Touring - bring Laptop on tour - any recommendations?

I'd like to step out my front door and do the Adventure Cycling Pacific Coast tour, and then other tours in the future. However, I just cannot be away from my PC more than a couple of days, let alone a few weeks! So I'd like to bring a laptop with me. Has anyone else toured with a laptop? Any recommendations? How does the jarring of the road affect the laptop? I was thinking of a Dell w/ 17" display and getting dial-up, HSDPA, and wireless. Must... not... go... without... Internet... access.... :D

I use an HP IPAQ with WiFi when touring, for email, basic internet browsing, etc. It is bombproof since it has no hard drive, but the screen of course is tiny, and text input very slow.

If I were to go longer and work I would probably bring my old Sony Vaio, with 12" display, which has endured many motorcycle trips and adventures but not on the bicycle. If it got trashed or stolen, no big deal, and it works suprisingly well for internet use with a Lynksys WiFi card.

On edit:

Then again, maybe I wouldn't. I think Cycco has a better idea! (see below)

I use a Fujitsu P1120, but that was just disconinued. 9hrs battery life and an all important PCMCIA slot, its much smaller than a sheet of paper and less than 1in thick.
With that slot i use a VZW nationalaccess card.
I wrap it in a fleece or towel.

You can do it! Leave the laptop at home! You can take these things that are made of ground up trees that are called 'Books' that tell all kinds of stories about all kinds of stuff. They tell stories about outer space and monsters or about crimes or spies or even...gulp...romance - Ewww! :eek: And by reading them you can even run, like, movies in your head.

And for writing, there is this other stuff that is made of ground up trees called 'paper'. It's really cool. You use a thing called a 'pen' or even a 'pencil' that transfers chemicals to the paper and makes stuff called 'writing'. It really, really retro and wickedly cool! And the best part is that none of this 'writing' or 'book' stuff requires batteries!

And the very, very best part is that if you drop your book or pen, you won't break it. And they are all - books, paper, pen, pencil - really, really cheap! :D

i think my recommendation would be....don't.

You can do it! Leave the laptop at home! You can take these things that are made of ground up trees that are called 'Books' that tell all kinds of stories about all kinds of stuff. They tell stories about outer space and monsters or about crimes or spies or even...gulp...romance - Ewww! :eek: And by reading them you can even run, like, movies in your head.

And for writing, there is this other stuff that is made of ground up trees called 'paper'. It's really cool. You use a thing called a 'pen' or even a 'pencil' that transfers chemicals to the paper and makes stuff called 'writing'. It really, really retro and wickedly cool! And the best part is that none of this 'writing' or 'book' stuff requires batteries!

And the very, very best part is that if you drop your book or pen, you won't break it. And they are all - books, paper, pen, pencil - really, really cheap! :D

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Bring your MP3's on Data CD's.
Do the email thang in town libraries.
Leave the screen at home.

Too much weight what with charger and xtra batt. Lousy screen views in daylight. Breakable and stealable.

If you have to, get one of those super light laptops with wifi. Otherwise, it's overkill and it'll weigh you down. I brought mine, and it really wasn't worth the hassle.

Koffee

If you don't have a ruggedized laptop, don't take it. Laptops are very fragile things. Minor drops can wreck the hard drive, any kind of spill(or rain) can fry the motherboard. It's not worth the risk.

I use an HP IPAQ with WiFi when touring, for email, basic internet browsing, etc. It is bombproof since it has no hard drive, but the screen of course is tiny, and text input very slow.

If I were to go longer and work I would probably bring my old Sony Vaio, with 12" display, which has endured many motorcycle trips and adventures but not on the bicycle. If it got trashed or stolen, no big deal, and it works suprisingly well for internet use with a Lynksys WiFi card.

On edit:

Then again, maybe I wouldn't. I think Cycco has a better idea! (see below)

Which IPAQ are you using? Like it? I'm thinking when the price comes down.............

Check out Durabooks by Twinhead . This will be my 'office on the go.'

Rugged and reasonably priced vs Panasonic toughbook..

I'll be hauling a BOB Yak trailer. All other gear is light weight, but I'll probably need to work while on tour.

Tim

Which IPAQ are you using? Like it? I'm thinking when the price comes down.............
I bought the HP hx2415 about a year ago. I like it. Solid unit with great screen, wifi/buetooth, and rugged design. This is the business-oriented model, not consumer, and has no camera or anything like that. It is great for usual PDA functions - calendar, contacts, notes, MS apps, and email. The wi-fi works ok but is slow compared to a laptop. The text entry is painfully slow and I should really get a portable keyboard for when I travel with it. Otherwise it is mainly used as a PDA and to ensure that I always have a way to check email when the laptop is not with me. Battery life is exceptional, btw, over 8 hrs with wi-fi in use. They go for around $300 now I think.

I bought the HP hx2415 about a year ago. I like it. Solid unit with great screen, wifi/buetooth, and rugged design. This is the business-oriented model, not consumer, and has no camera or anything like that. It is great for usual PDA functions - calendar, contacts, notes, MS apps, and email. The wi-fi works ok but is slow compared to a laptop. The text entry is painfully slow and I should really get a portable keyboard for when I travel with it. Otherwise it is mainly used as a PDA and to ensure that I always have a way to check email when the laptop is not with me. Battery life is exceptional, btw, over 8 hrs with wi-fi in use. They go for around $300 now I think.
THANKS!
I'm shooting for more of an all-in-one model, with portable keyboard maditory!

I'll advise you to leave the laptop at home. I just "fried" the modular bay harddrive on my laptop by moving it away from the table where I usually work on it at home, because my cat all of a sudden decided to start lying down to nap on the keyboards. I moved the laptop around for two days, and that resulted in a crashed harddisk. I was told by Dell that the movements killed my harddrive.

My point is that laptops are much more delicate than I realised. I think taking them in a pannier or trailer and bounding up and down on a bike tour would not be good for your harddrive.

Regards,

I haven't bike-toured in many years, but on all of my (well our, me and my wife) trips I took my ipaq. But I also have a full sized folding keyboard for it, so text entry was every bit as good as a laptop. Surfing is tedious, as the small screen and mini IE isn't as good. But most trips I had minimal internet access anyhow as they were outside the US. Also equipped with a 5GB mini HDD I used my ipaq for MP3, audio books, ebooks, and movies while travelling. I am such a geek.

Now I have a Verizon 6700. Best of both worlds.

If I were to take a full sized laptop. I would take one of these:
http://store.shopfujitsu.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=P15D

My dad has one and it is amazing. Super small and light, but extremely usable. With the extended battery he gets at least 6 hours battery life. I am still trying to figure out how I can filter my laptop down the food chain and get myself one.

-D

I'll advise you to leave the laptop at home. I just "fried" the modular bay harddrive on my laptop by moving it away from the table where I usually work on it at home, because my cat all of a sudden decided to start lying down to nap on the keyboards. I moved the laptop around for two days, and that resulted in a crashed harddisk. I was told by Dell that the movements killed my harddrive.

I have a 6 yr old Dell Latitude I bring everywhere with me and toss it around with out much concern, still works like a charm. Moving the laptop around for a few days shouldn't cause a harddrive to fail, but I don't know anything about modular bay drives.

I have a 6 yr old Dell Latitude I bring everywhere with me and toss it around with out much concern, still works like a charm. Moving the laptop around for a few days shouldn't cause a harddrive to fail, but I don't know anything about modular bay drives.

As a matter of fact, my laptop is a Dell Latitude C800. The primary harddrive in the computer works fine. The problem is with the secondary harddrive in my modular bay. I also use the modular bay for a second battery at times.

I was specifically told by a Dell technician that the problem resulted from moving around the computer. He has seen this kind of problem many times, he said.

Regards,

I'd like to step out my front door and do the Adventure Cycling Pacific Coast tour, and then other tours in the future. However, I just cannot be away from my PC more than a couple of days, let alone a few weeks! So I'd like to bring a laptop with me. Has anyone else toured with a laptop? Any recommendations? How does the jarring of the road affect the laptop? I was thinking of a Dell w/ 17" display and getting dial-up, HSDPA, and wireless. Must... not... go... without... Internet... access.... :D

Took a Laptop around Australia on our 23 month, 19,000 km ride, powered it from a solar panel, ran our communications and website from it and it was fine - just take some basic precautions with it. I made a bubble wrap cover for it and and stored it in the Bob trailer. No problems at all. Have just bought a Fujitsu Lifebook (with Wi-fi etc) for the next ride because it is smaller and lighter. Just do it and be glad you did. If you do take one, look at it like money in your pocket as you enter a casino - you could lose it and your prepared to do so if you do.
Regards
Andrew
http://www.where2pedalto.com
------------------------------------------
...years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
Mark Twain

As a matter of fact, my laptop is a Dell Latitude C800. The primary harddrive in the computer works fine. The problem is with the secondary harddrive in my modular bay. I also use the modular bay for a second battery at times.

I was specifically told by a Dell technician that the problem resulted from moving around the computer. He has seen this kind of problem many times, he said.

Regards,
Modular HDs are not shock protected like a good laptop's internal HD. They also tend to use lower end HD's. Modern laptop HDs can take a lot of stress. That said, i don't recommend dropping them on teh floor.
If money weren't an issue though, I'd get the lighest panasonic toughbook or equivelent. Use can be a godo option with those. Otherwise, the mini lifebook's are very good and tend to be cheap or smaller.
Also, I have a no questions asked LCD replacement plan, which is a nice.

My suggestion would be a palm sized computer with wi-fi like a blackberry just because of space concerns. Failing that, the largest notebook I would get would be a 12.1" There are many in this category that have fall-sensing hard drives and carbon fiber chassis. I'd bulk up on the batteries, extra batteries and power adapters though. If you're careful, maybe the whole setup would be just under 6-7lbs?

I dunno, I would just setup the home computer with RDP or VNC service and remote in from an internet cafe if you need something. You can even link your local storage sources to your home computer via the internet ... xfer camera files directly to your home PC from wherever you are. Keep your journal notes on paper and transcribe them to an online site like livejournal, xanga or myspace instead of a laptop. Email is accessible anywhere and if you were really hungry for 24/7 communication, you can even leave your instant messenger client on at home and check it via the remote connection. I would hope your leaving work behind too, but even if you're not, you'll be able to copy files back and forth this way too...

Hi Im in the middle of touring myself... Ive been carrying my sony vaio TX and It's been great! It is a full computer that weights 1.5 kilos... battery is awesome 7+ hours... the big downside was the price but I think it has come down a little now. Highly reccomended!

I would advise you leaving it at home. I never would have dreamed of bringing one, but I am a touring guide and a grad student at the same time, so I had to on one tour.

We will just say that tour was also the last life of my HP Omnibook.

However, I do bring my cameras with in a Pelican 1150 Lockable case and my cell phone in a Pelican 1060 Micro. Both are waterproof and have pressure release systems. They are designed originally to hold guns and other ballistics for cops. And I now hear they make one in laptop size.

I commuted with an IBM Thinkpad for a year. After about six months, vibration from the road caused some internal contacts to come loose, so it had to be sent in for repairs.

17" Dell is going to be stupidly heavy. Internet cafes or paper would be easier.

Why not just use internet cafes along the way?

You might want to try the new Sony VAIO UX180P ---> a new ultraminiature little laptop that weighs roughly one pound, has a slide-out thumb keyboard, a touch sensitive screen (for stylus input/browsing), and built-in EDGE networking.... plus wifi, bluetooth, usb, all the other standard laptop gobbledegook. Could be just the thing for uploading photos, checking the 'net, sending emails, etc. on the go. It's a fully-featured "laptop" (hardware and software-wise), just packaged in a form factor that's more miniature tablet and/or PDA. (like a larger OQO).

I think it's due out either in late June, or late July.

Just... never mind that it costs $1800.

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=VGNUX180P&Dept=computers&CategoryName=cpu_VAIONotebookComputers_UX_Series

If your option is to go with the laptop or not go at all, then take a laptop. If you have the option to purchase one, get the smallest one you can find with the longest battery life (are the umPC's available yet?)
What I really recommend is that you stretch yourself and leave it behind completely. There is life on the other side of the screen! If you're an addict you might not know what to do with yourself during non-pedal time, but figuring those things out are what make bike touring fun. The laptop will be a constant distraction to the truly enjoyable parts of your trip.

As a matter of fact, my laptop is a Dell Latitude C800. The primary harddrive in the computer works fine. The problem is with the secondary harddrive in my modular bay. I also use the modular bay for a second battery at times.

I was specifically told by a Dell technician that the problem resulted from moving around the computer. He has seen this kind of problem many times, he said.

Regards,

'moving' a laptop around should NOT cause failure... the whole point of a laptop is to be able to move it from place to place with ease... hence the BATTERY. If it was meant to sit in one place all the time, you could save about $150 on each one...

I sincerely hope they replaced that drive under warranty!!!

That said, I commute daily with a Dell Inspiron 9400 .... 17.4" widescreen display... it would be INSANE to try to take this thing on a tour... it's too damn big and heavy. That said, I don't have any real issues with transporting it... I carry it in a laptop backpack strapped to the side of my rack... It adds about 10lbs to my commute all by itself, minus the power supply and any other supporting electronics (I have a power cord for home, and one for work so I don't have to carry it!)

Another option if you can find one, is to purchase a Psion 5MX, and install Linux on it. Runs on 2 AA batteries and sits in your palm with a full keyboard. Has infra red and serial port. Standard it runs Epoc 32 OS and can dial through a cell phone and surf the web and do email.

I prefer Linux on it using a 128 MB flash card tho. The batteries last about a month, and it also has a backlit screen. It's now retro technology, but works well.

FWIW, I'm a few weeks into my tour and am 100% happy I have my notebook.
With my little verizon card I've been able to access the net anywhere. My kit's a max of 5lbs (with ac adaptor and extra battery, still its prolly less) and worth every gram. Means I can update my site, ***** to ytou guys, and carry one some stuff I need to do. Fantastic.
If my laptop were any bigger, I might complain. I just wrap it in a fleece. I don't know how I toured without it before.

I always felt the allure of touring was the opportunity to leave all the nonsense behind and just get back to basics. Books vs web, conversation vs email, a deck of cards vs electronic solitare, pack up and go vs figure out where to charge the damned thing.
IMHO

FWIW, I'm a few weeks into my tour and am 100% happy I have my notebook.
With my little verizon card I've been able to access the net anywhere. My kit's a max of 5lbs (with ac adaptor and extra battery, still its prolly less) and worth every gram. Means I can update my site, ***** to ytou guys, and carry one some stuff I need to do. Fantastic.
If my laptop were any bigger, I might complain. I just wrap it in a fleece. I don't know how I toured without it before.

Congrats, and glad you're having fun! Color me jealous! Hehe.... Anyway, glad to hear that the laptop is working out well for you on your trip. I have enough problems commuting with mine... it's just too damn big, one of the smaller ones would be much nicer for carrying on the bike. Then again... when I got this I was commuting in my Blazer, and never thought I'd be trying to carry it by bike... it was supposed to be a full desktop replacement so I could have all the same software and data at work and at home while I'm programming, without having to worry about synchronizing everything.

i'm still trying to get my bike wired for speakers, much less wi-fi.

I wouldn't bring one unless it was a milspec tough book or equivalent -google search! - , but it sounds like others have had mixed to good results bringing one.

i am usually very "in the moment" on tour, as well as moving most of the time, that a lap top would have limited usefulness outside of cities on my bike, and would prefer to just pop into an internet cafe or small town library. versus hauling a lot of extra weight. flash drive if i needed to bring files, etc.

i do bring a digital camera, and would like to set up a solar charging system for it though. 1GB of flashcard memory is running about 30 bucks or so, so large image collection is lightweight and affordable.

We thought long and hard but decided we DO want to bring a laptop on our tour, because we not only have a blog to keep up but we also do a lot of digital photography and I will be doing podcasts from the road, so.... laptop is going to come in pretty handy.

We have settled on a Panasonic Toughbook -- not the cheapest or the fastest, but pretty tough, as the name suggests. You can save a bit by getting one shipped from Japan on eBay.

You should look into their 'no-fault' warranty... it's a few hundred dollars (I think it was about $300 when I was researching them for our company) but it covers ANY damage to the computer, up to and including dropping it off a skyscraper (or running over it with a backhoe :eek: .... yes, I asked!)

You can do it! Leave the laptop at home! You can take these things that are made of ground up trees that are called 'Books' that tell all kinds of stories about all kinds of stuff. They tell stories about outer space and monsters or about crimes or spies or even...gulp...romance - Ewww! :eek: And by reading them you can even run, like, movies in your head.

And for writing, there is this other stuff that is made of ground up trees called 'paper'. It's really cool. You use a thing called a 'pen' or even a 'pencil' that transfers chemicals to the paper and makes stuff called 'writing'. It really, really retro and wickedly cool! And the best part is that none of this 'writing' or 'book' stuff requires batteries!

And the very, very best part is that if you drop your book or pen, you won't break it. And they are all - books, paper, pen, pencil - really, really cheap! :D

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