Hardware Requirements for Dell Inspiron 5160 laptop

[bryant]

I'm about ready to install Hoster 3.3 in my laptop, but want to be sure I have all
the right hardware to make it work properly. I have a Dell Inspiron 5160 Laptop, 2.8gZ pentium 4 processor, Windows xp professional, 512 mB Ram, GeForce fx5200 video card w/32mB memory and AGP4x with Directx 9.0 support. A 30 gB hard drive, and a dvd/ cdwriter installed. I am willing to purchase all the necessary equipment that is installable in my laptop. Then compare this to the price of a Ruggedized laptop from MTU. What are my options(requirements)?
Bryant

[gduns - with the Lord]

I would recommend at least a 60 gig hard drive, and 1 gig of ram. However I don't think you can beat the price of the deal that mtu has on their laptop. Comparing apples to apples..........I dont think the MTU laptop and the Dell Laptop are comparable. From What I have seen the MTU laptop is almost an Industrial grade quality. I lived in Austin Texas for a while, and the Computer Repair shops there were not very complementary towards Dell as a company. The reason I mention this is Austin is where the Dell is homebased from. I am not Biased either way, this is just hearsay.

[bryant]

I see. However, what I was referring to was the fact that I already have a laptop and am really curious if I can simply add the software, an external plextor(what do I really need and for what price?), an internal HD(you say 60gB, but how much and will my 5160 take it?), and is my graphics card compatible(?), and if not will my Dell 5160 take another and at what cost? I do see that the Ruggedized MTU laptop carries a 512mB RAM as my Dell does.
If I can put all these components in as others have done to their laptops, I will go ahead with that, but I do need some very specific advice from experienced laptop users, however.
Bryant

[gduns - with the Lord]

a 60 gig hard drive will fit in the dell 5160. They are fairly easy to install. I only recommend the 1 gig ram Because it will be more forgiving with the 32 meg video card. The latest version of hoster may well work with the built in cd drive for reading in cdg's as they have improved the Interface.

I would suggest put the trial version of hoster on the machine and seeif it works right. You may not have to add anything. My suggestions were what I would do If I were going to use it for a karaoke show.

[bryant]

If I install a 100 gb HD, purchase a USB plexwriter, and what about my graphics card(is it good enough and is it a dual display?). And if not, can my Dell upgrade to video card that is; and about how much of a cost?
Thanx, so far, really!
Bryant

[lmcmains]

The bad thing about a laptop is you can't upgrade the video card. It is built into the motherboard. To find out what you have. Go to the control panel, click on system then click on hardware. Click on device manager, click on the + sign beside display adapter and it should tell you what type of video card you have.

[bryant]

INCmains: My original post states that my video card is a nVidea fx5200 32 mB. I just need to know if this is fully compatible with the Hoster program, and if not, how much do I need to spend on a really good one that is guaranteed to do the job.
Bryant
Also, is it true that any USB Plextor writer will be sufficient?

[gduns - with the Lord]

I have used a nVidea fx5200 on one of my machines, and it works fine. as long as you have an s-video out on it you will get the second screen fine.

[bryant]

Can the monitor out of the PC be hooked to one of those scan converters that convert computer screen images to TV images and work just as well? (Some people use these to get their computers to TV screens for presentations. ) On these scan converters they have video-out and s-video/out that can go directly to any modern TV set.

[gduns - with the Lord]

You could do that, But usually the laptops I have seen have both a s-video out, and a monitor out on them. so you shouldnt need the scan converter

[MTUSUPPORT]

Download the Hoster Demo and try it on this Laptop to see if it will work.

This is the only true test to find out if it will work or not on this system.

[bryant]

Yes, I am still playing with the Demo as I await the arrival of all my components before I get the full version up and running. I was using the svideo out last night on a TV set at home and found the color was not on the TV set, although color did show when I used the monitor output to the scan converter to the rca video-in on the TV.

[bryant]

Originally Posted by gduns

You could do that, But usually the laptops I have seen have both a s-video out, and a monitor out on them. so you shouldnt need the scan converter

gduns: I see and that does make sense, however, my bigscreen is approx. 50-75 feet away and long svideo cords are extremely expensive. Right now I use a cable(can't remember the name but those cable tv cable-types) with an rca adapter on the end that exits a video switcher as I have another laptop that switches the bigscreen over to videos and/or slideshows during/before/after singers are up.
Please inform once again? thx!

[gduns - with the Lord]

I have an rf modulating switcher. it can take 4 audio and video inputs, and switch them to what is needed. It is from Best Buy, made by rca. you can go into it s-video, and come out either video, or rf (channel 3 or 4) for the tv. If your s-video isnt in color, you may have a bad cable. I had a cable to that once.

each switching channel (4) on the switcher will take in either rca video, s-video and 2 channels audio. it will output s-video, rca video, 2 channel audio, and/or rf out.


Hope this helps.

[Skybird]

I also use an RF modulator because I also use an old VCD 5-tray carousel so I can keep the show going with all the new disks my singers bring in. But sometimes still have to use my newer DVD/CDG player for homemade disks so you can read everything. I do this because where I am at now most of the singers bring in their own disks and it is very time consuming to "add to the playlist" through my external plextor, that it's just easier to put them in a regular machine so I can just hit play and no writing of the song or the singer's name.
As for a large TV being 50' away, I have a friend who does this wirelessly so he doesn't have to use cables. RadioShack does sell this, but it is costly. It comes with 1 transmitter & 1 receiver to go to 1 TV, but if you buy another receiver so you can hook up both your monitor & another TV, then the total cost is $160, just so you don't have to use cables. If you do this all the time, then the cost would be worth it. Why can't you move your show closer to the big screen TV? Usually that TV is closer to the singers!

[bryant]

Thanx for the advice. I'm not sure yet, but it may have been due to the fact that the Dell laptops have their own 7-pin s-video ports and the standard 4-pins caused a lack of color transfer. Anybody here familiar with Dell s-video?

[lmcmains]

Most Dell laptops come with the plug. I had a Dell 4000 and it came with the adapter to go to RCA plug. I didn't have any proplems with the color. The only proplem I had was not being able to be in the extended mode. Mine didn't have a duell display. Mine only worked in the clone mode. Mine was an older Dell.