What pc are you using?

[braegen]

Mine is nothing less than a ENERGY HAWG! I have looked at alternative choices, made several emails with questions etc.

What do you use to connect to the net, and how do you connect to the net specifically if you are a solar panel user? Modem, DSL, Wireless, Dish?

[12vman]

Satellite A15-S127 (Toshiba).. with a hard line.. :'(

[Archer]

The one on my desk........... ;)

[DavidOH]

Home built! * ;D

Full tower. AMD 3400+

Pulled the SCSI's and am on 1 HD now. ATA 100
21" CRT *Viewsonic P815 monitor. (About 85 pounds) :-/


Isn't this posted in the wrong place? ::)

[braegen]

Thanks,

I think I worded my question wrong DavidOH, essentially I have been looking for/at a newer low power consumption pc and was hoping for ideas.

I have a laptop and do provide some power for it when I can with PV, I am interested in seeing what I can come up with that uses less consumption (i.e. longer run time using existing panels). I have been eyeballing ITX's (5v 3.5A) etc.

I placed it under energy as solar panel users seem to be very creative in getting the most bang for their buck so to speak.

Best

[DavidOH]

I get your point. Never cared for the more expensive and very frail laptops.

We have these installed at work:
http://www.smallpc.com/

The new micro PC motherboards might work well.
1 hard drive, 1 combo CD/DVD drive.
Onboard sound and Graphics.

[12vman]

I use one of these with my laptop and have had great success..

http://shop4.outpost.com/product/3334662?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

I used to run an inverter with the original p/s but this unit works just as well..

[AlchemyAcres]

I gave up DSL about 3 years ago because there's no competition in this area and the cost was pretty high for the type of computing I now do.

I connect via dial-up with an IBM Thinkpad T20 using a standard IBM 56 watt DC converter. I've always been very fond of IBM laptops because they're well built and the hardware technical manuals are readily available,free. I stay a step or 2 behind, so I'm able to purchase laptops for about $100 each on average. I run Windows XP Pro and Puppy Linux (runs completely in RAM and is super fast.)

~Martin :)

[mohillbilly]

all of mine are homemade jobs...one is or gaming, the other two ar for general Internet BS. i run Linux on all of them, except for the gaming machine, which is dual boot. They are all energy hogs, and i can do nothing about it!!! laptops are not an option really, too expensive in my book. I have run Puppy linux too BTW, its a nice little OS very impressive in how it runs off the ram!! FAST is right!!!!

[Tightwad]

I gave up DSL about 3 years ago because there's no competition in this area and the cost was pretty high for the type of computing I now do.

I connect via dial-up with an IBM Thinkpad T20 using a standard IBM 56 watt DC converter. I've always been very fond of IBM laptops because they're well built and the hardware technical manuals are readily available,free. I stay a step or 2 behind, so I'm able to purchase laptops for about $100 each on average. I run Windows XP Pro and Puppy Linux (runs completely in RAM and is super fast.)

~Martin :)



Mate you have all the symptoms of a very savvy & canny consumer
who knows full well how to wring the full value out of each dollar.

You're my kinda guy! ;D ;D

I run nothing but Apple computers and always have. I used PC's
in my job before I retired and grew to hate them.

[ffd430]

Making sure that you have a fresh battery in your laptop will help it charge faster, also it will last longer on a charge... Radio Shack carries a product for around $120 to $145 that will allow you to power your laptop from your car cigarette lighter as well as AC. It replaces the Power Pack and is universal for most major brands..
its called IGo. Also you can charge cel phones iPods Palm Pilots, and digital cameras...

[DaNgEr_KiTtY]

i run a couple desktops 1.6 p4 512 & an amd 3200 2 gig plus my 1.4 p4 512 craptop. i picked up a 20 dollar 100 watt power converter for my cig lighter. i can charge my cell phone or run my laptop off that.