I'm really not sure what you would be doing with an installer/technician laptop that wouldn't work just fine on a Core 2, but all we really do with them is program radios and align antennas... and the ePMP interface is slow, but not *that* slow.
However, on the subject of Toughbooks, it is well worth getting a newer one with an i5 if you're going to be using it outside, because they have much, much better screens than the older ones - it's by far the best laptop for using outdoors that I've ever seen, and the only one I've used with a screen that I can actually see (and see well) in direct sunlight. On Wed, Jun 15, 2016 at 6:13 PM, Eric Kuhnke <[email protected]> wrote: > 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 >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > >
