how do i go mobile with laptop and plotter?

[Mark Phillips]

i suppose this thread could also go on the new ideas post

[Paul Rollason]

Hi Mark

We are also in Cornwall down in sunny funny Falmouth so if you are down this way pop in for coffee and hobnobs.

Until recently we use a laptop for everything but in the end it went kaput so we bought a desktop so we could have a larger screen.

Also costantly plugging and unplugging all the cables took it’s toll.

You will also need to run your genny through something to smooth the voltage (like an ups etc)

Unless you are using one of the more modern Honda gennys that output a near perfect sine wave i believe

Im going on a bit now

Good luck with your new venture and don’t forget to pop in

Paul R(Mackerelbus Design)

[David White]

Hi Surely you will limit yourself to vinyl only jobs and have to return to jobs requiring panels boxes etc anyway Id work out the cost of the set up against petrol etc see how long it takes to get your money back. I also think people would get the opinion that you would be cheap and possibly be concerned with waranty stuff maybe im wrong

[Lee Harris]

Hi Mark

I use a lap top that does not connect directly to the plotter……no serial port on Sony Vaio’s ……….. running SignLab off mine. Do work at home etc and then save on to the PC with the plotter attached and then cut from there.

If you do go for a lap top go for the best you can afford and check the connections for your plotter/cutter.

Hope you can understand my ramberlins…………

Regards
Lee

[Ian Higgins]

Hi
I use a lap top quite a lot.. When we do exhibition work always take it and quite often end up doing extras on site.
If it is just purly for cutting graphics you should have no problem, but as already stated you will need something to regulate surges on your Genny.
Also make sure you keep your laptop with you at all times …cos if someone nicks it they also get your dongle if you are using proper sign softwear…

Make sure you get one with a CD writer so you can back up regular..
Cheers
Ian

[Stephen Ingham]

hi mark, we also use a lap top, mainly for visiting customers and designing their signs with them etc on-site.

we do occassionally use the laptop with the cutter, but not very often.

not too sure about the method you are considering, would be good for some things in theory!!

we have done jobs where when fitting we would have benefitted having the plotter there and then but thats as far as it would go, and as ian said you would have to be careful it didn’t get nicked by some theiving little scroat.

stephen