Small PC(?) for onsite programming and/or Data Collection.

Francis · Post by **Francis** » Mon May 26, 2008 12:26 pm

Has anyone used a small PC/Handheld type device for
a) Data collection
b) Programming.
all in good ol' serial.

The 2 scenarios that are of interest to me are:
1. On site collection of Data from a PIC based Data logger via serial connection. (No SD card or similar).
2. On-site pogramming from the PC/SF + USB-Serial adaptor. Obv it wil need to run SF and support USB dongle and possibley USB-Serial adaptor.

Has anyone tried ASUS eee or similar for 1 and 2 (above) or a Palm 'Something' for 1 above?
Any other suggestions for 1 or 2 gratefully accepted. But I am intrested in a new PC/Hanheld as opposed to something old/serial which I might be able to get.
(Cheap/small as possible just in case of damage/loss)
Ta.

Raistlin · Post by **Raistlin** » Mon May 26, 2008 3:58 pm

ASUS eee runs linux not windows
PALM runs PalmOS not windows
I'd say an El Chepo laptop would be your best bet

rmteo · Post by **rmteo** » Mon May 26, 2008 4:09 pm

I have looked at the ASUS eee as well. It is available with WINDOWS XP HOME - my local BESTBUY sells it in that configuration.

However, it is US$400 with a 4GB flash drive. You can get a real laptop for about the same price. The small size is really nice though.

Raistlin · Post by **Raistlin** » Mon May 26, 2008 5:43 pm

You could take a look at PicoITX really tieeny weeny form factor motherboards with CPU,GFX ect built in. You'd need a monitor to go on it , but are they SMALL

http://www.nordichardware.com/forum/vie ... 5&forum=30

Francis · Post by **Francis** » Mon May 26, 2008 5:46 pm

Thanks all.
Yes, ASUS eeee has Windows option (otherwise I wouldn;t even consider it) , but I didn't know whether the SF would work or if SF USB dongle works OK. Also didn't know whether standard USB-serial adaptors would work OK.

Palm, yes I realise Palm O/S. You can get NSBasic for Palm which has 'serial' commands. Again , especially as it is USB 'slave' whether any special USB-Serial adaptors were available with appropriate drivers.

The only appeal with Eee is size/reasonable cost, otherwise a cheap laptop was my option, which is not ideal but looks the only option. Pity.

I'll have to wait for someone to buy an eee an try it.

Edit: Hey, that's a neat little board, but I was hoping for something to work out-of-the-box.