Is this the ideal laptop

[chrisch]

For deco software in the field you need a rugged and durable laptop, ideally cheap if it gets nicked or goes over the side...

This one maybe??

BBC NEWS | Technology | Public can purchase $100 laptop

Chris

[David]

Originally Posted by chrisch

For deco software in the field you need a rugged and durable laptop, ideally cheap if it gets nicked or goes over the side...

This one maybe??

BBC NEWS | Technology | Public can purchase $100 laptop

Chris

One Laptop per Child

look very cool to me

David

[EdHornby]

that's actually not a bad idea...

Primary issue is that you would need open source Deco software - considering how we can't agree on agency or deco profiling this could be a risk, the software would need to be tested and supported

but hey, the benefits of an inexpensive laptop with a real bonus of helping developing countries are well worth further investigation

[chrisch]

Originally Posted by EdHornby

....Primary issue is that you would need open source Deco software - considering how we can't agree on agency or deco profiling this could be a risk, the software would need to be tested and supported
...

Surely there are plenty of old Buhlmann programs available in code that could be ported across easily (I'm no programmer I admit...)??

Chris

[NeilB]

If you want a cheap laptop to take to the dive site just keep your state-of-the-art laptop for a year. It will only be worth £50 by then and so out of date the only thing that will run will be shareware.

Jaded? Me? Surely not......

[chas49]

Unfortunately it appears that these laptops aren't going to be available to buy (at least not until next year - if ever) - You want a $100 computer? For $300? No sale! | The Register

[ardhill]

What is the $100 Laptop, really?
The proposed $100 machine will be a Linux-based, ... The laptop will have a 500MHz processor and 128MB of DRAM, with 500MB of Flash memory... The laptops will use innovative power (including wind-up) and will be able to do most everything except store huge amounts of data.

V-Planner make a Linux version, so shove it on the flash memory and away you go. Depending on the 'flavour' of Linux on the laptop of course. The V-Planner file is 3mb (tar) so untar it to say 4-5mb, and you have 500mb of memory on the laptop.

Personally, I have an old PDA that I have V-Planner on for dive sites. It's smaller than a laptop and it can be put in one of those watertight, see through bags.

[NotDeadYet]

You can get a 2nd hand laptop for £30 that will run most deco programs (they aren't complicated or resource intensive).

Cheers,

Stuart

[Philelmer]

We have a few panasonic toughbooks at work, they're cheap old lappies running W98 in a metal case. Anyway out of interest I searched on ebay, and you can pick them up for 50 quid a shot - and interestingly, most of them are listed under "sailing" so i guess their waterproofness isn't in question.
If you're a bit more wedged up and fancy something higer spec, i think they make new ones too....