Yes, I'm still working on my wireless/audio-file 'server' project for the cabin here...how'd you guess?
One of those "on-again, off-again" projects....but this week it's "on" again...so if you're looking to turn some older junk into cash, now's the time to get me...
The cabin is "off-grid", so I'm looking for the lowest-power Thinkpad that will do the job. Kind of backwards from the usual....I'm shopping for the SLOWEST graphics-card, with the LEAST video-ram...
Experts here recommended the T43 or R5x with low-end Intel graphics as optimum. And any non-P T40/R50 series machine will do. My wife's T41 has the usual ATI graphics, but measures low enough power-draw to be acceptable. It was also suggested that the cheap 'consumer' Z60 machines might be good.
Note: problems like cracked plastics, worn lettering, stuck pixels, etc. are not an issue for this application. If the machine is cheap enough, I'll consider almost any condition. It does need to be usable occasionally though....i.e., keyboard, trackpoint, and screen -do- have to at least work.
The Configuration I need:
- USB 2.0....which limits me to T40/R50 and newer.
- CPU-speed doesn't matter; but one of the 'newer' pentium-M's that use less power is a plus.
- 512mb RAM...more is fine, but not needed...RAM in 1 stick is better than 2 (lower power)
- Any LCD; and the normally hard-to-sell 15" XGA would actually be OK for me....old eyes.
- Note; a defective LCD (stuck pixels etc) might be fine; if it's not terribly bad.
- Internal "G" wireless is a must
- good-working CDRW at the least.....DVD-writer is a plus
- 56k internal IBM modem is a must (all we can -get- here is dialup....lol)
- 80gb or larger HD is a plus; but if the price is right, a dinky original HD is fine; I'll replace it.
- A -slow- HD is fine...if you have a big-but-slow HD that nobody else wants; you just found your buyer. What I'd really like to end up with is a 160gb slow and quiet internal hd.
- If it has Bluetooth installed, that's a plus
- Battery has to hold -some- charge...anything over an hour is fine.
I'm shopping for a $150-175 machine; i.e., the low end of current Craigslist price-range for clean machines with stock Wifi and 40-60gb HD's. I'd guess that cosmetic-issues, defects, and the junky Intel graphics are an even balance for the larger HD and 'G' wifi, etc..
A nice and loaded high-end T42p 15" UXGA Flexview just sold here on the forum for only $245 (275-shipped was asking price)....so I'm thinking that 150-175 for a low-end Intel unit with an undesirable screen and a slow HD is probably about right, this month.
Next month it'll be less anyway I guess...lol....but I want to get this project DONE.
In any event, I'm open to all offers and suggestions.
Either PM or email is fine; but I prefer email because the PM-system is a little frustrating over slow dialup.
Thanks much for reading,
Richard
metal at fullwave dawt kom



