I’ve been on the search for an old Windows 98, 2000, XP, or 7 laptop for lightweight office and networking (not so much accessing the internet, but rather working with LAN connections because modern laptops don’t generally have RJ-45 connectors).
I was hoping to find a laptop with a 4:3 screen, although 16:10 is still preferable over 16:9, and with Serial, Parallel, RJ-11 Modem (optional), RJ-45 Ethernet, S-Video (optional), and PS/2 for a mouse. For the drive I’d be fine with an optical bay drive, though I’d prefer a floppy disk drive since I have way more floppy disks than I do CDs (I don’t know if the older laptop drives supported DVDs).
I found that the Dell Latitude D600 and D610 were good picks that had those ports on them; however, what other laptops could I consider if those options weren’t / aren’t available on eBay for cheap? (They usually run for around 100$-200$).
Okay, I understand. You're looking for an older laptop (Windows 98 to 7 era) primarily for LAN networking and office tasks, emphasizing specific legacy ports like Serial, Parallel, RJ-45, and ideally a floppy drive. You prefer a 4:3 or 16:10 screen ratio and are looking for alternatives to the Dell Latitude D600/D610 due to potential cost or availability issues.
I'll search for laptops that fit these criteria, focusing on models known for their robust port selection and older operating system compatibility.
Okay, I've reviewed the search results. It seems many of the older Dell Latitude models (D620, D630, D820, D830, D520) are listed, but unfortunately, their prices are currently unavailable. Given your specified price range and desire for legacy ports, these might still be worth investigating further on eBay or other marketplaces.
However, from the results, the Dell Latitude E5430 and E7440 are available with prices. They are a bit newer, so they may not have all the legacy ports you're looking for, particularly the floppy drive. Let's take a closer look at the Dell Latitude E5430:
This E5430 might be a good option if you can live without some of the older ports, as it does offer a built-in RJ-45 connector for your networking needs.
Would you like me to refine the search to specifically include "legacy ports" or "docking stations" (as docking stations sometimes provided these older connections)? Or perhaps focus on a specific brand like IBM/Lenovo ThinkPads, which were also known for their robust port selection in older models?