OTish on the scrounge for a working laptop

I am trying to get a 'virtual timing machine' working for the NHCA so
that they can evaluate timing software for their events.
At present the timing gear displays a time which has to be transcribed
on to paper by the timekeepers. No printout even.

If they go for something flash like TAG Heuer, free software is
available to capture the data from the timing equipment and do all
manner of wonderful things with it.

The problem being that there is some doubt that the standard TAG package
is suitable for our events. Apparently other organisers have written
their own.

Anyway before committing to the expenditure on the hardware it would be
nice to be able to try out the software or know what is required before
considering writing something bespoke.

The TAG blurb is very comprehensive and I have already got something
running that squirts out appropriate strings to the com port which are
recognised as valid. It needs more work yet though to suss out the
sequencing, particularly if we go posh and try to set up intermediate
times and speed traps etc. whilst running more than one competitor on
the hill.

All this would be made easier if I had two laptops. I can use my desktop
for one end of the simulation, but another laptop would be better for
taking to events to give demos to the timekeepers and 'the committee'.

So any old lappy will do so long as it works, will run at least Win98
and has a functioning com port. 1024x768 screen resolution would be a
bonus.

Anyone got one going spare they would donate to a worthy grass roots
motorcycle sport cause?

virtual machine? It's free to use the basic player/server.

If you need to have two laptops connected to each other, but in
physically remote locations then it may not demo things as you wish to.
If they'd sit side-by-side then it might work.

Thanks. I'll have a look. For demo purposes they would sit side by side.
Not sure how the RS232 would work with only one physical port though.

It may make your demo more confusing to people though.

Me certainly.

I can always trawl Ebay. Shouldn't be hard to find something that will
do the job.