Techie/Network question

[ctenidae]

It's getting close to time to replace my laptop. 5 years ago it was great. Now, not so much. I don't want a desktop (no desk, can't use it sitting on the couch), but don't want to shell out for a new laptop that needs to be replaced in 2 years.
Could I get a tower, hook it up to our wireless router, and use the existing laptop as a dummy terminal, essentially a keyboard and screen? Let the tower do the heavy lifting, and be upgradeable. I'm thinking get a good CPU, adnteh rest is easily (and cheaply) upgradeable. Am I off my rocker? Is it at all possible? We can get into advisable later...

 

[dmc]

It's getting close to time to replace my laptop. 5 years ago it was great. Now, not so much. I don't want a desktop (no desk, can't use it sitting on the couch), but don't want to shell out for a new laptop that needs to be replaced in 2 years.
Could I get a tower, hook it up to our wireless router, and use the existing laptop as a dummy terminal, essentially a keyboard and screen? Let the tower do the heavy lifting, and be upgradeable. I'm thinking get a good CPU, adnteh rest is easily (and cheaply) upgradeable. Am I off my rocker? Is it at all possible? We can get into advisable later...

Sure - but you'd need either ClientServer apps or a PC Anywhere type tool...

btw.. Laptops are getting really cheap...

 

[ctenidae]

They are getting cheap, but I'm even cheaper- I'd rather not spend for a monitor, for instance. Of course, as soon as I get something set up and functioning, the laptop will completely crap out on me.

 

[Brettski]

Not to be a total geek, but what are you doing with it? What software are you using that is pushing the limits of what you have now? Have you considered a memory upgrade...very cheap, and the most bang for the buck.

 

[Brettski]

Look Here

http://www.discountlaptops.com/

 

[ctenidae]

For the most part, the existing laptop is okay- mostly internet, some spreadsheets, etc. Really, I just want one I can play games on- not high end, super-duper hell games, but being able to play something that's not off the $5 rack at TJ Maxx would be nice (and even those are getting to be beyond the Tosh's abilities).

On the non-name brand laptops- are they really just as good as brnaded ones? I'm never against not paying for a label, but sometimes you also don't get the quality that comes with the label.

 

[kickstand]

It's getting close to time to replace my laptop. 5 years ago it was great. Now, not so much. I don't want a desktop (no desk, can't use it sitting on the couch), but don't want to shell out for a new laptop that needs to be replaced in 2 years.
Could I get a tower, hook it up to our wireless router, and use the existing laptop as a dummy terminal, essentially a keyboard and screen? Let the tower do the heavy lifting, and be upgradeable. I'm thinking get a good CPU, adnteh rest is easily (and cheaply) upgradeable. Am I off my rocker? Is it at all possible? We can get into advisable later...

absolutely. If you have XP on both, it's very easy with Remote Desktop. Remember though, you will probably need a monitor connected to the tower to at least get it going first.

Now that I think about it, why do you need a tower to hook a router to? You should be able to use your laptop for that. The router plugs into the modem. You should have a network card in the laptop to plug into the router to configure it. Once it's going, unplug it and go wireless.

 

[ctenidae]

The laptop works fine throught the router/modem combo as is. It's performance overall is lacking, is all.

Dell's got their Inspiron 1200's (low end, but still new) for $549. Not too shabby.

 

[kickstand]

The laptop works fine throught the router/modem combo as is. It's performance overall is lacking, is all.

Dell's got their Inspiron 1200's (low end, but still new) for $549. Not too shabby.

if its overall performance is lacking, you're not going to get anything more out of using a tower as a host and connecting to it with the laptop, unless you were to plug the laptop directly into the tower, bypassing the router. And I'm not exactly sure how that would work. Using Remote Desktop is the best option for that scenario, but if the laptop is slow thru the router, it doesn't solve the problem.

 

[Greg]

Using Remote Desktop is the best option for that scenario, but if the laptop is slow thru the router, it doesn't solve the problem.

This is the obvious approach I would take, but it's kind of a clunky one. I would think the performance would be good as all the processing will happen on the desktop. The only thing you're passing over the network is keystokes, mouse clicks and video. Your RDC connection will be running at the speed of the LAN which is likely 11 mbps and since you're pulling up an RDC session on the desktop, that will be the machine that dictates overall performance.

Interesting approach, but I would just buy a new laptop. You got 5 years of use out of the current one which is very good, so I would bite the bullet and get a new one that will also serve you as long...

 

[ctenidae]

Interesting approach, but I would just buy a new laptop.

My thought, too, but I have to explore the options, put together a compelling business case, and present it to the Finance Board (AKA spouse) for consideration. Of course, as all organizations do when dealing with IT expenditures, the decision will continue to be put off until the whole thing (ie: my laptop) explodes and the Finance Manager gets annoyed when I keep using her (company supplied) laptop.

 

[ctenidae]

As an aside, someone really should develop a desktop where teh screen and keyboard are connected to each other, like a laptop, and wirelessly to the tower, so you can have all the power of a desktop, and the ability to use it sitting on the couch.

 

[kickstand]

As an aside, someone really should develop a desktop where teh screen and keyboard are connected to each other, like a laptop, and wirelessly to the tower, so you can have all the power of a desktop, and the ability to use it sitting on the couch.

ViewSonic is waaayyyyyyy ahead of you on this one:

http://www.viewsonic.com/support/mobilewireless/airpanelsmartdisplays/airpanel100/

 

[Stephen]

As an aside, someone really should develop a desktop where teh screen and keyboard are connected to each other, like a laptop, and wirelessly to the tower, so you can have all the power of a desktop, and the ability to use it sitting on the couch.

I actually program systems like this for corporate conference rooms. You can control a PC and an entire multimedia center (projector, VCR, DVD, Cable/SAT, blinds, temp, lights) from the one wireless touch panel.

-Stephen

 

[ctenidae]

That ViewSonic's pretty cool, but not what I had in mind, quite. Interesting, though.

Stephen- ever work on Crestron gear? My brother in law designs the touchpanels for them, among other things. He/They do some pretty neat stuff.

 

[Stephen]

Stephen- ever work on Crestron gear? My brother in law designs the touchpanels for them, among other things. He/They do some pretty neat stuff.

Crestron and AMX. I've done more AMX jobs, only because we can't seem to carve out the time to send me down to NJ and get trained on the Crestrons.

-Stephen

 

[BeanoNYC]

don't forget to encrypt your network ...........