I sure wish that I had seen that laptop before I bought this one. It sounds
like exactly what I wanted. I have an IBM T41 notepad. It's my first and
I'm sure my last non garage built hand me down computer. I bought and
external keyboard for it just to have the num pad keys and the windows keys.
There are work arounds and I am struggling with them right now because I put
the external keyboard away and I am forcing myself to master this thing.
Half way between a laptop and a desk top would have bin perfect!! I'm happy
for you though. You are a much better shopper than I am.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jerry Neufeld" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, October 30, 2004 1:45 PM
Subject: laptops with u s b to com port converters
> Good afternoon folks.
>
> Some months ago, lusting after a laptop with a complete keyboard, that is,
> one with a full number pad, six-pack and all, I bought an HP7010, an
> altogether delightful machine with every conceivable bell and whistle. If
> a
> bit on the heavy side, a compromise between laptop and desktop, it does
> everything I want, everything, that is but provide me with a serial port
> for
> my braille display. Fortunately, the Jaws jfw.ini file provides for
> editing
> the number of the com port used for braille displays, I able to change it
> to
> com6.
>
> As John mentioned, you must go into the control pannel, to hardware under
> system, then to the device manager to find out what com port number your
> converter has been assigned. While, in principle, John is correct about
> being able to reset the port number, with my machine, at least, chucked
> full
> of peripherals, every port but com2 was busy, including com4. Of course,
> if
> com4 is busy, then com2 cannot be used without causing a potential
> conflict,
> hence the assignment by the xp operating system of port number from 5 to
> 8,
> depending upon which u s b connector you plug your converter into. The
> nine-pin serial side of the cable should have circuitry inside that allows
> the operating system to recognize its existence. The device, whether one
> from Radio Shack or somewhere else, should have a cd with the drivers, xp
> not likely to know much about the device.
>
> In any event, if your laptop shows com 1 to be free but come3 used, do not
> select 1. Likewise, if com2 is shown free but 4 is not, do not select
> com2.
> It is not accidental that the com port number that is likely to show up
> when
> searched for is above 4. Unfortunately, with the A R C program for the
> TS2000, you have only com ports 1 to 4 to choose from, nothing higher. I
> learned, to my dismay, that, despite my lovely new heavy laptop, I could
> not
> talk to my TS2000 with it.
>
> Good luck.
>
>
>
> Jerry, v e 3 q s o
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
|
