Ummm, a core i3 is a dual core CPU, it's the *type *of cores and architecture that's newer... Yes a 3rd/4th generation core i3 will be a lot faster than a core 2 duo based laptop.
In my experience a fast SSD and 8GB of RAM will run an xubuntu/XFCE4 based desktop environment on a technician/installer laptop just fine. One of my field laptops is still an x41 tablet with a 'dothan' core CPU and 1.5GB of RAM. It does everything I need it to do and has a great keyboard. I don't even need a core 2 duo for network operations which exist entirely within a Firefox/https TLS 1.2 browser session to some back end operational software (example: OpenVPN tunnel into the company net and access to our OpenNMS or RT web interfaces), and everything else is by command line and SSH. People need a core i3 for the web browser/http aiming interface of a radio?!?! Is the ePMP software *that* bad? http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:X41_Tablet On Wed, Jun 15, 2016 at 4:02 PM, Rory Conaway <[email protected]> wrote: > Based on our experience, dual-core doesn’t cut it any longer, you need an > I3 at minimum. To that end, we still like the Lenovo T420 units for > battery life and toughness. > > > > Rory > > > > *From:* Af [mailto:[email protected]] *On Behalf Of *Mathew Howard > *Sent:* Wednesday, April 6, 2016 5:14 PM > *To:* af > *Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] Toughbooks > > > > I agree, a Core i5 is overkill... which is why the ones we have are older > core 2 versions, but it isn't huge and heavy, it's less than a pound more > than that thinkpad, and it'll take far more abuse. > > > > On Wed, Apr 6, 2016 at 4:20 PM, Eric Kuhnke <[email protected]> wrote: > > For what an installer needs to do with a laptop, a core i5 something is > way overkill. That toughbook is nice, but huge and heavy. > > Here's an example of what a good condition Thinkpad X60 goes for: > > > http://www.ebay.com/itm/12-1-Lenovo-X60S-1-66GHz-2-0GB-100GB-WiFi-Laptop-/191834742697?hash=item2caa3ddfa9:g:S14AAOSw9uFW9Hgj > > 60 bucks. Then add $35 for a new third party battery for it. > > Put xubuntu on it. I mean, what do they need to do with it? Everything is > inside a web browser. It needs a 1000BaseT port on it, needs to be > reasonably small and rugged. > > > > On Wed, Apr 6, 2016 at 2:16 PM, Mathew Howard <[email protected]> > wrote: > > In my opinion, if you're giving them to installers, yes it's better than > three of those. It all depends what you're doing with it though... > > I'd rather buy one and have it last a few years than buy three per year. > > > > On Wed, Apr 6, 2016 at 3:53 PM, Joshaven Mailing Lists < > [email protected]> wrote: > > Is that really better then three of these: > http://www.amazon.com/Latitude-E6420-Notebook-DVD-Writer-Bluetooth/dp/B007PN2L3Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1459975789&sr=8-3&keywords=dell+e6420 > > > > Personally I like the Dell Latitude E6420 at $100 - $150 because you can > break a few a year and still be ahead of the game financially. Also if you > buy all the same model then you can swap parts some time like a broken > screen for a good one. The Latitudes are pretty easy to work on. > > > > > > Sincerely, > > Joshaven Potter > Google Hangouts: [email protected] > Cell & SMS: 1-517-607-9370 > > [email protected] > > > > > > On Apr 6, 2016, at 3:40 PM, Travis Johnson <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Hey... Not sure if this is a good deal or not, but Woot has Toughbooks for > sale right now: > > > http://computers.woot.com/plus/panasonic-toughbook-laptops-1?ref=cp_cnt_odet_cp_crum_2_wp > > Travis > > > > > > > > >
