Buying a Laptop

[lanceja]

Does anyone know of any laptop manufacturers that are still making laptops with the CD and Floppy built in? I know you can get swappable CD/Floppy drives but there are times when I need both at the same time and using a pigtail is a pain.

Thanks for any information.

 

[ski]

Use CD-RW media for transferring files, and then simply erase the files.
They can be reused about 1000 times, and are stable while a floppy can deteriorate over time.

A BIOS can be upgraded using a CD:

http://support.ap.dell.com/ap/en/fi...leid=R65431&sid=&os=Windows_NT&searchtype=age

 

[PCmad]

HP do, I have a Model Ze4355EA which I bought about 2 months ago brand new, it has built in floppy on one side and a built in CD re-writer/dvd player etc on the other.

 

[lanceja]

Thanks for the information from both of you. I am definetely going to start playing with the CDRW discs. Have always used the CDR discs because they are faster to format. Did not know you could erase files off a CDRW.

Thanks again

 

[ski]

You can erase the CD using the burning software.

 

[mjbianco15]

I purchase nothing but Compaq/HP laptops for our company. Look into the Evo N1000 - NX9000 - NX7000 if you want a CD/Floppy combo.

 

[onebigdog]

I just bought a Dell as did my son...and yes we were not happy with the no floppy, but solved it very easily.
Go and buy yourself a JumpDrive from Lexar or any of the good companies. Mine is a 256mb model that cost approximatiely $60. You simply plug it into the usb port and it can act as a floppy both storing and transfering files...and the best part, according to my son, you can make it a bootable drive like you could with a floppy as long as your machine will allow you to set the usb port for booting. I am very happy with this arrangment.

 

[Kocky]

Why not consider buying a USB memory stick. It is smaller than a diskette and you can put 32 - 256 mb on it. You only need a USB port and it will act as a floppy drive.

 

[onebigdog]

Sorry, I didn't make my self clear...the JumpDrive is a high speed memory stick the size of a very small Bic lighter that fits on my keychain. It works like a charm.

 

[Kocky]

oooops, forgot to read the whole thread.

 

[lanceja]

mjbianco15, question for you.

One of the items we look at for our laptop users is docking statiions. Dell calls them port replicators. Do you know anything about the port replicators for the HP computers? IE: Dell's port replicators are setup so I can insert the laptop into the slot and a regular monitor sits on top of a monitor stand. Does HP have the same setup?

Thanks

 

[mjbianco15]

HP offers a port replicator for the nx9000 series. This slides underneath the laptop and gives you the following:
Ports/Connectors (PN# F4808B):
(3) USB 2.0
(1) Microphone in
(1) Headphone out
(1) Line in
(1) S-Video out
(1) RJ-45 Ethernet
(1) 15-pin VGA
(1) 9-pin serial
(1) 25-pin parallel
(1) SPDIF out
(2) PS/2

I made a mistake with nx7000...only has 1 fixed drive and the Evo N1000 was retired this week. The only option from Compaq/HP for the floppy/CD combo is the nx9000.

 

[lanceja]

One more question: Does it come with a monitor stand or does the monitor sit off to the side. With a monitor stand can slide the laptop/replicator underneath and save on space.

Thanks

 

[mjbianco15]

They do offer the stand...I don't know the part number off hand...I purchased it as special with a flat screen and stand. It allows the monitor to sit above the laptop/replicator....laptop/replicator can slide out for docking purposes.

 

[lanceja]

The latest chapter in finding a laptop that will work. I just noticed (unfortunately, after I bought) that the HP NX9010 does not have a built in Com port. The port replicator has one but not the laptop.

So am back to trying to find a laptop with the following:

Has floppy/CD built in
Has at least 1 COM port
Has option to install Windows 2000

Anyone have an idea?

Thanks

 

[SYAR2003]

For com port ,get a PCMCIA serial card to it .
You can also use pcmcia enabler for dos to enable
it from a dos floppy if its neccesary to run old dos programs .

 

[lanceja]

I know there are work arounds for almost anything but it would be nice to find a laptop that I could use without having to add peripheral equipment.

It is getting to the point that everyone wants to emulate Microsoft in that it is their way and you the customer are only there for your money.

 

[SYAR2003]

I know the problem .Has 3 year old laptop my self.
Don't want to change it because the need of com port as you say
for configuring old equipments with dos programs via serial.

Check Toshiba's , last i checked they had models with
com.