lansalot

I'd be pretty surprised if from what you say you're doing that it would make any difference going for a faster processor. Generally, unless you're into sustained periods of number-crunching or heavy games - which you won't be with internal graphics - you'll be hard-pushed to tell. Put it this way - my work-supplied Fujitsu runs at 800mhz most of the time in power-saving mode and I never even notice. If it gets pushed a bit, the speed ramps up to maximum, but you never even notice it doing it (sometimes the fan gets a little louder). I'd say buy what you can afford. Oh, and check your PMs

For the Dell. Make sure you get 1x2048 mb memory (gf graphics probably not be needed for you as it's really a work laptop). Screen as your preference. Other than that, most of it can be left alone. If you want, post the completed spec here for Dell. (I just did this, and it comes out at £369 + VAT??) All that said, the things that really make a difference are the processor speed, amount of memory - and that's about it. If those are pretty similar on both, then just go for the Toshiba - as FF noted, it has a serial port built in which in Megasquirt terms means a lot less hassle.

What you're talking about there FF is called interpolation, and from across an engine bay it will be pretty un-noticeable. Sitting right in front of it, you'll be thinking that this isn't quite as pin-sharp as it should be, although it's still very readable. I'd have no hesitation in going for it, personally. Like I said, he'll get an idea of what it's like by lowering the res temporarily on his current laptop, but even that will give a worse idea than it will be with the new one (due to his current laptop likely being 1024x768, and going down to 800x600). (Make sure the colour depth is the same to give an apples-apples comparison)

Too expensive for what it is (says me). Paying for the name. Read up on this: http://www.bb-elec.com/tech_articles/usb_faq.asp Q: How does your USB to RS-422/RS-485 Converter show up on my system? A: After the drivers are installed, it looks like another Com port with a different number. If you install more units by connecting them, each unit will be assigned the next available Com number. The new com port shows up in the Control Panel, System, Device Manager, Ports as a Com number. The USOPTL4 and USPTL4 converters support Receive and Transmit signals using RS-422 operation or 2-wire or 4-wire RS-485 mode using Automatic Send Data Transmitter/Receiver Control. So, that's exactly what you want. Any laptop with USB will suffice. Back to the Dell ?

If you can find a USB com port that with drivers gives you devices like COM1, COM2 etc, then that will be OK. Will have a look around just now. edit: hmmm. http://www.usb-port.com/uc232.html Perhaps FF can advise if the megasquirt software is compatible with this ?

Spot on, most typically used for external HDs and camcorders etc. If you can find a USB com port that with drivers gives you devices like COM1, COM2 etc, then that will be OK. Will have a look around just now. edit: hmmm. http://www.usb-port.com/uc232.html Perhaps FF can advise if the megasquirt software is compatible with this ?

You can blame Microsoft for that. They really don't want people buying XP any more. If you have an unactivated XP license, go for it. XP is more and more snotty these days about activation and WGA and such. You can buy a genuine XP home for around £50 at www.scan.co.uk, but at the price you're as well including it from Dell. I wouldn't put any great weight in one wireless card being any better than another. It's more likely that one (default) is built-in and the others are PCMCIA option cards. You can always stick a wireless repeater in if you're a bit stuck (~£15). Don't worry about the screen - even when not at optimal resolution, it will still be fine for the distance you'll be reading from. You can also run it at 1920x1080 and have large fonts enabled, which makes life a bit easier. To get an idea, try setting your current laptop down to say, 800x600 and notice how the sharpness deteriorates slightly. At a distance it won't make much difference. Always easier to reduce than blow up, better quality.

That Vostro is a good machine, plenty memory, decent sized screen and has the option of an XP install with accompanying Vista media for an extra £60. Should be a cracker - if you can afford it, and if you want it, go for the internal Geforce graphics. Makes watching the occasional DVD or game possible. Internal Intel graphics suck for pretty much anything except basic software. I'd probably also go for the 1920x1080 as well, and definitely go for the 2048mb (1x2048mb) memory option (don't go for 2x1024mb - you'll fill both slots and have no upgrade path). While you can set a lower resolution thus "upping" the size, this tends to make things just a little blurrier. With LCD, it's always best to go for the native resolution, and again that amount of pixels would be better pushed along by the Geforce.

Sorry, I missed the above. If you can, double the RAM - it should help a lot. Simple test, if the hard disk light is flickering a hell of a lot, even when you're not appearing to be doing much, then that generally indicates a RAM shortage. 128mb ram is the barest minimum for XP, and I wouldn't entertain working with XP on less than 512mb. Try the memory upgrade advisor at www.crucial.com/uk on it, just out of interest. It could be you can give it a good shot in the arm for £20 (if nothing else, it will make the machine more re-sellable)...

Hi I wouldn't worry about the slowing-down speed when on battery too much - most laptops these days can be configured to ramp-up with power-on-demand. One thing I would say - you are looking at 15" screens, so I hope your eyesight is good from across the other side of the engine bay Check out the Dell Vostro range as well - they are more business oriented and tend to work out a bit more bang-for-the-buck than the "home" range.

May be worth considering one with a solid-state hard disk (SSD, no moving parts = no head crashing into the platters). They are a bit more expensive, but they should last longer if you're bumping it around a lot. As for processor, the usual rule applies - as much as you can afford ! Memory, 2gb minimum I would say and preferably 4gb if you're going to have a few apps open. Pound for pound, the Core2Duo processors offer the best performance for the money. Reasonably economical to run too.. For what you want, the above might help narrow the choices a bit. If you're not too bothered about the SSD, then I would still recommend Dell. Only you can decide on whether you're really going to need the physical protection the toughbook offers. If you pull up any likely candidates, feel free to post specs for an expert-eye over them Also, be aware of any particular hardware/software requirements the software you need to run has (I have no idea what Picoscope etc is, but frequently, stuff in the trade such as Microcat requires some hefty protection such as a hardware dongle). You might find that you are limited to finding a laptop with a legacy parallel port connector for example, or have some app that is only compatible with Windows XP (not Vista).

Of dubious legality, but... http://www.mygazines.com/

Two questions: who on earth would set a reserve higher than £5200 - and who on earth would bit on it at all ???

Just a few (excuse the thumbnail chicanery..)

Is it an option to fashion a bracket that goes all the round the alternator, from, say, a suitable-gauge flat bar (like a giant jubilee-clip for example, but perhaps taking in those two attractive (and I hope, not powered), bolt heads), just to get you up and running ? Weld a plate to the bracket and slip the alternator inside the bracket, tighten up appropriately and away ? 4-point cage-bracket using the top-mount, broken lower and two bolts ? Just an idea...

Thanks for the input, going back to the traditional underslung idea, will go for a side exit as I'm not running in any of those clubs. Cheers all for the advice

Damnit! Better to know that first then I think Back to the drawing board for me, looks like it will be a more traditional setup in that case. Thanks for the advice.

Lol, no - it's just sitting there for illustrative purposes only. Honest, I just threw it in the back. It'll be laid down properly, rotated and covered with a heat shield. Honest !!! My original plan was to exit behind the passenger door, but the silencer I bought isn't going to fit thanks to my spectacular measuring. This is plan B).

Thanks Dave, but it's a cherry-bombed (at the moment) V8. I bought a silencer as in the picture and I'm sure it'll be pretty much needed. There's some flexi-pipe in the system at the moment, but it's rusty and falling apart, so I thought I'd replace with stainless instead and try and get it up and out the way, perhaps quietening it down a little at the same time.

Hey, this isn't a fashion truck It's only for trials, and there's a fair bit of non-standard already going on so am continuing on that theme. Want as much of the exhaust as possible right up out of harm's way. Could always go the big-rig style and have it rising up the stack on the roll cage

So how come the side exiting exhausts I've seen on defenders that exit behind passenger door don't fail ? If it's a definite no-no, would I be OK to exit on the rear of tub somewhere if I can find the room ?

Was planning on rear of tub, but electrics kind of spanner that, so probably as far back on the nearside of tub (left-turn at the end of the pipe, "nearest you" in pic) as possible. Useful warm-air hand drier when wizzing in the woods ?

Let your tyres down before driving in ?

Thanks folks, it will be heat-shielded so as not to touch anyone up inappropriately. Just so long as my new pipework doesn't immediately fail it's MOT (it won't be sitting so high, it will be barely off the floor of the tub-side (and it will be flat, not vertical) - it's the 90-deg turn that hasn't been put through the floor yet that's making it look so high) Cheers

Hi Considering this sort of arrangement for the new exhaust, but the thing with the plastic sheet on top - it was raining and I had just painted the top - holds the fuel tank inside it. From a legality point of view, can anyone see a problem with what I'm proposing here ? ( It will be mounted standing off the tub and away from the side, but not that high up of course, I'll also fit up some heat shielding from Alu as well ) Thanks