Re: Tiny notebooks


"Frazer Jolly Goodfellow" <no-spam@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:Xns97309DDD46221frz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Frazer Jolly Goodfellow <no-spam@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
> news:Xns972FE559EF2A0frz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx:
>
>> Can anyone provide links to sources of support and downloads for
>> Tiny notebooks now the business is defunct?
>>
>> I'm particularly looking for a technical/service manual for an
>> AMD 64-bit model sold around 12-18 months ago, apparently made
>> by Mitac. Searching with Google has proven fruitless thus far.
>>
>> Failing that, can anyone explain how to reach the mini-PCI card
>> that provides wireless LAN connectivity? It isn't in the typical
>> place, i.e. behind a removable panel on the underside, so I'm
>> guessing maybe its under the keyboard - but I don't know the
>> right incantations to gain access to same.
>>
>>
>
> Answering my own question: I tried searching on Mitac with each of
> the various numbers on the underside labels and struck gold here:
> <www.overclockers.com/tips1192/index.asp>. The Tiny laptop is
> actually a rebadged Mitac 8355.
>
> I've just finished installing an Intel 2200BG wireless card in
> place of the supplied card. It now operates on an 802.11g (54MHz)
> WLAN using WPA security.

Frazer, have you considered starting your own Yahoo group for all those Tiny
customers out there? You have already problem solved and sometimes it's
worth having a dedicated forum for all these sorts of questions to be
posted. Particularly with Laptops - where just like Multivision and most
other makers, they use many different chassis. Tiny did this also.

Virtually none of the "Name Brand" manufacture their own laptops. The few
notable exceptions are IBM, Acer, Toshiba, Twinhead and Apple. Yet, even
Toshiba and Apple do not make all of their own. All of the rest buy their
laptops from what is called an Original Design Manufacturer (ODM).
ODM - Original Design Manufacturers

ODMs are the true manufacturers who actually cast, and assemble the main
unit which includes the motherboard, outside casing, and display. A few
examples of ODMs are Quanta, Compal, Clevo, Mitac, Asus, AOPEN (Acer),
Uniwill, and TwinHead-- perhaps you have never heard of these companies
before. But you have definitely seen their systems under other well known
brand names. ODMs are usually located somewhere in Asia, and may have
distribution centers in the US. ODMs distribute their product to Original
Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Each ODM sells its computers to several
different OEMs.

OEM's - Original Equipment Manufacturers

OEMs add the Memory, Processor, Hard Drive, Optical Drives and software to
the systems. The OEMs perform final assembly and stick their label (Brand)
to it, and call themselves manufacturers. Their products are then sold
directly to dealers/resellers like GEN-X-PC or directly to the public (i.e.
DELL). However most companies such as Dell now have their laptops assembled
in Asia. Our OEM is in the USA, assembled in the USA and our 24 hour 7 days
a week Toll Free Tech Support is 100% USA. Once these companies add in these
components, they have a complete laptop. They then put their label on it and
market it.

For example:

a.. An ODM named Clevo makes the Sager NP5670 and the Alienware Area 51-M,
the Voodoo MClass M550, the Hypersonic Sonic Aviator, and they are all the
same computer. Clevo also makes the Sager NP8882 and NP8887 and the Voodoo
MClass M600 and they are also the same computer. Of course, the Sager models
have a much sweeter price tag!
a.. An ODM named Compal (not to be confused with Compaq) makes some of the
the DELL, Hewlett Packard and Compaq line of laptops--plus some others.

b.. Quanta makes many of the Dell Latitude, IBM, and Sony Vaio laptops.

c.. GVC makes the Micron Transport Treck and Treck 2.

d.. Inventec makes many of the Compaq brands.

e.. Clevo and Kapok make certain models of the Sager Computer. Clevo and
Kapok are different divisions of the same company and are among the largest
and best in the world.

f.. Other ODM names are Mitech, Kapok, Clevo, ECS, FIC, Twinhead, and
Uniwill--just to name a few.
Some call this the "Dirty little secret of the Laptop Industry."


For example, http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/MVHELP/ is for Multivision
users.

Yahoo groups is easy to set up, and maintain. I am willing to offer to help
you with this.

Just a thought.

HELPMV


.