More timing and scoring

[kilgojr]

Okay people, we need some more bodies to sign up and run Timing and Scoring. It is looking like we are going to be short our normal group in the afternoon.

We have begged and pleaded for more people to sign up to help and learn timing and scoring for as long as I have been a member. If we don't have volunteers sign up to learn to operate our systems it will be a very uneventful autocross because we won't be able to have an autocross.

Remember, Timing and Scoring is a worker position that allows you to sit inside the shade, you don't have to chase cones, and you get to learn a very important skill if you travel to other regions for autocross.

Thanks.

[nicktcr]

I can do T&S...I'll be there all day.

[AutoX Civic]

I want to learn, Ill shadow

[TouringBubble]

As long as someone will bring my computers back the next week ... =)

John, what's the timeframe on getting some updated club lappys? As long as we use our personal boxes, I'm kinda tied to the trailer. I don't mind it, but it's probably about time to just purchase some for the club as planned.

[SamC]

Specs on the cheapest laptop I can get through a discount program.
It's an HP 2000Z

Operating system Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Processor and Graphics AMD Dual-Core Processor E-350 (1.6GHz, 1MB L2 Cache)+AMD Radeon(TM) HD 6310M Discrete-Class Graphics
Memory 2GB DDR3 System Memory (1 Dimm)
Hard drive FREE Upgrade to 320GB 5400RPM Hard Drive
Security software FREE Upgrade to Norton Internet Security(TM) 2011 - 15 Month Subscription (activation required)
Primary battery 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (standard) - Up to 5.50 hours of battery life
Display 15.6" diagonal High Definition LED HP Brightview Display (1366x768)
Primary optical drive SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
Personalization HP Webcam with Integrated Digital Microphone
Networking 802.11b/g/n WLAN
Keyboard Standard Keyboard

PRICE $388.33 that is shipped w/ all tax included.

[Cholewa]

Knock some of those features off, and another 50 bucks off the price, and that's probably the range we're looking at. We don't need anything fancy, as axware isn't a huge resource hog, and that's all the computers do. We just need something that will boot up in less than 10 minutes, and run consistently without any issues.

We won't need a dedicated video card in the box, or any fancy optical drives/webcams/etc.

Think netbook with a larger screen (we do need a moderately high resolution to see everything on axware) and lots of USB ports and a VGA out.

Something along the lines of: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834237006
or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220822

[TouringBubble]

Screen res is great for AxWare. That said, I think a 720p screen would be usable for what we need. Horizontal space is what's needed most for registration and we can crush the reg area for more vertical space during the event. A 1080 monitor would be better.

If possible, we should also consider an upgrade for the timing monitor, or plan to move the second registration machine outside for announcing. That way we can run the announcer window as well as the top times and such on one screen and still have all the info up for larger classes, such as Novice. This would also allow us to set up the announcer window more easily as we wouldn't be looking out the window to position things on the tiny 800x600 screen outside.

The only issue I can think of with using the second machine for announcing is possible lag when communicating with the main timing server. There would be maybe a 10 second delay when waiting for the boxes to sync.

[kilgojr]

I believe that the board had planned to visit the laptop request at the end of the year. The board is very stingy with money through the middle of the year with the club race, however, I will make a request again if the T&S people will find what you need and get me specifics.

If I have the specifics and exactly what it will cost, I will put this to the board and see what they say.

[TouringBubble]

I would suggest this machine ...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834230069

Its a non-refurb version of one Cholewa suggested, but with an HDMI out video option. This isn't somethign we need right away or even for autocross, but HDMI is the standard now and we should plan for that. This would effectively extend the life of the machines and allow them to be used for other tasks that we may need them for, such as presentations, videos, etc. at banquets or driver clinics. We need VGA right now, but pretty soon it will be difficult to find VGA based hardware.

I looked for screens with better resolutions, but it seems that LED technology has effectively lowered the resolution of displays on laptops, and even the 17" I found around our price range had only slightly better resolution and were not worth the price difference.

the one catch is that most of these machines on;y have 3 USB ports. We use 4 or 5 at events. However, on Saturday I may try to just hook everything in to the hub and that could reduce our setup time and need for extra ports. It does, however, add another component that could fail and give problems.

[Cholewa]

We could always build a cube-desktop and bolt it to the wall in the trailer, and have full access to upgrades on one machine (as the main, never leaves the trailer box) as far as video/monitors/ram/usb ports/etc. goes, and then have a laptop as the secondary backup machine. We would have to get 2 new monitors, but with as cheap as they are now, we'd still be looking at about the same cost to build as to buy 2 laptops and updated monitor. The only issue we would run into would be an OS for a desktop box.

Just throwing out some more ideas.

[TouringBubble]

I'm not opposed to the desktop idea, but what about power? It's not uncommon for the generator to die. that's the end of a desktop box, then it's waiting for more fuel, rebooting, reloading the event, testing timing, etc. I think a laptop is a much safer bet as we can still run an event without power.

[JohnW8]

I would think a desktop set up that stays in the trailer all the time would be short lived. It gets mighty hot and steamy in that trailer as well as cold in the winter. That play hell on electronics. Laptops can at least be moved easily and taken care of better.

[seanittner]

how about avoid the board and just ask folks at the next event to cough up $5 or $10 for the "laptop fund". Don't eat out one day and you got that covered...

I (As owner of Black Dog Motorsports) would be happy send over 5 or 10 bucks to put in a fund for a new machine. Heck, I could throw $20 your way...

50 people, $5 is $250, or $10 is $500

As a PC guy I would agree with John... having something bouncing around in the heat and cold of that trailer would kill it pretty quickly.

My only other comment would be, does axware run under windows 7 ?

[Cholewa]

My only other comment would be, does axware run under windows 7 ?

Yes, yes it does.

The board actually didn't fret when we told them we would need new computers, as they couldn't actually remember when we bought the last two (which, if I had to guess, was the late 90's).

[Cholewa]

There's a woot-off today. Might want to keep a close eye on laptops as there's a good chance some great deals will come by for the next 48 hours.

https://www.woot.com