Lap top for imaging

[Robert Claveyrolas]

For Image processing, I use a computer on my desk, with Photoshop, ... and so on.

For focusing, guiding, imaging, I have a laptop, a good one. I place it near the telescope. Unfortunately, it works with Vista, and a lot of drivers for astronomical equipments are not compatible with Vista.

It is preently difficult to find on the market laptops of normal screen size ( 15 inches, or more), working with Windows XP

So, I am considering to buy a one of these very small laptops (8 or 10 inches screen), which are sold with Windows WP because they are not powerful enough for Vista. They seem to satisfy the requirements of Maxim Dl, Ascom platforms, camera or guiders drivers, and so on. They are certainly not convenient for imager ptocessing, but I will do it with the other computer on my desk.

Has anybody already used these very small computers for these purposes ?

Thank you in advance.

Have a good week-end.

Robert Claveyrolas

[Psychobilly]

I think Nick Howes uses an Asus 900

Details in this thread

Billy...

[Robert Claveyrolas]

Thanks a lot.

In fact, the only problem may come from the screen (1080 x 600).

I think I will take the risk and buy one similar.

Robert Claveyrolas

[Whippy]

My wife bought a re-badged MSI Wind last weekend and as it's a fair bit quicker than the laptop I use for image capture and guiding, I'm sure it'll do the job you're asking of it.

Tony..

[tinvek]

if it comes to it why not install xp on a normal laptop ?

i picked up a nice hp for £260 ish last year off ebuyer and got a deal for an extra 1gig memory and an xp disk. reviews all say it flies with xp and the memory but to be honest i just installed the memory and then used the disk to update an old win 98 pc that gets used for browsing occasionally

[beamish]

Try here

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/AdvSearch/default.aspx?rewrite=xp_laptops

[Roger B]

I got a S/H laptop on Ebay just for imaging & nothing else. It has all the ports & was loaded with XP cost me under £120.

Roger

Here's the link to the ebay shop if your interested

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/New-And-Used-Laptops-4-U

[Jarndyce]

I believe you can still spec Dell laptops with XP Professional. There's still lots of demand for XP.

We have over 300 PCs at work and have to retrofit them all with XP.

I have a small HP notebook with 8" screen, and although it looks really trick, I wouldn't recommend one. The screen is just too small, and so is the keyboard. It also crawls with anything processor intensive.

If you're going to be outside with it, I'd recommend something with a decent battery life. We've noticed a significant increase in battery life after scrubbing Vista and loading XP.

[Robert Claveyrolas]

Dear Tinwek,

I have had this idea. Unfortunately, my laptop , an ACER 5930G equipped with Vista, I bought on october 2008, cannot work with Windows XP because the necessary drivers are not existing (explanation given by my computer dealer).

[steve51450]

can you nor dual boot the laptop with xp and vista as i have heard this is a good way of getting past the astro driver problems associated with vista ?

[DemonicOmelette]

I'm thinking of getting one of those Asus EEE mini laptops so I can take Stellarium out with me, and possibly to do a bit of imaging, too. Does anyone know if there's a program to give your screen a red tint, to save your night vision?

-eli

[Roger B]

I believe you can custom set your screen in the control panel /display

I use some red jel film to cover mine. Can get this either on the net or any art shop.

Roger

[Mike W]

If you mean you want Stellarium to run with a red screen then there is a night mode button at the bottom of the screen, but I`m not sure about any other software you wish to run, you could try and get some clear red plastic from a craft shop and make your own.

Mike

[Mike W]

Ooops, sorry Roger, you beat me too it.

[Jarndyce]

Darkadapted will control your laptop's colours and give it an acceptable nightvision effect. Very good.

http://www.aquiladigital.us/darkadapted/

[Robert Claveyrolas]

Reply for Steve 51450 idea :

Dual boot XP Vista doesnot work very well, according to specialists(incompatibilities atthe level of the computer ???)

My computer dealer showed me another solution : there is a freeware ( Iforgot the name , but I can get it if necessary)which enables to pass on the same computer from vVista, to XP, Linux, and so on. sucjh a software is used for profesionnel reparing your computer at home).

I had a problem with the Smartfocus driver, and I used the computer of my dealer which was equipped with this software, in order to try to have it working on XP. It does not work, because we have to go back to Vista to load the driver (lets say, that's the assumption we made).

Thanks a lot.

[Tim]

What is the problem with Vista? I have it and can run all programs acceptably and all 3 ccd cameras I have etc.

Which drivers cant you find?

[Robert Claveyrolas]

For TJ :

As far as I know :

Ascom platform is mentioned as getting ptoblems with Vista.

The Vixen SXD driver is given as working with XP

SBIG ST402 cameras are working with XP, and my dealers recommend not to use Vista.

Stallight Express Cameras are working with XP, and my dealers not to use Vista.

My JMI Smartfocus is not working, presently, and my dealers think the problem is coming from Vista.

More generally, all equipments supplied with a serial connection are said to have more problems with Vista than with XP.

Regards

[NickH]

Sorry guys, this is a no brainer

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Refurbished_Laptops_-_As_new/prod.asp

XP is vastly less intensive than Vista (which as a software dev/tester, I absolutely loath as a bloatware OS...WIndows 7...different ballgame, even in beta!)

£129 for an Aspire One.... no brainer, and £159 for a HDD/1GB version...even more no brainer...

SSD is the reason I got the ASUS...registax and Lucam recorder fly on it....

[DemonicOmelette]

So wait, you would take the Asus eee over the Acer One? Why is that?

[Jarndyce]

Bear in mind that this Acer:

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Grade_A1_Acer_Aspire_ONE_A110-AW_-_512MB_-_8GB_-_White_-_A1-LU.S020A.089/version.asp?PID=1315

...runs Linux.

Linux is good, but you're into compatability issues again.

I would have thought that XP should run on it, but then you've got to pay for the licence on top of the £129. And then install it.

Better if you can get something with XP preinstalled.

Remember that a machine running XP will run most programs faster than the same PC running Vista. It is also likely to be more stable and have fewer issues with drivers.

[NickH]

The ACER was not available a few weeks ago on the refurb section. The ASUS was..

Much of a muchness to be honest... cheap as chips and works...(XP agreed, it's essential)

[Robert Claveyrolas]

Has somebody tried to use Vista with Starlight Express Cameras and Lodestar Guider ?

I would say, I am wondering if Vista is not considered by dealers as a black sheep responsible of a lot of interfaces problems, and in fact if Serial - USB adapters are not often the key of this story.

[ilbrec]

Just because an 'expert' in the shop says it can't be done dosn't make that true.

If you really want to xp or dual boot xp/vista can be put on this laptop with a little bit of effort. This thread has someone doing it with links to the various drivers needed.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=306119&page=13

I got laptop specifically for imaging which came with vista. After several hours messing about trying to get the webcam drivers working I then found that updating the firmware on my synscan handset via a usb to serial convertor was virtually impossible.

At that point I downloaded all the relevant drivers needed for xp, and slipstreamed an xp install disk for the laptop including all these drivers and service pack updates, dumped vista and installed xp, took a couple of hours. Never looked back, synscan update worked a treat first time. Vista is horrible bin it.

[philj]

Wifey bought me an Acer One Netbook for my impending birthday, the one with XP, 1gig Ram and 120 HDD, its a beaut. I have got it up and running with Guidemaster, Skymap Pro, DSLR Focus and web cam capture software plus tinternet all at the same time.

It runs my set ups guiding with ease and it weighs next to nowt and is small so it packs away nicely.

This will now replace my old steam driven lappy for astro. I can thoroughly recommend them.

Philj