I have been using a very old IBM ThinkPad (pre Lenovo divestiture) as my JMRI / ESU LokProgrammer PC, but am looking around for something newer/lighter/faster. At 12+ years, this unit is probably getting close to the end. I want it to be a laptop, primarily for ease in storage and even for ability to take to shows. I don't plan to use it for much else (have enough full featured PCs, iPad, phone, etc), so don't need all the latest whiz-bang features, but still want decent reliability and functionality. I was very intrigued on using a Raspberry Pi for JMRI (and may still do that as the layout interface), but LokProgrammer only runs on Windows. Wondering if anyone here has any recommendations (either check-this-out or stay-away-from)
Hi Rick - Do you care which Windows OS your new railroad computer runs? For example, if you don't want Windows 10, Dell is still selling laptops with Windows 7 Professional. Prices look pretty attractive -- $300-$600 -- and you don't need a top-of-the-line computer for JMRI. Our experience with two Dell laptops and about a dozen Dell desktops has been good. If Windows 10 is acceptable to you, then there are many more options from many vendors. My experience with Windows 10 is limited to one Dell laptop, and my wife has a Microsoft Surface that she likes. We've stayed with Windows 7 Pro for all "mission critical" stuff. -- Jeff
I have kept all of our home "mission crit" PCs at 7 Pro, too. I just don't know about 10, yet, I always have taken the view that if we haven't migrated at work, I shouldn't migrate at home. I have always been a "top of the line" person, but realizing that isn't needed for this PC, am asking for experiences with mid-range stuff.
I got an Inspiron 15-5550 from their outlet store, direct from Dell. It's more than enough for the Lokprogrammer, JMRI, and even MSTS, Trainz, and a couple of Steam simulation games. It does have Windows 10 home, which works, and a touch-screen, which is pretty pointless. Total cost was less than $300, with free shipping.
Screen size? I bought a 2 gb ram quad core Atom unit with 10" touchscreen for under $100 that is plenty fast, and runs windows 10... The brand anme equivalent is an Asus TAM-100... keyboard detaches to form tablet. I don't need a lot of screen resolution for most train programming. Greg
Take a serious look at a Raspberry Pi 3. Once it's in a nice case and you have it tied to a good HDMI monitor, it's just as good as any Windows machine. I have JMRI loaded on two of them and it works great. One has the newly available SPROG-Pi board with the built in command station. It's really an awesome little setup for running my small layout. My second Pi is setup to work with my NCE Powerhouse Pro through a USB>Serial adapter. That also is working very well in my testing. I'm excited to get the new layout built and put it all to work IMG_20160724_165300 by KE4NYV posted Jan 23, 2017 at 2:56 PM IMG_20160724_165250 by KE4NYV posted Jan 23, 2017 at 2:56 PM
You loaded Windows on your Raspberry Pi? See the original post. Can you beat the deal of a windows 10 for $100 with touchscreen and keyboard? http://www.frys.com/product/8537219?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG Goes on sale for $99 fairly often. Hard to beat. Greg
@KE4NYV - Jason, thanks, but a key requirement is the ability to run ESU's LokProgrammer @Greg Elmassian - how well does the micro-USB port on that thing work with a powered USB hub (to plug in LocoBuffer, PS3 and LokProgrammer)? I have been looking hard at the low-end ultra-lights, in the $400-$600 range. Want to stay away from the Atom processor (have had lots of bad experiences). Not an urgent requirement to get anything at this point
Micro usb no problem, remember that a powered hub makes sure all the hub ports get the full current they MIGHT require. Many USB devices draw very little power, often an unpowered hub is fine. The new Atom quad core processors are mighty quick, have one of the Vulcan laptops, and a more upscale Asus T100-TAM, most people cannot believe they are Atom processors, light years ahead of the original Atom single and dual core units. There are no compatibility problems, in fact I have all 3 of my Atom powered tablets running Windows 10 Professional, joined to a Windows domain. The Atom sure gives you great battery life, way more than the "traditional" Intel processors. Greg
