Hi Folks, I'd be grateful for comments on possible solutions to the following things I'm thinking of looking for. 1. "Mini-laptop" I'm interested in something hand-held which is very easily carried from point to point, with a keyboard that is easy to use for entering textual information (there will be a lot of this, and accuracy is important). Needs to be connectable to "mainframe" box via ethernet (or USB at a pinch). A standard laptop is rather too cumbersome and awkward (needs to be stood on something and the fold-down screen would tend to flap around; also it would very much be on the heavy side for what I have in mind. I'm envisaging using this while standing, walking around, or even crouching.)[**1] Probably the "PDA" type of thing is too tiny for my spatulate fingertips, but that's the sort of size (or somewhat bigger) which I have in mind. And linux-capable of course! 2. Headless and handless (and legless -- just a tube up the bum) Here I'm interested in a simple small silent box with a full-scale computer inside it that doesn't need a screen or a keyboard, but will simply sit in a small corner of a shelf and be networked to others (either of a similar kind, or standard PC/laptop). And it should stay cool, preferably. Basically, somthing on the lines of "laptop with no screen or keyboard" gives the idea of what I have in mind. (Probably would need to be connectable to extrenal monitor and keyboard for initial installation purposes, but the intention is that this shold be a transitory situation. Must be linux-capable.) The idea here is that they would be "server" boxes (1 or 2 or even 3 of them), to which user access would be via a networked laptop or similar (e.g. the outcome of query #1). All coments and suggestions gratefully welcomed! Best wishes to all, Ted. [**1] No, I'm not setting up as a Traffic Warden/Parking Attendant/ Tesco Stocktaker. -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding@nessie.mcc.ac.uk> Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 Date: 25-May-05 Time: 10:51:21 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------