[pianotech] Netbooks and tuning software

William Truitt surfdog at metrocast.net
Mon May 3 16:13:43 MDT 2010


Thanks Brian for your comments, and others as well.

 

I would run it lean and mean with as little in the start menu as possible.
It would not function as a main computer for me, just several things.  I
checked, and the configuration is adequate to run MS Office 2007.  I rarely
run more than one program at a time.

 

Will

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Brian Wilson
Sent: Monday, May 03, 2010 12:16 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Netbooks and tuning software

 

Hi Will
 
I thought one of the computer savvy techs would have replied, but here are
my ideas.
Yes, you answered your question re tuning program runninng on a XP netbook.
These tuning programs are small. Dean Reyburn confirms this and I think
there was some discussion on this list a while back about netbooks.
What concerns me is that a netbook is basically a older type laptop, meaning
small ram, harddisk etc etc. So, opening lots of windows up will test your
patience! I don't know if the MS Office premium editions would run on a
netbook. Best to check the infos for software and hardware.
As whether the netbook suits your "workstyle" is really up to you. Will you
fit it into your tool case or would you carry it in your hand like a diary,
or fit it into another small bag is what you have to work out. The netbook
is about 2? pounds.(One kilogram in my language)
If you do alot of travel, the netbook would be great as you can carry on
board aircraft instead of using all your weight allowance on a laptop. The
netbook would be easier to read than a PDA or a smartphone, however they do
take time to boot up.
Other than that, moving the netbook around the piano whilst you are working,
instead of moving the PDA .
Then you have to put up with all the problems with Windows.....  he he <G>
Back to you...
Regards
Brian Wilson
Brisbane, Australia



 

  _____  

From: surfdog at metrocast.net
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Sat, 1 May 2010 16:08:23 -0400
Subject: [pianotech] Netbooks and tuning software

Hello List:

 

I want to find out if anyone out there is using a netbook with any of the
tuning programs.  I'm not concerned that the various tuning programs will
run on a netbook, I expect that they would  - with the caveat that it would
have to be an Windows XP netbook as opposed to the new Windows 7 stuff
(there are still Windows XP netbooks available online).

 

I want to use a netbook to run tuning software, but I am considering a
netbook for other reasons also, as opposed to a Smartphone or PDA.  One
other good reason for on the road is that I could have my database with
directions, notes, and perhaps even scheduling software right there, and I
can enter mileage into a spreadsheet.  There seem to be some advantages
here.

 

Also, I use Excel spreadsheets (too many of them, it sometimes seems) as
part of my teardown process for rebuilding in the shop.  It has been my
practice to take extensive measurements from the piano, enter them onto an
empty paper printout sheet for my teardown spreadsheet, and then enter them
manually into the spreadsheet on the computer.  Since I am doing such things
as key weighting, recording speaking lengths, waste lengths, etc. etc. etc.
for string and soundboard scaling, this is a lot of measuring and a lot of
time.  This double entry process is prone to error also.  What I would like
to do is get a copy of Dragon Speaks Naturally, a headset microphone, and a
netbook.  This way, I could speak and enter the data into the appropriate
spreadsheet cell and you're there.  (Not my idea, credit goes to Jude
Reveley).

 

These are the reasons I am considering a Netbook.  The question I have
regarding tuning software is if some of you still find it a bit too big and
still unwieldly.

 

Thanks for your comments.

 

Will Truitt

 

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