Laptops

rugged, dustproof Laptop...

No such thing really! I had a compaq armada that was ok, bigger than the modern paper thickness ones, that if you look at them they break.. Since its going in the car, best bet is to get something older, you only really need a Pentium 500 (Not even that, but would be the min i would go) to run mobile maps etc, with say 10gig HD tops lots of storage for everything you need that way, CD drive, and 128meg ram helps..

heaps on Ebay cheap.. also look at www.notebooksrus.com.au but they arent cheap, but will give you an idea.

Hi Martin,
An oldie should do the trick - anything too valuable is a big loss if some @ssole knocks it off.
It's a bit of a lottery re dustproofing. Re vibration, the hard drive is the thing most likely to suffer, and they're pretty rugged these days.
200-300MHz processor speed should get you by for OziExplorer, but recommend at least 64MB RAM (I get by on 20MB, but it's slow). Make sure it's got a CD ROM drive - transfer only what maps you need off CD to the hard drive for extra speed loading maps. 2GB hard drive would get you by this way, but if you're using the laptop for storing digital photos as well, you may need to allow for more storage space.
A TFT screen will be a bit easier to see in daylight, versus the cheaper DSTN screens.
A serial port makes it simpler to connect to your Garmin GPS; if there is no serial port (very few latest models have one), you will probably need to buy a USB-Serial converter (more money).
If you're storing photos and the laptop doesn't have a USB, you can get an adaptor to plug your camera memory card into the PCMCIA slot on the side.
To run the laptop off 12v, Jaycar sell a universal adaptor to give 15-24v output, saving the need to use an inverter (cat MP3462).
As Truckster said, check Ebay.
Gerry

One of the most rugged on the market is the Panasonic Toughbook, should stand up to more than most. Might be hard to find second hand. Otherwise look on ebay like others suggested. $1000 should get you something that will do the job.
Will.

I've used an old Toshiba 486/75 laptop with a TFT screen. With a Garmin GPS 75 and later a 12XL running Oziexplorer for about 5 or 6 years, works a treat if a little slow redrawing the maps.
Like other posts I'd suggest something in the 500mhz CPU range, with CDrom and at least a 4 - 6gb H/drive.
Toshiba's are very tough, ours has had an absolute hammering while travelling outback tracks like the Anne Beadell, Connie sue, Gunbarrell and numerous simpson crossings, never missed a beat. It was so rough on the Anne Beadell that the whole dash fell out of the 80 series it was in but the laptop just kept on running!
I'm now looking for a later machine but it will be a Toshiba, need a bigger h/d for storing digital pics.
Peter

Just another idea on a power source .... a Korean company called Kerio make a 12v cigarette lighter type adaptors for running a wide range of laptops/notebooks. I got mine for my old Toshiba from Dick Smith. I think it is called the Kerio Energy Knight (or similar).

When I got back home to try it out, I found that the only plug (computer side) that appeared to be not provided was the one that fitted my computer ... (bloody typical). I contacted Kerio by email providing them with the info and a pic .. and a week later I received the correct plug with their compliments.

My Kerio adaptor works a treat!!!

Cheers
Jack
No trees were harmed in the making or sending of this message.
However a great number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.

Martin
I have two laptops that i run on trips, allway good to have a backup, one is a old NEC versa 2530 1g HD 16 mb ram which will run both OxiEplorer and garmin MapSource ok a bit slow but runs i've had it 5 years and has been on four trip around and through OZ down loading from a Garmin etrax now it is connected to a gps reciver and works in the background. We did the powerline track Perth WA yesterday 27/12/2003 and it still has not missed a beat.
The second Laptop is a acer Travel mate 280 20g HD 512 mb of ram 2gHz cpu all the goodys but no serial port making it connecting to Garmin GPS a bit harder having to use a USB-Serial converter, which the computer will not find some times and needs the plug removed a but back in but there are some things in life you just have to put up with. This unit has traved 12000 km this year in aug. along the central hwy, the ols gunbarrel hwy,Oodanadatta track,Birdsville track,out to haddon corner to central Qld down to Vic and back to perth. Not nissing a beat and saving all of the trip logs (which have been sent to westprint for checking) Waypoints and photos. My mother in her 70s thinks i'm a genius that she can see were where been and all the photos all with out going to the chemist shop. I can not advise you which computer would last longer or work harder (that would be like telling you which vehicle is better) but as the saying goes buy the bigest and fastest you can afford and look after it
Have fun
Regard's
Richard

I've used a 4 year old Tosh for the last 2 years. 233MHz, 64Mb ram and a 4 Gig HDD. Runs ozi fine and has enough HDD space for the 2 CD set plus others. Runs the seamless Flinders Ranges map which is 500+ Mb.

Its a 15 volt laptop, but runs fine hooked up to the vehicle's electrics without an adaptor. The older laptops have a COM 1 port which is lacking on many of the new laptops.

Martin,
an alternative is to use an old desk top computer with an external TFT display ($500-600). This dsiplay is going to be vastly brighter and clearer than any old laptop. Considering you could pick up an old computer for almost nothing, your total cost is display plus inverter ($200).Bob