Anyone use a netbook?

Anyone use a netbook for imaging? I have used a couple of models briefly for surfing and Skype, but how would they perform with LOTS of USB thingys plugged in. I assume I would need a hub (or two), but would that even have enough total power going out the USB ports to drive everything? My thoughts are for making a more portable setup where maybe I just just velcro the netbook to the side of the tripod. I would be running at least CCDSoft, TheSky, and PHDGuiding, and maybe a couple of other applications open. Thoughts?

Charlie

I use a netbook regularly for planetary--but that takes only one connection. I would have no hesitation in using my netbook for all the applications I currently have on my old laptop. The programs and USB ports would work......but programs may not be as convenient to use because the tops and bottoms of the windows are cut off.

Remember that your screensize is a lot smaller with the netbook. THis means not only are things smaller on the screen, but that some programs will not load into the computer. Photoshop and the Canon control software will not load (If I recall correctly.) because the screen size is too short. In order to load these programs, you have to connect an external monitor with a bigger screen (which the netbook can use, and therefore loads the program). After loading and setup, you can remove the big screen and use only the netbook screen. This works with some programs (I can use Photoshop and Canon Control software on my netbook). However, the tops or bottoms of the window are cut off. Of course you can maneuver up and down to the different parts of the original window, but it is annoying. Other programs may load and register with the larger screen attached. However, they will not run without it. Still others will load, run, and be perfectly happy with the small screen.

Before you go attaching anything to the side of your tripod/pier, though, remember that you do not want to be touching anything that touches your telescope or pier while imaging. And yes, even while it is sitting running an imaging script unattended, there is occasion to touch your computer.

Alex

I've used an acer netbook to run an imaging setup. It has a 1.6 GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, and a 120 GB hard drive. The OS on it is XP home. Can it run lots of USB devices? To sidestep the power issues I use an active extender cable between the netbook and a powered USB hub at the scope. That way each device gets the rated current and I don't have to worry about losses over a 15 foot cable. When I run a USB video imager where the device is streaming lots of data, I bypass the hub and run an active extender cable directly from the netbook to the camera.

Software is another issue. All of the apps (TheSky6, CCDSoft, K3CCD Tools, Metaguide, etc.) run well by themselves, but adding more than three USB devices to the mix results in some "interesting" situations. Windows and/or the applications don't play nice together and sometimes stuff just stops working. Killing the individual app usually works but I've also had situations where a full reboot was needed.

Another problem I encountered was caused by the power up sequence. If I power up the system with my CCD camera off, and then turn it on, the netbook will not see it on the USB bus. Again, I think this is probably an issue with Windows XP.