SW on Laptops, notebooks

[liftedzj]

The time has come to replace the old PC and I'm toying with the idea of going with a laptop. I know that laptops with approved video chipsets are few and far between. Is anyone using (or has used) a newer (read current) laptop with any success to run SW on a daily basis?

[ESjaavik]

Yes, I have. I have a Siemens Fujitsu Lifebook.
Not entirely without problems, but nothing I can't live with. I'll tell you my view as a regular laptop user since 1996.

- As you say video can be a problem. On mine all I have trouble with will just make a puzzle of the screen, but I can fix it by restoring the desktop. <Window-button>+M
Then switch back to the program and it's fine again. But you should check with any graphics-intensive program that's important to you.

- I use PC's a lot against PLC's, operator panels, servo drives and other automation equipment through RS232. This is a problem with my latest laptop, as well as other new machines we have at work. I often have to use my old laptop in these cases. I believe it is not driving RS232 to the necessary levels. (The level between -3V and +3V is undefined in RS232.) I haven't checked it though, as I know when it will be a problem and use the old machine or an office PC.

- I could not use it as my only machine because even when I connect my 21" screen, the laptop is not able to run it in 1200x1600 resolution. This is the only thing that keeps me from kicking out the big box alltogether. For photo and drawings there is no such thing as enough resolution.

Other than that it has lots of benefits. Even a built in UPS!

[cadcam]

There are some nice laptop with the option for even a Quodro FX 500 and up video.
But I know you can get like I have the HP that has 17' wide screen with a 128 meg FX 5700 nvidia graphics and i know this works well with SW.
Also look at getting the 7200 rpm HD.

Now you have a really nice work station.
Also this includes a full key board with 10 key.

As for the Com port or as some call it (RS232)
Go here to order from my other office a card to take care of this. here is the link to the page: http://www.shopfloorautomations.com/serial_pcmcia.php

Hope this helps.

[DareBee]

I occasionally use a P3800, 256Mb, ATI rage mobile graphics.
Even aside from the 14.1 (small) screen it is quite a painfull process.
IMHO you will have to spend big bucks to be satisfied.

[cadcam]

(256Mb, ATI rage mobile graphics.) this not a good Cad card by any means ,SW recamends using Nvidea chipset. you will have better luck.

you will spend a few thousnd dollors for a good laptop.

[HomeCNC]

Also stay away from any of the ATI Radeon cards. My New Dell is a nice laptop but with the Radeon 9700 pro card it sucks for both SolidWork and MasterCam. Pro-E seems to work fine but, I agree with CADCAM. Stick with an Nvidia card if possible.

[DareBee]

^ I agree with both of those statements

[Bartman]

I am running a emachine with an AMD chip in it, haven't had any big problems other then some times when rendering a new feature in a drawing, the machine bogs down for a couple seconds

but other then that I use it on a lap top almsot daily.


Bart

[cadcam]

Bartman , the AMD chips are good as I have tested for cad-cam work.
I was also looking at the 64 bit amd chipsets when I got my laptop.

[cadman]

HomeCNC hit the nail on the head about the ATI Radeon cards, stay away from them. Basically, don't use gaming cards for cad work. Gaming cards don't work very well with SW, as well as being unstable. Go to SW's website to see what cards are tested & certified and what problems other cards may have.

[nervis1]

I have an HP Pavilion zd7000 with a NVIDA card, works perfect with SW. Has a nice 17" wide screen too.

[Kmed]

I am using a gateway M450 with the radeon 9600 card, and so far I have a few slight problems. I sometimes get extra cursors on my screen while rebuilding (sw2005), and in Solidcam 2005 i cannot use the solid verify, but could with the demo software. I would definitally not get a radeon card, but I did not plan on using this computer for cad. The quadro card sounds very interesting though. I may be getting a new laptop..