Topic: anyone using a netbook for MF tethered? (Read 17567 times)

narikin · « **on:** July 12, 2008, 07:12:48 pm »

was looking into the idea of using one of the new netbook computers (super light and portable) for my location work - anyone doing it yet?

Asus Eee / MSI Wind / HP mini-note / whichever of the new micro models with the new Intel ATOM processor in it. could help with critical focus on location while being small & light enough to be on your belt, or a shoulder bag without really noticing. The chip isn't that powerful, so speed will be slowish, but its full windows XP up to 2Gb ram 120Gb drives or SSD drive, so it could work.

shutay · « **Reply #1 on:** July 12, 2008, 08:36:08 pm »

Quote

was looking into the idea of using one of the new netbook computers (super light and portable) for my location work - anyone doing it yet?

Asus Eee / MSI Wind / HP mini-note / whichever of the new micro models with the new Intel ATOM processor in it. could help with critical focus on location while being small & light enough to be on your belt, or a shoulder bag without really noticing. The chip isn't that powerful, so speed will be slowish, but its full windows XP up to 2Gb ram 120Gb drives or SSD drive, so it could work.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=207706\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Do any of these netbooks have built-in Firewire ports? I didn't think they did, no? And if they don't, is it possible to add one? I've tried looking at the specs of the Asus Eee PC and the HP mini-note PC and neither of them seem to indicate even how many USB 2.0 ports they have. I would guess that if it is already running XP, 2GB RAM, 120GB HDD, then the clincher would be the Firewire port. I don't know about you, but for me to shoot tethered or even just to download images after shooting, I need firewire for my back...

shutay · « **Reply #2 on:** July 12, 2008, 08:39:20 pm »

Apologies for the double post, but I now correct myself - the HP Mini-Note PC at least has 2 USB 2.0 ports and does have an ExpressCard/54 slot, so in theory, you could add a Firewire ExpressCard, and you ought to be in business. Does indeed look like a very interesting option. Imagine BetterLight scanback users?

Frank Doorhof · « **Reply #3 on:** July 13, 2008, 06:39:27 am »

Main problem will be the power on the firewire ports (if needed), that's what pushed me to the mac.

narikin · « **Reply #4 on:** July 13, 2008, 04:49:10 pm »

yes firewire adapter through the express card slot on the HP mini-note, so no problems there.

These machines are dramatically smaller than any Mac, so its another ball altogether, both in size and cost (small and very low)

jing q · « **Reply #5 on:** July 13, 2008, 10:21:17 pm »

I'll be interested in hearing if anyone has come up with an elegant solution to the firewire problem
at this point I use a power inverter hooked up to the power port of the firewire expresscard to power the firewire.

narikin · « **Reply #6 on:** July 14, 2008, 11:39:19 am »

The Phase + series back have a menu option to use their battery for power instead of Firewire, when working tethered, so thats not an issue, I believe.

plus there are adapters like the firewire booster, or low voltage adapter to trick / adapt it. http://www.captureintegration.com/phase-one/custom-products/

I suspect Apple will bring out a Netbook in the coming months (and proclaim it a world first!) and that might have firewire built in anyhow.

so - I don't think firewire is an issue, its more whether the Atom is workable with C1 for previews/ focus, in terms of speed/power - if so, then you're rolling.

richardhagen · « **Reply #7 on:** July 16, 2008, 12:44:24 pm »

Quote

I suspect Apple will bring out a Netbook in the coming months (and proclaim it a world first!) and that might have firewire built in anyhow.

so - I don't think firewire is an issue, its more whether the Atom is workable with C1 for previews/ focus, in terms of speed/power - if so, then you're rolling.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=208086\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Do you know something we do not know? I haven't heard anything about Apple coming out with a netbook. A few years back, there were rumors about an apple tablet. but that's all it was - a rumor.

rh

DavidB · « **Reply #8 on:** July 17, 2008, 02:35:37 am »

Quote

Do you know something we do not know? I haven't heard anything about Apple coming out with a netbook. A few years back, there were rumors about an apple tablet. but that's all it was - a rumor. [{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

And what you saw here was just that: a rumour.

Quote

I suspect Apple will bring out a Netbook[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=208086\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

We can each have our own suspicions as to what products Apple will release (personally I'll be surprised unless it's a refinement of the MBA) but the only way we'll know is to wait and see.

FWIW, OS X [a href=\"http://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/15/cool-hack-running-leopard-on-an-msi-wind-umpc/]has been hacked already to run on "netbooks"[/url] (the other term is UltraMobilePC: UMPC).

BJNY · « **Reply #9 on:** July 22, 2008, 11:57:26 am »

A rumor

but hopefully Apple to the rescue :

http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/17942/

usathyan · « **Reply #10 on:** May 21, 2009, 09:18:54 am »

I have been using a MSI Wind running OSX with Nikon's remote capture software....works wonderfully....I am sure one can install C1 or anything else on it and should work just fine...

It doesnt have a Firewire port though...Has wireless...there must be something that can hook up the two devices together...

Doug Peterson · « **Reply #11 on:** May 21, 2009, 10:21:10 am »

Quote from: jing q

I'll be interested in hearing if anyone has come up with an elegant solution to the firewire problem
at this point I use a power inverter hooked up to the power port of the firewire expresscard to power the firewire.

Quote from: narikin

The Phase + series back have a menu option to use their battery for power instead of Firewire, when working tethered, so thats not an issue, I believe.

plus there are adapters like the firewire booster, or low voltage adapter to trick / adapt it. http://www.captureintegration.com/phase-one/custom-products/

To be clear the P21, P30, P45, and all P+ backs has a menu option to run off of battery instead of firewire power [Menu > Configuration > Power Source > Battery]. For the P20 and P25 our companies' little inexpensive adapter will for the back to run off of battery.

I wrote a pre-primer on this on GetDPI: http://forum.getdpi.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6789

No; there is no small device that would translate wireless into firewire. Any netbook project for a digital back MUST start with a netbook with a firewire port or an expresscard slot (to add a firewire card).

Doug Peterson (e-mail Me)
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narikin · « **Reply #12 on:** May 22, 2009, 11:41:33 am »

Quote from: dougpetersonci

No; there is no small device that would translate wireless into firewire. Any netbook project for a digital back MUST start with a netbook with a firewire port or an expresscard slot (to add a firewire card).

thanks Doug, there's plenty of netbooks out there now with Express card slots - like the Lenovo S1. very well made and useful with 5-6hrs battery life.
not touch screen yet, but we'll see what Apple does.

Perhaps It's time phase gave the option of a USB connector on their backs, as everyone (including Apple) seem to be defaulting to that., and dropping firewire.

gebseng · « **Reply #13 on:** June 02, 2009, 02:01:13 am »

I am successfully using this setup:
- Leaf Valeo 22wi
- FSC amilo 3520 netbook: € 300,-, bright non-glare screen, expresscard 34 slot (the amilo came with 1GB Ram, I upgraded it to 2GB)
- on the amilo3520 I installed OS X Leopard 10.5.6. via the XxX_10.5.6 distro, works pretty well except powermanagement/sleep so far. this means that battery life is limited to about 2,5 hrs.
- belkin usb/firewire combo expresscard
- philips SCE7640 LithiumIon Powerpack to power the valeo (the belkin card has the possibility for an external power supply to provide power over firewire). I should say that the philips powerpack provides 18V instead of the 12V that apple firewire ports provide. so far, this has not been a problem, but cautious persons could add a voltage regulator to the setup.

the netbooks performance is good enough to run leaf capture 11.1.1, including live view, without significant processor load. however, I can't recommend processing MOS files, which is very slow (and not a good idea because of the screens size and narrow viewing angle anyway...)

hope this helps,

geb

Ray R · « **Reply #14 on:** June 04, 2009, 04:47:05 pm »

I have read Michael's article on this. He seems to have upgrded his RAM to 2Gb but from what I can see, one of the conditions imposed by Microsoft is that the maximaum RAM for a netbook is 1Gb. Perhaps someone can clarify this for me. (I have ordered a netbook, and I am hoping to upgrade the RAM) I intend to use it with a P45. I am hoping it will arrive tomorrow. I had a look for others but found that there are not that many tablet style netbooks.

gebseng · « **Reply #15 on:** June 04, 2009, 05:12:27 pm »

I successfully upgraded my amilo 3520 RAM to 2GB following this guide:

http://www.amilo-forum.com/topic,2488,-upg...3&uid=32540

geb

Ray R · « **Reply #16 on:** June 04, 2009, 06:15:07 pm »

Thanks.

I have a 2GB DDR2 module, which I am hoping to fit, and I will give it a try. Although the company selling states that 1GB is the max. But we will see.

jjj · « **Reply #17 on:** June 04, 2009, 08:05:08 pm »

Quote from: narikin

I suspect Apple will bring out a Netbook in the coming months (and proclaim it a world first!) and that might have firewire built in anyhow.
so - I don't think firewire is an issue, its more whether the Atom is workable with C1 for previews/ focus, in terms of speed/power - if so, then you're rolling.

As Apple have given up on Firewire bar the 17" a bit unlikley. Though if they use the same screens as their other laptops, it will double as a handy compact mirror for the model to do her make up with!

Author Topic: anyone using a netbook for MF tethered? (Read 17567 times)