gps+laptop+usb ports

I use Oziexplorer and my laptop doesn't have a serial port either. Use USB to serial adapter, no problem - although I don't use the laptop in the car, this is just for up/downloading waypoints and routes. Shouldn't make a difference though.

Hi Rox:

That is strange. I have an old Toshiba Portege - nothing flash. Runs Win98. It has both a serial port, and a USB port ( to which I have added a 4 port USB Hub, plus a plug in CD Reader. No DVD and no burner, but I am sure that if I would be able to buy an external burner and the appropriate software and it would burn CDs (very slowly I should think). I do think it would die under the weight of running dvd. But if this model has those features, I'd start looking at what Toshiba have on offer.

I have my Magellan 310 GPS (I think Noah had one ....) hooked into the OziExplore and the Raster Maps and it works a treat.

I usually copy my digital pics onto the hard drive and download them to my good computer once I get home. Oh - I also have a Dick Smith Card Reader ($40) to transfer these piccies (connects via the USB hub) to the HDD. If I wanted to go the extra yard (metre?) I could fit up a phone connection and email them.

I keep it (the laptop) running with one of those Kerio power sources which connects to the ciggie lighter. I also got that from Tricky Diccy.

But this computer is pretty old, so I am sure the newer ones would have the extras you want.

Just as a point of interest, I bought 4 of these things at an auction for $60 the lot. Three of the 4 worked. I cannibalised the remaing one for battery, disk drive etc and other bits.

This may help you in your search.

Jack

If looking at Dell, the Latitude range has serial and parallel ports, Inspiron does not.

I find the laptops that are designed to be lighter/smaller than the normal laptop do not have the serial/parallel ports. Although Dell Inspiron are heavy suckers.

My 14 month old HP Pavillion ze4315 has them.

I have to agree with Utemad you can get laptops with serials in any brand

Jim

I have a Dell laptop also purchased with it a docking station called TARGUS (USB port Replicator with ethernet) very handle plugs into usb port on laptop and run your GPS from that, also comes with extral sereil ports and usb ports plus one ethernet port.

Clive

Rox,

You say you want a CD burner and a DVD Player for your requirements.

If you buy a Laptop with a DVD Burner, you will have both in one unit.

The DVD burner will also burn CD's and play DVD's.

It is highly unlikely you need to use both at the same time.

I use a 3 yo 700 MHz Toshiba satellite which does all the above except burn CDs. To do that you would just upgrade the optical drive to a Combo drive, or use an external CD burner. 3 yo laptop costs 6-800 dollars.

1) what is your budget.
2) do you want new or used?

I dont really know of many new laptops that come with serial ports anymore... we have 12 new T40 IBMs here which we cant use cause they dont have serials.. USB to serial adapters wont run with our inhouse software :(

Look at some older laptops which will also save you a fortune, you dont need much to run Ozi! I Thnk Ray had a Pentuim 350 running it...

But depends what else you want to do.. Since you want to run DVD's etc, go for 1Ghz or better, 256 RAM, etc. External CD burners are only $200 in a case. But go with a DVD burner, you can play DVD on them as well, saves having heaps of CD drives

Hi Rox,

I purchased a Dell Inspiron just a couple of months ago and it does have a serial port. It also is extremely thin and light so some of the previous info is incorrect.

I use it to connect to GPS & use ozi explorer. Jusr returned from a trip to Cape York & it all worked fine.

I made lots of enquires prior to purchasing & the advice from many peole was to ensure I got a serial port. Appartently a USB/Serial should work OK but many people have had problems with some combinations of GPS/Drivers etc etc.

I use my laptop for the same reasons that you are looking at. The Cape York trip involved over 1000 photos - I burnt a back up & on my return burnt a DVD with 700 photos with titles & music etc.

Also used the laptop for internet use via mobile phone (CDMA with USB connection). This worked great,

Have fun,
.
Willy

I have a Dell Inspiron 8600 and it has 2 usb ports, 1 serial port, 1 parallel port & a video port for connection to tv etc.