quote: I need a 286 laptop or a 386sx25mhz laptop. I need this to run some old Motorola RSS. It has to have a hard drive, but not a big one by any means. It must also have a 3.5 drive. It needs to actually work and preferably have DOS 5.1 or so on it. NO WINDOWS. Battery need not work but I need to be able to use this computer and it needs to come with a power cord for a wall outlet.
If any of you have one of these, please email me with specs and asking price. He needs it to be able to program the volunteer fire department's radios. Thank you.
IP: Logged |
posted
If we're looking to buy old laptops, I'm in the market for a really cheap one, too. I'd prefer Windows, because I've gotten too lazy to use anything else, but I don't really care much about speed or memory. Decent battery life would be nice, but I'm not picky. It'd be best if it's able to accomodate a wireless network card if it doesn't already have one, but even a regular net card is ok.
posted
Boon, there is an old laptop in my basement. A friend who was moving didn't have time to deal with it and I said I'd get it to a recycling program or donate it somewhere for her, and I never did. I have no idea what it's specs are, but when she left it she said it was in reasonable working order. If you don't get a better offer I'll check it when I get home, and let you know. You're welcome to it for the cost of shipping.
Shipping! I still need to send rivka her bag! Drat, drat, drat!
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Glad to share the corruption. Posts: 1660 | Registered: Jan 2000
| IP: Logged |
Boon
unregistered
posted
Thanks, ElJay, that'd be great if you'd check on the specs for me. :-) It can't be too fast, or the program won't work. Maybe if I can't use it, Papa could. :-) No one else has said they have one.
IP: Logged |
posted
No problem. I'll be getting home around 8:00 CST tonight... if I don't post, it probably wouldn't hurt to bump the thread to remind me. Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
But considering how long ago this computer was left at my house, I'm betting it'll be old enough to work for Boon.
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
In that case, I'm bumping it for everyone else. *beams like a 3-year-old who just pooped on the potty -- and yes, I know what that looks like -- yes, both the child and the poop -- welcome to my life*
Posts: 6213 | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Boy, I really need to clean my basement. But the laptop was right where I thought it was.
It's a Toshiba Satellite. It says 315CDS on it. It is 2 1/8" thick, closed. It has a power cord, and when I plug it in the battery charging light comes on, so it might have battery. It has one of those little eraser mouse buttons, and a real mouse in the bag. The mouse click button is sticky... yuck. It has a 3.5 drive and a CD drive.
HOWEVER. When I turn it on, it says Insert system disk in drive. Press any key when ready...
I have a Mac. I do not have a system disk. So I have no idea if it meets the other requirements. Oh, it does have an Intel Inside pentium processor sticker on it. And on the bottom there's a sticker that says Model No PA1262U VCD, if you can find out from that.
So, if you want to take a chance, Boon's got first dibs, Pops has second. You can have it for the cost of shipping. It weighs... around 10 pounds, according to my bathroom scale.
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
Boon
unregistered
posted
I appreciate the specs ElJay. He says he'll have to do the research on it before he commits. I expect that to happen tonight. Can I let you know in the morning?
IP: Logged |
posted
Does he specifically need a computer that slow? If so, why? I'd imagine it'd be very hard to find a laptop nowadays that isn't at least a Pentium.
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
| IP: Logged |
Boon
unregistered
posted
Yes, it really does need to be that slow or the program won't work correctly.
IP: Logged |
posted
*laugh* Boon, you can let me know anytime, I don't care. It's been sitting in my basement for a couple of years, another day or 10 won't make a bit of difference. Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
ElJay's won't work, then. It's at least three times too fast.
Has he looked into running a program that artificially limits -- or appears to limit -- clock speeds on modern CPUs? I use a program like this -- or used to -- to run games like Wing Commander and Oregon Trail on a Pentium box.
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Fahim does that, too, to play old DOS games. You just need some kind of DOS emulator. Boon, let me know if you need help with that and I'll get info from Fahim.
Posts: 8355 | Registered: Apr 2003
| IP: Logged |
Boon
unregistered
posted
Those don't work. "Motorola software is smarter than that."
He says if the computer is as fast as what's listed, he has to run MOSLO to get it to work right. I, personally, have no idea what any of this is, but that's what he says.
IP: Logged |
posted
If you were to run your hubby's program under DOS on a fast computer, he'd be right. But with a DOS emulator, you can throttle down the CPU speed, which is the whole point of the emulator. Has he tried it?
Fahim say he can try the old DOS games site, or perhaps dosbox.sourceforge.net - there's a forum there where he can talk to the geeks and get some help.
Posts: 8355 | Registered: Apr 2003
| IP: Logged |
Boon
unregistered
posted
No, he's not tried a DOS emulator.
The software he's trying to run is Motorola RSS. It's an old, DOS based software to program a Motorola VHF 2-way radio.
Specifically, where do I need to go and what do I need to look for?
Also, ElJay, he said to ask how much shipping would be to 74008?
IP: Logged |
posted
Go to the www.dosbox.sourceforge.net site - there are DOS emulators there, plus a forum with a tonne of geeks to give him a hand should he need any help.
Posts: 8355 | Registered: Apr 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
I got out the old laptop, and it's a pentium 133, which surprised me. Oh well. Also, the battery is shot. I've thought of getting a new one but it would cost $100 and I'm not sure this hunk of junk is worth it. It'll be a hunk of junk until I try to persuade the man to let it go. He has a velveteen rabbit thing going with machines.
Posts: 2010 | Registered: Apr 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Just my two cents here...and BTW, Papa, I was thinking of posting that same message about how I could use a laptop, but I didn't because it might be solicitation, only to be beaten to the punch by a Mod...
If a emulator would work by limiting teh CPU, then any laptop would work, and perhaps Boon's husband would have acces to one already....
Freeing up the other one for Papa.
If not, well, Boon should still have dibs, of course..
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
| IP: Logged |
Boon
unregistered
posted
Well, he doesn't have one already, except for MINE. And I need it here...I do some work with it and need it available. (And there truly isn't room for any extra programs on it unless I delete some of mine, and that would not make me very happy.)
So if we can get the program to work on ElJay's computer, great, and if not, Mr. Moose is welcome to it.
You know, I didn't even think about it being solicitation, and I'm sorry if that's what I've done. I was just hoping that my geek friends could help out the volunteer fire department.
IP: Logged |
posted
I don't think it is, really. You dodn't ask to sell something, either goods or services, and this type of thread has happened here before.
I think that rule is in place so this doesn't turn into swap meet, and to give them a reason/justification to boot anyone who abuses it, like the idiots who spam everone on a site.
I just liked the irony of Papa Moose beating me to the punch.....you too, really, because I almost posted a thread like this a few days ago, because I could use a cheap laptop for my new job as a mortgage loan officer, but I never got around to it.
It's a 386, but it has a hard drive, external floppy, and as far as I know it works. I will have to dig up the power supply to confirm. Will follow up tomorrow.
I won't need anything save covering the cost of packing and shipping from Northern VA.
Posts: 1281 | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I don't have paypal to get money... do you still have my address from the KamaCon shirts? I think I still have yours... I'll go ahead and send it and let you know what actual shipping is, I'm sure you're good for it. Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
Boon
unregistered
posted
Actually, I do not still have your mailing address. Mostly, I do not keep such things past their intended usage period.
I'll be happy to send you a check or money order as soon as I get it though.
IP: Logged |
Boon
unregistered
posted
Jason, did you check on that?
ElJay, did you send it?
The fire department is in need here...and if I can get ElJay's to work, even for a few days, it would help tremendously. Then, if Jason's works, I'll send ElJay's on to Papa Moose. I'll even install Windows 98 on it before I send it.
IP: Logged |
posted
Boon, not sent yet... I checked my spreadsheet from KamaCon, and I have two addresses listed for you, a PO Box and a physical address. Which should I use? I'll be sending it USPS, but I don't know if you can get packages at your PO Box address.
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
Boon
unregistered
posted
The PO Box would be best...sometimes the weather is nasty this time of year and packages left by our mailbox out front sometimes dissappear.
IP: Logged |
posted
Nope, it won't. It actually fits almost perfectly in the lid to a Xerox paper box except it's a little too tall, I'm thinking of taping a second one on top and sending it that way.
posted
Sure, if you want me to. You want to put an upper limit on that? If it's over $XX you don't want it sent priority?
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Okay. I'll probably go this afternoon, then. I'll let you know... it depends on how my next call goes, if I can make it before they close.
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
Boon
unregistered
posted
Great! Thank you SO much.
I'll send you a receipt too...for tax purposes.
IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
I'll be getting home around 8:00 CST tonight... if I don't post, it probably wouldn't hurt to bump the thread to remind me. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Cry]](graemlins/cry.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
