Originally Posted by
Doug64
... with our little Toshiba netbook. It was also used on a shorter trip (600 miles) last summer. It weighs a little over 2.5 pounds and has good battery life. It also has 280 Gb hard drive, and 3 USB ports (this was important to us). It is speedy and durable...
+1
Toshiba is probably one of the ruggedest minis out there. Great for the price too.
Not as good, but still kicking it on my tours is my Dell Inspiron mini. It's about 2.5 pounds, I too keep it in a neoprene sleeve, and that in a plastic bag, then into my right rear pannier. With it I keep up on my online journals, store pictures, charge my Ipod, and cell phone, and of course keep up with all the internet chores such as email, and chat/video chat with family while I am out.
I would look into a smart phone of one sort or another, but I don't know if they are inclusive in the areas that a laptop is capable of...mostly downloading daily pictures and keeping up with an online journal (crazyguyonabike etc.)