CompuServe Thread

#3DS and LAPTOPS?

11 messages in this thread
#190960From: Steven LeeSep 15, 1995 7:20 AM
Does anyone know how 3D Studio R4 will run on the following laptops? – NEC 4000C – IBM ThinkPad 755CX (or 755CD) – Toshiba 400CDT Does anyone out there have any of the above laptops? If so, what are your experiences with 3DS? Which laptop is _best_ suited for 3DS? Is the 800×600 resolution an absolute necessity? I know the ThinkPad can handle 800x600x65k but I'm not sure about the rest. Does anyone have any comments or experiences they can share with me before I make a mistake? — Steve, thanks
#191030From: Jeremy Hubbell [Adesk]Sep 15, 1995 4:27 PM
Steven, The first thing to do when trying to purchase a computer is to analyze your needs now AND into the future. The unfortunate thing about notebook computers is that they can be a bit restrictive in terms of expandability. If you're working somewhere where's there's no power, this is your only option. However, if it's not you might consider a "lunchbox" computer. They typically have 1 or more expansion slots which means you don't have to worry about proprietary hardware(and drivers for it). As far as the computer's you've mentioned, they'll all run 3DS. 800×600 is not a concern now, but it may be an issue when you decide to run NT. (By the way, IBM won't support a you when you remove IBM DOS and install NT and run across problems running NT.) As far as which is the best, well that depends on what you consider to be important features of a computer. Does it have a fast video card? How big's the hard drive? Is their technical support good? All of these may be important. Consider anything and everything-especially when buying a notebook. Jh
#191162From: John K. JordanSep 16, 1995 4:47 PM
>>laptops… Hi Steve! I don't specifically have experience with the 755 but I have 3DS4 installed on an IBM Thinkpad 750C and it runs well in the VESA mode. The biggest problem with using it for real work is the memory (I only have 12M in this machine) It's great for modeling on the road, however. I'd try to get a dealer to let me install 3DS on a demo machine and try it before I spent all those $$$. JKJ PS, the DOT project is still mired deeply in goverment muck. That's good however, because I've been covered up with other 3DS work. How are things going for you in Greenville?
#193770From: Steven LeeOct 3, 1995 12:54 PM
<<PS, the DOT project is still mired deeply in goverment muck. That's good however, because I've been covered up with other 3DS work. How are things going for you in Greenville?>> Hey! It's been a long time stranger! <g>.. I've been keeping very busy here (not with 3DS work though). I've finished up that CD-ROM project for the school. I did that in Macromedia Director remember? Well, so that's that. Otherwise, I've been heavily involved in my dad's business with VB and '95 and NT, etc. Let me know if you need a hand with any multimedia work.. — Steve (keep in touch!)
#193807From: John K. JordanOct 3, 1995 3:50 PM
Hey Steve, Are you still associated with BJU? My supervisor told me last week he had some money for me to do something on this project, namely, to locate someone in a university setting that could put together the kiosk software. Evidently, it's been decided that we, as a government contractor, can't do the actual work since it would be stealing work from private industry. However, they would be able have a university do the project with relatively little red tape. Perhaps you could put together a team or teach an independent study course around a project like this? It will be a week or so till I can get started on this, so I may give you a call then. JK.J.
#193995From: Steven LeeOct 4, 1995 12:26 PM
Thanks for the reply. I'm not formally associated with BJU any longer since I graduated last May. But I _have_ done that CD-ROM project for them up until two weeks ago. Does that count? I have close relations with a professor there who might be willing to allow me to set up an independent study course with a one or two students if that'll make things more acceptable…? Let me know if you definitely need a hand with the project and then I'll talk with that professor about it. If I cannot go with the University route, there is no possibility for me to do it myself? — Steve p.s. What scale of a project are we talking about here anyways? Exclusively stand-alone? integrated with an existing computer system network? touch-screen? CD-ROM? video? and who would provide all the raw information? (Just throwing out questions for you).. BTW, are you planning on going the 3DS MAX route immediately? I'm having my hesitations. How 'bout you?
#194071From: John K. JordanOct 4, 1995 7:12 PM
I'll find out more in the next week or so and give you a call. (If your phone is different than before, you could send it by CIS email) The project is stand-alone, touch-screen, running from a HD, and I don't know who will provide the information. <g> About MAX, from what was shown at Siggraph and spec'ed in the docs in this forum, it seems it will be very powerful – we must wait and see! JK.J
#191334From: Peter RichardsSep 17, 1995 10:37 PM
G'day Steve, I am running 3DS on a Toshiba 610CT which is a Pentium 90, with 40MB Ram and 680 MB HD, inbuilt soundcard and two PCMCIA slots, currently with network and modem cards in them, I hot change the modem with the SONY CD-rom/walkman. It also has a 24 bit TFT which is handy. -Peter -Peter.
#191395From: IBANK Systems Inc.Sep 18, 1995 9:54 AM
Does the Toshiba 610CT support high-res on the TFT display? (800×600) Does 3DSr4 run acceptably without that 800×600 resolution? Any comments on the Toshiba 400CDT?
#191505From: Peter RichardsSep 18, 1995 8:59 PM
3DS runs AOK in 640×480… Havent tried 800×600! The internal card support 1024×768 on an external monitor. -Peter
#191949From: IBANK Systems Inc.Sep 21, 1995 9:25 AM
thanks Peter.. I went ahead with the T400CDT .. just awaiting the backorder now. — Steve