I found (Well my Father in law) a Gateway laptop computer at a garage sale today. $5:eek: The battery seems to be just about shot, and the cd rom doesn't work, but it has Windows XP Pro, 2.0 Ghz pocessor, 256 MB SD-ram, 20 gig hard drive, and the internet works. It was built in Aug. 2002!

I am typing this message on my new old clunker, and it seems to be way faster then my one year old Sony with 512 MB memory, and 2.8 GHZ processor. But my Sony is bogged down with a million programs.

I think this will be my GPS, map, navigation, and EFIlive computer.:ro) Now if I could just afford the EFIlive now:(

$5!!, you can't go wrong.

The battery in my NEC 2.2Ghz P4 Laptop lasted about 1 year (just out of warranty). Anyway, I purchased a iGo Juice70, RRP is about $120 but off Ebay about $70. Cheaper than a new laptop battery and never runs out.
http://www.igo.com/product.asp?sku=2366908

Cheers,
Ross

The laptop came with the electical cord, and I have a power inverter, so I really don't care about the battery. I'll know in a day or two how long a charged up battery will last, but I'm guessing just a few minutes. Oh well! $5 don't even buy 2 gallon of diesel fuel, so it was a good deal. I want the EFIlive, does anyone have it for $5?;)

Nice find! You can get by without a cd-rom providing you have another computer and way to network them. I'll give you $10 for it and you can double you money!

You'll care,I think,about the battery when you want to go for a ride and log some data.Well unless you have a really LONG extension cord .

What else did he have at the tag sale? I mean dam if he's selling laptops for $5 bucks

No kidding... I hope the home owners were not out of town :joke: That was a real bargin. Got any more? :lol:

The laptop came with the electical cord, and I have a power inverter, so I really don't care about the battery. I'll know in a day or two how long a charged up battery will last, but I'm guessing just a few minutes. Oh well! $5 don't even buy 2 gallon of diesel fuel, so it was a good deal. I want the EFIlive, does anyone have it for $5?;)

You need to be very careful of running power inverters in vehicles and connecting the device back to the vehicle ground.
Golden rule is you plug the inverter in, then measure with a multimeter between the laptop ground (like the screw on an RS232 port) and the vehicle ground, there must be no voltage present.

Much like big car amplifiers that have inverters bulit in to get like 70V (or more) for the amplifiers, you NEVER connect the negative connection for one of those to the vehicle ground.

Cheers,
Ross

Nice find! You can get by without a cd-rom providing you have another computer and way to network them. I'll give you $10 for it and you can double you money!

Yea, I have already setup the network, and it works fine. I installed my G-Tech software, OpenOffice, Streets & Trips 2004, Acrobat reader 7.0, and EIlive. All works fine.

When I got the computer from my in law, it had all the software removed and it only ran in safe mode, (And in 15 minutes I had it boot up just fine. ) so I don't think it was stolen.

You need to be very careful of running power inverters in vehicles and connecting the device back to the vehicle ground.
Golden rule is you plug the inverter in, then measure with a multimeter between the laptop ground (like the screw on an RS232 port) and the vehicle ground, there must be no voltage present.

Much like big car amplifiers that have inverters bulit in to get like 70V (or more) for the amplifiers, you NEVER connect the negative connection for one of those to the vehicle ground.

Cheers,
Ross


Can someone please explain this a little more for me? I'm in the market for a power inverter at some point so I can run my laptop. Now I'm a little concerned...

coyotekid

Forget the inverter unless you need to run a coffee maker or other device that requires AC. Check ebay for an iGo stuff, I found them for $46 on up, depending on what you're power needs are.

Thanks for the info, Race Hemi. I wanted an inverter that could do it all because I'd like to be able to power work lights, a small grinder, etc. for my job in the summer.

How is the iGo stuff different? Doesn't it have to be an inverter as well?

iGo is a universal DC power adapter capable of powering almost any hand held device that runs off of DC, phones, laptops, camera's, or dvr's. Check it out here http://www.igo.com/ or stop by your nearest Radio Shack. I know, I know, I'm not really a Radio Shack fan but you gotta do what you gotta do!

I just got a Cyber Power CPS120SI from Best Buy. It seems to work good so far. I found these online for around $40. I got ripped off!! I should have asked you experts first!!

I have been running 350 watt inverters that I bought at Sam's Club for $20 since Y2K. Neve had a problem with anything. I have wired them direct instead of cigarette lighter. I also have a 3000 watt inverter in my van that I used to power a air compressor or anything else I wanted to.

I have been running 350 watt inverters that I bought at Sam's Club for $20 since Y2K. Neve had a problem with anything. I have wired them direct instead of cigarette lighter. I also have a 3000 watt inverter in my van that I used to power a air compressor or anything else I wanted to.

I'm not sure, but I think the warning was meant for anyone using a computer while connected to the Diagnostic port.