[CQ-Contest] Laptop and Contesting Software

[Chet Moore]

When I needed laptop a couple of years ago for our dxpedition
to Gitmo KG4DZ/KG4ZO  I got one from  east coast laptops.
Try  www.eastcoastlaptops.com they have lots of IBM, Dell, Toshibas at good
prices.  These are machines that come off lease after 2 or 3 years. They
have the computer servicing contract for a number of big companies.  When 
they
get them off lease they REFURB em and make sure everything works.
I have purchased several of them, Two IBM's and Dell..  They come with a 90
day warranty but.........they don't guarantee the battery. Great for your
kids going to college.  2 of them had batteries that were good for 45
minutes.  the third one  (after I fully charged itovernight ) lasted for 
about 20
minutes.  Since I rarely use these machines on battery this was not a
problem.  You can get OEM replacement batteries on E-bay and other websites
cheaply  I have 2 of the thinkpads and can get those replacement batteries
for about $48 apiece.   You have to ASK, but  East coast laptops will
usually throw in a carrying case. In some cases they will give you a toshiba
carrying case for a Dell computer etc but the important thing there is that
it  FITS. They also have used parts and used memory.  I had an IBM cd rom
drive fail after a month.  They didn't ask for it back and just sent me a
replacement overnight mail that same day.

Their website tells you how many of each model they have in stock.  If you
need something specific, they can probably tell you when what you need will
be coming in off lease.

73

Chet N4FX

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Zack Widup" <w9sz at prairienet.org>
To: <CQ-Contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2007 8:55 AM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Laptop and Contesting Software


> I've been looking for a new laptop (well, not necesarily NEW).  It's good
> to know the D620 has a serial port.  I looked at some of the refurb
> prices at the Dell site but didn't delve heavily into what features it 
> had.
>
> The cheapest one I saw yesterday at the Dell site was about $770.
>
> By the way, we bought an Inspiron at work a few years ago.  I forget the
> model but it had a cartridge slot for either a CD drive or floppy drive.
> You couldn't use both at once.  It made for a real pain in the tuchis to
> try to install an operating system on it on an un-partitioned,
> unformatted hard drive.
>
> 73, Zack W9SZ
>
> On Wed, 24 Oct 2007, Russell Hill wrote:
>
>> BTW, the Dell refurb with XP which I bought on the Dell website DOES have 
>> a
>> serial port, in addition to 4 USB ports.
>>
>> Rusty
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Chet Moore" <ChetMoore at cox.net>
>>
>>
>>> There is a chain store (the inkspot) that specializes in ink and toner
>>> refills that has been selling DELL refurbs with warranty forabout $350
>>> with
>>> XP on them.
>>> I suspect if you go to the DELL refurb website you will find them there 
>>> as
>>> well.
>>>
>>> 73
>>>
>>> Chet N4FX
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Russell Hill" <rustyhill at earthlink.net>
>>>
>>>
>>>> I recently bought a Dell refurb with XP, a Latitude D620, on their 
>>>> website
>>>> and am delighted with it.  Warranty and everything.
>>>>
>>>> Folks in the business suggested this approach to me.
>>>>
>>>> 73,
>>>> Rusty, na5tr
>>>>
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>