-2006
[70x2]
Wow...I don't track laptops the same way.  I'm on this right now 
http://store.shopfujitsu.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=P7120D
Very small, but I LOVE it!
I also own an Apple Powerbook (still learning it).  And I have a 
great Toshiba.  I alos REALLY love both Toshiba and Fujitsu's tech 
support, and is worth giving up some cool feature from another copany 
in exchange for the support.
Maxim
23-May-2006
[72]
my kind of machine, I have a small ibm thinkpad, and wouldn't trade 
it for a bigger more powefull one... only thing I regret, is not 
having internal CD support... although I don't really need it... 
you can't do everything with a memory stick!
[unknown: 9]
23-May-2006
[73]
Yeah this little guy has a cool removable CD drive, 7-9 hours of 
batery life. kicks ass.
BrianH
23-May-2006
[74]
Louis, I don't think you are taking the issue of drivers seriously 
enough. Most laptops come with a lot of extra drivers and utilities 
to make the power management, keyboard, wireless and other custom 
hardware work. Many manufacturers only make these drivers and utilities 
available from a system restore disk, and their hardware doesn't 
work properly unless you install their custom version of Windows.


Avoid manufacturers like Sony if you want to reinstall Windows, or 
it won't work.
Maxim
23-May-2006
[75x2]
same for IBM (lenovo) my pet peeve about my system... although it 
boots damn fast.
installing it was NOT trivial.
BrianH
23-May-2006
[77x5]
Check the manufacturer's web site before you but the laptop. If you 
can download all necessary drivers and utilities from their web site 
you might be in luck. Make sure that all bundled applications have 
installers included with the laptop, rather than restore disks. Before 
you wipe the laptop, check it for install directories and archive 
them - and run test installs on another computer to make sure the 
installers work.
but -> buy
When I but a laptop (or any computer) the first thing I do is image 
the original drive, before I even boot up the computer for the first 
time. That way I can undo any mistakes I make, and even restore the 
computer to pristine condition and return it if that is necessary.
I usually image the drive by booting a live CD that has imaging sotware 
with networking support.
There are many DOS and Windows-based live CDs that will do. I even 
hear that there are some Linux live CDs...
Pekr
23-May-2006
[82]
just use Norton Ghost or some other tool ....
BrianH
23-May-2006
[83]
I do use Norton Ghost (or TrueImage) - that's the DOS-based tool 
I was talking about.
Graham
23-May-2006
[84]
I find Acronis better than Norton Ghost.
[unknown: 9]
23-May-2006
[85x2]
I should mention, I hate Norton Ghost, but I had spent the time to 
learn it, and it supported all the diff CD drives.  The next time 
I change laptops, I will check out something else. Since Graham mentions 
Acronis, I would probably try that.


What I don''t like about Norton is the crappy 1984 DOS interface. 
 It is confusing, and has menus where a simple single page would 
work better.
You might say it has menu-itis.
Graham
23-May-2006
[87]
You could download a 30 day trial of Acronis True Image Server.
Louis
23-May-2006
[88x2]
Really nice:


http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/toshibadirect.to?page=ces06_hddvd&seg=HHO

But 10.1 lbs.
Expensive too.
[unknown: 9]
23-May-2006
[90]
I strongly suggest getting a Toshiba over other makers.  I will never 
buy DELL every again.  They wasted too much of my time, and time 
is one thing I can't afford.  Toshiba tries to help with anything 
they can.  Thier tech support often speak several languages, are 
very pateint, and well informed.
Louis
23-May-2006
[91]
Yes, my son has really been burned by Dell also.
[unknown: 9]
23-May-2006
[92x2]
I met the head of developement for the Qosmio line.  That line repaced 
my Toshiba.  His goal was to build the best laptop out there.
I was one of many people that told him that the specific model of 
Toshiba I had was the best laptop on the market. I bought it two 
years ago, it has 1600x1200, 2 GIGs, 2 Ghz, 80gig HD, 2Kx1K extrernal 
video, and the best sound system on the market.  So good in fact 
it works as a whole room audio system!  The Qosmio has the same system, 
althogh the packaging is a little diff, and I have not heard it personally.
Graham
23-May-2006
[94x2]
The best laptop it the world should have raid 1
DELL are not innovators .. they just ship cheaply, and other manufacturers 
who do innovate are learning to bring their pricing down.
Louis
23-May-2006
[96x2]
Do rebol programmers get a 50% discount on Toshiba computers?
Qosmio G35-AV650 will do raid 1.
yeksoon
23-May-2006
[98]
Reichart : Put everything in PGP folders.

an alternative that I use.. is TrueCrypt.
http://www.truecrypt.org/
[unknown: 9]
23-May-2006
[99x2]
Are there any advantages of one over the other?  I have only used 
PGP.  What I like is:


I can create a file (x.pgp) of any size, then mount it as a drive. 
 This allows me to do things like make a file that is the size of 
a DVD disk, and if I need to burn it I just copy the folder to the 
DVD drive.  Although, since Qtask exists, I stopped burning CDs and 
DVDs, since my data is safer on Qtask.
In fact, since this topic is Hardware, I should mention that I have 
heavily cut down my need of harddrives.  Part of why I used to have 
lots of mediums was that I needed back ups.  But every drive on Qtask 
is a) Raid 5, b) Mirrored, and then c) soon will be mirrrored again 
and again as more servers come on line world wide.  So the safest 
place to shove my data is onto the web.