@Cobraj - USB hub question

[Renegade]

Hey cobraj,

I am trying to figure out what I need to put together for a machine to bring to TH. I don't want to ship my main machine.. that is my baby and I would hate to the postal service to drop kick it like they did Croaker's.  I was hoping to bring my wife's laptop but it only has 2 usb ports. I need a min of 3 for Track IR, Stick and pedals. Will a usb hub work? Thought I would ask before I potentially wasted several hours.

Thanks!

'Gade

[AG-51_Cobraj]

What make an model number laptop is it? I need to see if it is 2.0 or 3.0

[Renegade]

It is a Toshiba Satellite L655. The ports are USB 2.0 but the graphics is on board so nm. I don't think Intel HD on board graphics will cut it. I tried this on my work laptop which also has the same on board graphics.  lol

I guess my question now is what do you recommend for a economical laptop purchase?  I would probably want to buy local at Bestbuy, Sam's or Cosco so I could return/exchange if needed since there isn't much time.

[AG-51_Bulldog]

Hey Gade, if your in the market for a good cheap gamming laptop I would recomend this HP Pavilion dv7t... It is an i7 Quad Core, 8 GB mem, 750 GB Hard drive... Aluminum case. I picked one up about a year ago and I am real happy. Comes with 2 year warrenty... I was able to get mine for around 900 bucks so I am sure there is still some good offers out there....

[AG-51_Fireball]

USB hubs work fine. I've got a powered 7-port hub that I use, and all 7 ports are full.

- Throttle
- Joystick
- Rudder
- Keyboard (or gamepad on the laptop)
- USB Headset
- Power for Trackclip Pro
- Power for laptop cooling fan

The only thing I try to plug in directly instead of going through the hub is TrackIR.

[Renegade]

Thanks guys. I guess I will start looking tomorrow. I'll check out the HP Bulldog. Gonna see what Kind of Toshiba's they have locally also. I think they laptop graphics card is key here.

[69.GIAP-ARTUR]

I'll throw this in for what it's worth.

I was going to Cuba last year and wanted to get a new camera for the trip (and general use afterwards of course).  Went to Best Buy to shop around and discovered that I really didn't have the money for the camera I wanted to purchase to have for years to come.

The guy at best buy said "Here's an idea.  We have a 1 month return policy no questions asked.  Buy the camera, go on vacation and return it when you get back."  LOL

So that's what we did.  I went on vacation with a 1000K+ digital camera, took hundreds of awesome photos and when I returned home I simpley went into Best Buy and said it didn't suit my needs and I wanted to browse for another.  They gave me a full refund and I walked out.  

Other than being overly protective of, and all stressed out about the cameras wellfare during the 2 week trip.... it all worked out.  


----***EDIT***---- 
Renegade, I can not and will not be held liable or accountable in any way if your local best buy is not as Ricco Suave as mine 

[Renegade]

How 'bout this Cobraj?

HP - Pavilion Laptop
Windows 7 64-bit
Intel

[AG-51_Bulldog]

Take a look at this gade....

http://www.techbargains.com/news_displayItem.cfm/269419

[Renegade]

I looked at that one online Bulldog. I wanted to buy the laptop locally since I only have 2 weeks until TH.  That way if it is broken, I can just take it back instead of trying to do a RMA which can drag on. Otherwise I would probably buy from Newegg.

Bestbuy didn't have the i7 version of the dv7 series like yours. This one was only $799 though instead of $1K so it's a little cheaper.  I just want to have one to carry on for the trip. After the trip, the wife and kids will grab it and I will never see it again. lol

I will probably be doing a new build in the Spring so I didn't want to blow too much dough on this one.

Do you think this one will be adequate?

[AG-51_Bulldog]

You might check with Cobraj but I would think that the one you picked will have plenty of spunk to run IL2.... 

[AG-51_Cobraj]

This one????????????


HP - Pavilion Laptop / AMD A-Series Processor / 17.3" Display / 6GB Memory - Steel Gray
Model: dv7-6165us| SKU: 3061339
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pavilion+Laptop+/+AMD+A-Series+Processor+/+17.3%26%2334%3B+Display+/+6GB+Memory+-+Steel+Gray/3061339.p?id=1218375747202&skuId=3061339

 APPROVED!  


Don't forget a cooler!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Targus+-+HD3+Gaming+Laptop+Chill+Mat+-+Black/1489333.p?id=1218262973303&skuId=1489333&st=gaming laptop&cp=1&lp=1

[Renegade]

Thanks guys! I appreciate the help. Ya'll are the best!