Run 2+ computer stations from one box?

[Bleeding Jawa]

I haven't come across anything that would allow me to do this, but I thought I would check here.

I would like to build a single portable computer, from which I would run two (and maybe sometimes three) stations (ie 2 seperate monitors, keyboards, mice). The processing requirements would be pretty low (no gaming or anything), so splitting up the computing power is no big deal. The primary machine would be running a photo-finish system for timing track events, the second (and perhaps third) computer would only be running a simple database scoring program to keep track of results and scores.

Building two cheap LAN-boxes is not a big problem, but it would be nice to keep my costs down a bit more, and I would have less hardware to lug around from site to site.

Any chance this could be done?

 

[SpeedEng66]

how about 2 low end laptops?

 

[DSF]

What stops you from having the photo-finish system and the database running on the same machine at the same time? Do you really need two machines simultaneously? (I'm not saying you don't, I'm just trying to get a clearer picture of the operation.)

Edit: I'm using "machine" loosely here, because I understand you're trying to do it out of one box. How come you need two discrete stations though?

 

[Bleeding Jawa]

Most people do use laptops for this purpose. I'd prefer to use a desktop(s) because I would prefer to use larger monitors, now that the 19-20" lcds are getting dirt cheap. I also prefer being able to fix my own machines which is not as simple with a laptop.

As for as running them from one machine, you can. But, it is easier and faster if you have two people doing two seperate jobs. As track events finish, one person has to look at the photo-results on the computer and figure out the times and places for the finishers. That person has to do this quickly so that the next race can begin without having to wait. Then, results would have to input into the scoring program so that results can be tallied. If one person does it, then there is a holdup between heats and races. If two people are working at once, the first person does the finish results as they come in and is also in charge of getting the machine ready to record the next race. The second person would then input the results from the previos race (as well as field event results as they come in) so the operater of the timing system can be freed up. In a more rare situation, if it is a big meet, you might even use 3 people. One to time. One to input men's results. One to input women's results.

 

[SpeedEng66]

ibm t20 - t23 could be had for dirt cheap (cheaper than a 20'' lcd )
yea it's no 19 inch screen but would you rather lug around a whole pc (lets say a mini itx)
a keyboard mouse and monitor or a 5lbs laptop that you can connect to a 19'' monitor ?

it kinda seems you need a sys to be portable

 

[JackMDS]

The simplst way the control fe computers from one it to use VNC program.

VNC slows the Video, so get a good laptop that would do natively the Photo Finish while other remote computers can do the other things that are less Video dependent.

http://www.ezlan.net/vnc.html

In case of monitoring needs, VNC can also be used to control few computers and split the screen between them on the controlling computer.

 

[Bleeding Jawa]

Jack, are you thinking of one computer to control 2-3? That would be the opposite of what I'm looking for...but it doesn't sound like I can do what I want anyway.

I haven't ruled out picking up old laptops (I already have an old Dell Inspiron that would do fine as a second station). However, I will be sitting at the computer, squinting at the screen for anywhere from 4 to 10 hours at a time, so I will definately be using a normal keyboard, mouse and monitor to make things more comfortable. A nice little lanbox with a handle would be about as easy as a laptop if I am going to lug the other stuff around anyway. I guess it's just a matter of what kind of deals I happen to find once I get around to it.

Thanks for the suggestions folks!

 

[Davegod]

get a couple of shuttles from ebay?

ok so you're not saving the money you hoped but on the bright side you are getting something - redundancy. even if one packs in there's only a hold-up between heats and races.

 

[Bleeding Jawa]

Yep, I figured I'd probably end up doing something like that.