New Laptop with serial port?

[Glenn Garrett]

We need a new laptop for industrial use that must have a serial port.
We use old DOS PLC software that won't work with USB to serial converters.

Can someone recommend a low cost but good brandname laptop?

--
Regards

Glenn Garrett

Industrial Dynamics Ballarat Pty. Ltd.
17 Neerim Crescent
Wendouree Industrial Park
Wendouree
Victoria 3355
Australia
Phone +613 5338 1766
Fax +613 5338 1677
inddyn@iinet.net.au

 

[David]

Hi Glenn,

Let us know what you choose, as I am also looking for a
laptop with serial port for much the same reasons. There are some out
there with serial ports. The Toshiba Satellite Pro Series, and some of the
HP laptops have them, but RS232 is getting be harder find in a laptop.


On Thu, 08 Jan 2004 10:01:35 +1100, Glenn Garrett wrote:

We need a new laptop for industrial use that must have a serial port.
We use old DOS PLC software that won't work with USB to serial converters.

Can someone recommend a low cost but good brandname laptop?

 

[Leon.]

"Glenn Garrett" <inddyn@iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:3ffc8fab$0$1731$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net.au...

We need a new laptop for industrial use that must have a serial port.
We use old DOS PLC software that won't work with USB to serial converters.

Can someone recommend a low cost but good brandname laptop?

Ones with one serial port are getting hard to find - you can walk into a
shop and see a $6000 laptop with a serial port, but you want the cheaper
range ...

HP sell a low range model with a serial port, but I couldnt get theirprice.


http://h50025.www5.hp.com/hpcom/au_en/11_29_63_448_DS449A.html



2nd hand with 12 months warranty , under $1000....
http://www.laptopexpress.com.au/pages/under.htm
(but those prices are a bit steep when a new one is $1630, with three years
warranty)

--
Regards

Glenn Garrett

Industrial Dynamics Ballarat Pty. Ltd.
17 Neerim Crescent
Wendouree Industrial Park
Wendouree
Victoria 3355
Australia
Phone +613 5338 1766
Fax +613 5338 1677
inddyn@iinet.net.au

 

[Leon.]

"Glenn Garrett" <inddyn@iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:3ffc8fab$0$1731$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net.au...

We need a new laptop for industrial use that must have a serial port.
We use old DOS PLC software that won't work with USB to serial converters.

Can someone recommend a low cost but good brandname laptop?

I saw a cheap one in at OfficeWorks... Under $2000 for sure.
They have a selection of under $2000 laptops there.

Other shops like Harvey Norman, Retravision dont seem to want to carry that
price range.

--
Regards

Glenn Garrett

Industrial Dynamics Ballarat Pty. Ltd.
17 Neerim Crescent
Wendouree Industrial Park
Wendouree
Victoria 3355
Australia
Phone +613 5338 1766
Fax +613 5338 1677
inddyn@iinet.net.au

 

[manuka]

Argh -I know just how you feel on this, having wrestled with all sorts
of "$50 "USB-serial dongles for Picaxe programming ( ref =>
www.picaxe.orcon.net.nz . Don't get me wrong - I LOVE USB but find
these external serial converters a pain & unwanted extra expense!
Does it HAVE to be new ? If you're not after raw speed then 3 year old
"no book value" laptops from early y2K are ideal & CHEAP, although
batteries may be tired. The Sony Vaio range are pretty comprehensive,
but my preferred are the late 1990s rugged Toshiba Satellite 4xxCDT
series - their 480CDT being a P233 ( which even runs XP OK with 160MB
fitted RAM ). They've super sharp screens & typical prices here in NZ
are just A$250-400. Yikes - buy several perhaps at this price - Oz.
should abound with them.

 

[Ken Taylor]

"Glenn Garrett" <inddyn@iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:3ffc8fab$0$1731$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net.au...

We need a new laptop for industrial use that must have a serial port.
We use old DOS PLC software that won't work with USB to serial converters.

Can someone recommend a low cost but good brandname laptop?

--
Regards

Glenn Garrett

Industrial Dynamics Ballarat Pty. Ltd.
17 Neerim Crescent
Wendouree Industrial Park
Wendouree
Victoria 3355
Australia
Phone +613 5338 1766
Fax +613 5338 1677
inddyn@iinet.net.au

My ASUS L8400 is under 18 months old (I think - who remembers these things?)

and has 'real' COM ports. Being a no-doubt older model now, it's probably a
reasonable price now (mine is a work one so cost didn't matter at the time).
And incidentally it's been a great workhorse.

Ken

 

[Richard Stroker]

In article <3ffc8fab$0$1731$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net.au>, Glenn
Garrett <inddyn@iinet.net.au> wrote:

We need a new laptop for industrial use that must have a serial port.

You could buy a Serial I/O PC card.

http://shorl.com/honurodrymadu

 

[Rod Speed]

Glenn Garrett <inddyn@iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:3ffc8fab$0$1731$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net.au...

We need a new laptop for industrial use that must have a serial port.
We use old DOS PLC software that won't work with USB to serial converters.

You sure about that last ?

Plenty have found that
http://www.dontronics.com/usb_232.html
works when the others dont.

> Can someone recommend a low cost but good brandname laptop?

 

[Kevin Ettery]

Glenn,

You could try what one local company's tech did. They bought a COMPAQ
Evo1020, but discovered that the USB-Serial adaptor is still a little flaky
when used with their programs (PLC programming software to be exact). They
used the basic port replicator, which provides a standard serial port which
can then be used in the standard manner. The port replicator is small and
light enough to be taken with the laptop with no problems (its only a couple
of inches wider).

I don't know if this work around will work with other brands. Why laptop
manufacturers don't keep a serial port on the laptop is beyond me (the
COMPAQ Evo's is only accessible via the port replicator) - all I know is
very few laptops now come with inbuilt serial ports (either standard or as
an option).

Regards




Kevin

"Glenn Garrett" <inddyn@iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:3ffc8fab$0$1731$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net.au...

We need a new laptop for industrial use that must have a serial port.
We use old DOS PLC software that won't work with USB to serial converters.

Can someone recommend a low cost but good brandname laptop?

--
Regards

Glenn Garrett

Industrial Dynamics Ballarat Pty. Ltd.
17 Neerim Crescent
Wendouree Industrial Park
Wendouree
Victoria 3355
Australia
Phone +613 5338 1766
Fax +613 5338 1677
inddyn@iinet.net.au

 

[Glenn Garrett]

Thanks everyone

Port replicator - good idea but not available for my Toshiba (Sattelite
1410)

USB to RS232 - none of them have DOS drivers - my software must run from
pure DOS, not a DOS window. (Siemens TISoft, Step5 etc.)

PC serial card - the one manufacturer I emailed wouldn't give me an answer
on DOS drivers

Solution - Dell Inspiron 600M1400GT Pentium 1.4GHz 14.1" XGA $2400
Dell Inspiron 86001400P Pentium 1.4GHz 15.4" WXGA $2600

Not as good as my Toshiba but will do the job

Regards

Glenn


"Glenn Garrett" <inddyn@iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:3ffc8fab$0$1731$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net.au...

We need a new laptop for industrial use that must have a serial port.
We use old DOS PLC software that won't work with USB to serial converters.

Can someone recommend a low cost but good brandname laptop?

--
Regards

Glenn Garrett

Industrial Dynamics Ballarat Pty. Ltd.
17 Neerim Crescent
Wendouree Industrial Park
Wendouree
Victoria 3355
Australia
Phone +613 5338 1766
Fax +613 5338 1677
inddyn@iinet.net.au

 

[MC]

Glenn Garrett wrote:

We need a new laptop for industrial use that must have a serial port.
We use old DOS PLC software that won't work with USB to serial converters.

Can someone recommend a low cost but good brandname laptop?

Clevo.
I've got a D430S with 1 serial, 1 parallel, FDD, USB, ++++
under $2k 3 months ago.

 

[Rod Speed]

Glenn Garrett <inddyn@iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:3ffddd19$0$1747$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net.au...

Thanks everyone

Port replicator - good idea but not
available for my Toshiba (Sattelite 1410)

USB to RS232 - none of them have DOS drivers

Wrong. Some of them do.

- my software must run from pure DOS, not
a DOS window. (Siemens TISoft, Step5 etc.)

And some of the USB to RS232 converters can handle that fine.

PC serial card - the one manufacturer I emailed
wouldn't give me an answer on DOS drivers

Thats just one. The price isnt that attractive tho.

Solution - Dell Inspiron 600M1400GT Pentium 1.4GHz 14.1" XGA $2400
Dell Inspiron 86001400P Pentium 1.4GHz 15.4" WXGA $2600

Not as good as my Toshiba but will do the job

"Glenn Garrett" <inddyn@iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:3ffc8fab$0$1731$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net.au...
We need a new laptop for industrial use that must have a serial port.
We use old DOS PLC software that won't work with USB to serial converters.

Can someone recommend a low cost but good brandname laptop?

--
Regards

Glenn Garrett

Industrial Dynamics Ballarat Pty. Ltd.
17 Neerim Crescent
Wendouree Industrial Park
Wendouree
Victoria 3355
Australia
Phone +613 5338 1766
Fax +613 5338 1677
inddyn@iinet.net.au

 

[Donald Johnson]

Panasonic if you are prepared to spend more. Has proper serial port and
will work perfectly with DOS drivers.

The daylight screen and build quality is magic

--


"Glenn Garrett" <inddyn@iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:3ffddd19$0$1747$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net.au...

Thanks everyone

Port replicator - good idea but not available for my Toshiba (Sattelite
1410)

USB to RS232 - none of them have DOS drivers - my software must run from
pure DOS, not a DOS window. (Siemens TISoft, Step5 etc.)

PC serial card - the one manufacturer I emailed wouldn't give me an answer
on DOS drivers

Solution - Dell Inspiron 600M1400GT Pentium 1.4GHz 14.1" XGA $2400
Dell Inspiron 86001400P Pentium 1.4GHz 15.4" WXGA $2600

Not as good as my Toshiba but will do the job

Regards

Glenn

 

[The Real Andy]

Better option, tell the wankers who own the shitty old 'DOS only PLC crap
software shit' to upgrade to something decent. I just told a customer to
fuck off today when they asked me to fix a 15 year old piece of gear that is
no longer supported and the company who designed it no longer exists. Why?
Cause when i fix it they are going to whing about the price (paying for
obsolete parts) and when it fucks out again 3 months down the track they
will whine about the next 1k i am going to charge to fix it. Go and spend a
few k replacing it with a modern product that is more reliable and cheaper
in the long run. IF not, go fuck off whinge elswehere - get with the times.
This is the shit dragging au down.


"Donald Johnson" <nomail@nomail.com> wrote in message
news:aNrLb.2131$Wa.468@news-server.bigpond.net.au...

Panasonic if you are prepared to spend more. Has proper serial port and
will work perfectly with DOS drivers.

The daylight screen and build quality is magic

--


"Glenn Garrett" <inddyn@iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:3ffddd19$0$1747$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net.au...
Thanks everyone

Port replicator - good idea but not available for my Toshiba (Sattelite
1410)

USB to RS232 - none of them have DOS drivers - my software must run from
pure DOS, not a DOS window. (Siemens TISoft, Step5 etc.)

PC serial card - the one manufacturer I emailed wouldn't give me an
answer
on DOS drivers

Solution - Dell Inspiron 600M1400GT Pentium 1.4GHz 14.1" XGA $2400
Dell Inspiron 86001400P Pentium 1.4GHz 15.4" WXGA $2600

Not as good as my Toshiba but will do the job

Regards

Glenn

 

[amstereo]

that sort of atitude looses you customers, instead you could have suggested
a means of upgrading to new technology.

It isn't that hard to convice a customer that somthing is too old to repair
and its just throwing good money over bad.

telling a customer to 'fuck off' isn't going to get you anywere. the voice
of one becomes the voice of many.

 

[amstereo]

Some options don't exist for alot of bussiness types. there whole system is
set up to work in one way that the cost of changing to new systems / methods
outways the cost of getting the equipment repaired / sourced. plus inputting
records in to new software is costly and time consuming - Chemist
perscription software that runs in DOS and requires direct access to
printers - the costs of changing all this is too restrictive.

 

[Newsy]

"Richard Stroker" <Richard_Stroker@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:090120040148441811%Richard_Stroker@hotmail.com...

In article <3ffc8fab$0$1731$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net.au>, Glenn
Garrett <inddyn@iinet.net.au> wrote:

We need a new laptop for industrial use that must have a serial port.

You could buy a Serial I/O PC card.

http://shorl.com/honurodrymadu

I have one from Socket www.socketcom.com, but I don't know if drivers are
available for the OS

Rod

 

[The Real Andy]

"amstereo" <amstereo@optushomeDOTcompanyDOTaustralia> wrote in message
news:3ffe8737$0$25565$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...

that sort of atitude looses you customers, instead you could have
suggested
a means of upgrading to new technology.

It isn't that hard to convice a customer that somthing is too old to
repair
and its just throwing good money over bad.

telling a customer to 'fuck off' isn't going to get you anywere. the voice
of one becomes the voice of many.

I told them to politely fuck off.

 

[The Real Andy]

"amstereo" <amstereo@optushomeDOTcompanyDOTaustralia> wrote in message
news:3ffe87ec$0$25564$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...

Some options don't exist for alot of bussiness types. there whole system
is
set up to work in one way that the cost of changing to new systems /
methods
outways the cost of getting the equipment repaired / sourced. plus
inputting

The fact that you are runnning primitive software goes to show the calibre
of the business.

records in to new software is costly and time consuming - Chemist
perscription software that runs in DOS and requires direct access to
printers - the costs of changing all this is too restrictive.

I've seen windows based software in chemists. Changing it is moving with the
times. Accept the cost.

 

[Leon.]

"The Real Andy" <ihatehifitrolls@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:3fff3cb5@dnews.tpgi.com.au...

"amstereo" <amstereo@optushomeDOTcompanyDOTaustralia> wrote in message
news:3ffe87ec$0$25564$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...
Some options don't exist for alot of bussiness types. there whole system
is
set up to work in one way that the cost of changing to new systems /
methods
outways the cost of getting the equipment repaired / sourced. plus
inputting

The fact that you are runnning primitive software goes to show the calibre
of the business.

You have neglected to realise that siemens manufacturer industrial control
equipment.

The software he is running has to work with the equipment that is currently
installed.
eg what if they shut down a power station so that they can change the all
the equipment up to models that are configured by windows...