Touring - laptop computer for touring

What kind of laptop computer is best for touring.I am looking for one for my trip to Bangor Maine this spring this way I can keep in touch with my wife.And share some pics to her as well.

I got a Lenovo netbook last spring and toured with it and it worked out great!

That said I am going to tour with just my iPhone this summer to see how that works out. Most of my electronic needs while touring are: phone calls, Facebooking, mapping my tours, blogging about my tours, and checking email... everything my iPhone can do and it can also take pictures. I'm even tempted to not bring my Nikon DSLR.

I've never brought a laptop on a tour, I usually just stop at libraries when I need a computer. So that's one options.
Although I'm not sure how that would work out with the pictures.
Another option you could consider would be a netbook instead. They seem like they are a lot smaller and more suited than a laptop would be for travel.
Again, no experience on this, but I've considered it a bit too, and may look into a netbook in more detail for myself...

There are a lot of options, but we went with an Acer netbook. The reason we choose the Acer was the solid state hard drive. While it "only" has a 16 gb hard drive, it has three USB ports which helps downloading to a thumb drive. We opted for the solid state because I thought it might be a little more durable than the conventional hard drives. It is compact and gets the job done. Not super fast, but I knew that when I bought it.

My wife "hard at work" on our Pacific Coast ride last September.
http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy112/Doug64_photos/PICT5733-1.jpg

I'd get a Netbook, they are so cheap now and so convenient that I'm considering getting one just to use when I don't want to sit at the desktop, and for once I start touring.

I spent ages deliberating this one last year - in the end I opted for a netbook (Samsung NC10) - it's been the perfect choice....

Despite being in my pannier for over 10,000km - mostly on bumpy, dusty, African dirt tracks - it's still in good working order. So I really don't think a SSD is necessary.

I use it for email/web/Word/Excel, writing my blog and storing/managing my large collection of photos plus some editing too - admittedly the photo editing is a little slow, but perfectly do-able especially for minor edits (I use Faststone and also have downloaded GIMP) and ideally I'd like a larger screen, but I decided to forego that in preference to smaller size/weight.

It's 10" and will just fit in my ortlieb handlebar bag (diagonally) if I need to carry it into town. If I wasn't interested in the photo storage/editing I would have got a smaller 8-9" one which would fit in the handlebar bag properly.

If you're not planning on much typing / photography editing (I like having the near full-size keyboard) then you don't really need a netbook at all and a handheld / iphone would be preferable I think.

I also have an external harddrive for a backup of everything which I would recommend as they're small, light and cheap now.

The only thing the netbook doesn't really handle is video and it doesn't have a CD drive... I don't know if that's important for you.

The battery life on the Samsung (6-cell battery) is about 5 hours which I'm happy with. So - the NC10 netbook is great but seriously consider a handheld....

I haven't toured with a computer in the past, but moving into the 21st century might just require it.:lol:

I have a 10" Dell netbook that should work. I can't go much smaller than that due to the keyboard and screen size (getting old is not for sissies!)

Another advantage to the SSD is lower power consumption and extended battery life.

Aaron :)

http://comps.fotosearch.com/comp/FDC/FDC004/blackberry-close-up_~956084.jpg??

Personally I think a laptop or even a netbook is just not worth the extra weight. I do take a tiny Nokia N-800 internet tablet. It weighs about 7 ounces (it now used the same 2 ounce charger as my phone and camera so no extra weight there) and does WiFi. I updated my journal including uploading pictures with it last year and it worked out very well. It was nice that it takes the same memory cards as my Nikon S550 and that the S550 can create reduced size copies of photos. I was able to find an unlocked WiFi access point in most towns, even small ones.

Actually an email enabled phone is probably adequate for what you want to do.

A lot of folks rely on public library computers, but Tthat has not worked out very well for me. Small town libraries tend to have really reduced hours on limited days of the week. They never seem to be open when I want to use them. Larger town libraries tend to have a wait and a limit of usage time limit that is restrictive.

+1 for the Asus Netbook, small, relatively lightweight and relatively inexpensive. ~$300 Most smart phones are in this price range these days and I don't have to type with my thumbs.

You're kidding, nobody has suggested an iPad yet?

I have used an Asus netbook on tour. It worked very well for email, photos and blogging, but all the associated cables were quite heavy and bulky so now I just use the iPhone. There's a WordPress ap for blogging and I like that I can use either 3G or WiFi to connect. Now that the keyboard is in landscape it's easy to write long blogs etc. I'm also looking at getting an Amzer solar backup battery for it. The only drawback is the iPhone camera which isn't very good.

Someone mentioned the iPad. I wouldn't take it because it doesn't have a camera or phone. Today there should be no need to take multiple electronic devices, unless you want to take really good photos, then I can see the argument for a good camera. There are some neew devices coming out soon that are like large smart phones. They have 5 inch multitouch screens and might be the perfect combination of size and functionality for touring. The Dell mini-5 seems to be the one with most buzz.

I'd leave my netbook home on tours. I like it a lot, but a little paperback notebook, my pen, camera and phone are a lot more reasonable weight wise and in terms of cable hell. I am fine with typing up handwritten notes, and I can do it fairly quickly. I am not fine with the idea of my primary computer getting damaged or stolen on a tour. I have about 6-7 hours of battery life, so it would need charging unless the tour was a weekend or less.

I could probably save *weight* by switching to a camera/phone combo, but my camera is very small (4oz), very comfortable to use, and has about a 200 shot battery with the screen on. I can use it with the screen off and get a lot more battery life. The phone is as small and as stupid as I could find and runs for over a week on a charge, so the total package is about 6oz. Data service instead of pay as you go would mean my monthly phone bill rockets from about $20/mo to $60 or so per month. Not a good deal for me unless I'm touring for more than 3 weeks at a time. (unlike the netbook, spare batteries for the phone and camera are tiny and less than 1/4 the devices' weight, so it is lighter to carry spare batteries for really quite long trips)

You're kidding, nobody has suggested an iPad yet?

If it had more storage and the ability to save pictures from a camera and run regular OS with direct file access then perhaps. As it is iPad is a living room appliance.

I don't bring a computer on tour, and I'm proud of myself for being able to cut the strings to the internet. I stay in touch with my wife with my cell phone. I take tons of pictures and dictate a journal into my mp3 player. I show people my pictures and compile my journal (on CrazyGuy) when I get home.

I don't like stopping at libraries to compute. It always seems to take me out of my way and burn a chunk of the best part of the riding day. However, occasionally I break down so that I can check my email. I guess I can't completely quit cold turkey.

If it had more storage and the ability to save pictures from a camera and run regular OS with direct file access then perhaps. As it is iPad is a living room appliance.

I don't mean to turn this into some sort of mac/pc flame war, but what are you doing with your computer on tour that is so much more demanding than what you'd do in your living room?

I vote for a smartphone, preferably one with a built-in keyboard.

Most phones have a small camera built-in, and the ability to email the pictures. Smaller, lighter, longer battery life than even the lightest netbook.

I researched netbooks for our upcoming x/c trip and chose an Asus. Low price, highly rated, big hard drive, fast, built in camera for skype:
http://www.amazon.com/Seashell-1005PE-MU17-BK-10-1-Inch-Netbook-Battery/dp/B00322PYYK/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1271454883&sr=8-5
An ipad was mentioned above, but I decided to wait til the next edition comes out. Too many limitations on the first ipad.

I vote for a smartphone, preferably one with a built-in keyboard.

Most phones have a small camera built-in, and the ability to email the pictures. Smaller, lighter, longer battery life than even the lightest netbook.

Blackberry with wifi.

I travel with a netbook and it is awesome. If I didn't play online poker as I travel I would probably just use an iphone or blackberry though

If it had more storage and the ability to save pictures from a camera and run regular OS with direct file access then perhaps. As it is iPad is a living room appliance.

You can buy an SD card reader or USB adaptor for importing photos from your camera. With all of the apps already available on it, the iPad is a perfect toy for the digitally-addicted tourist: music, movies, podcasts, books, blogging apps, photo editing apps, email, Skype calls. All of that in a super slim shell with 10-hour battery life. :love:

We bought an asus eee 901 with ssd a couple of years ago we took it on a small tour last year and its worked out well for us. I have installed ms mapoint (which I can use offline) and used pushpins to show all campsites and warmshower hosts on route. Even watched a film one rainy night.
Its quick, under a kg, battery life is great but even with a 16 gb sd I would love to have a bit more room.

I think those new ipads with 3g could be cool. Almost a laptop/glorified iphone. Its pretty big for webrowsing, has a camera dock and isnt too too big. They are a bit spendy though.

Last year I used a 9" Asus Eee PC with SSD. Survived just fine. However, I am not sure it really is worth its weight. This year I will rely on my BlackBerry Storm 2 phone and possibly a iPad or Kindle2.

I don't mean to turn this into some sort of mac/pc flame war, but what are you doing with your computer on tour that is so much more demanding than what you'd do in your living room?

I shoot RAW, several gigabytes a day. iPad doesn't have enough internal storage for my needs and I'm not aware of any RAW editors/converters for iPad. Maybe 3rd generation? I never buy anything 1st gen from Apple. I waited several years to get the the iPhone, I can wait for the iPad.

Since I already have a netbook and an iPhone, an iPad doesn't fit anywhere in my life.

I've been looking at netbooks for travel (with and without bike) as well. I have an iphone and love it, but like AdamDZ, need to be able to download and store photos. I like the price, and portability, but can't quite see myself using a PC... I may have to suffer through it though.;)

Thanks for all input on this matter.I went and got my self a Acer 10.1 the cost was cheap and it only 2.76lb.I like the blue one and got it.It has the starter 7 on it but am going to update to the windos 7 home.And yes I can not live with out a computer lol.It can save my mind at night.I like to play games and talk lot to my wife when I am away form home.And I also got my self a new camer to take pics with.I know about weight my LHT is not light anyway.So this little weight I have added is not that much for me.And I can share the pics here as I travel I think it helps keeps your mind going when you have stuff to do at night and when you take time off for a few days it gives you something to read and have fun at same time.Now all I am waiting on is my Doct. report on my health and I should be good to go after that.Well did install install the windows 7 Home on my little computer and as far as I can tell it has not slow my computer down at all.Its nice to be able to take your computer with you and stay in touch and let anyone know how you are doing and let them see where and what you have seen while out on the road.And I am on it now.

I've been looking at netbooks for travel (with and without bike) as well. I have an iphone and love it, but like AdamDZ, need to be able to download and store photos. I like the price, and portability, but can't quite see myself using a PC... I may have to suffer through it though.;)

Ever heard of a Hackintosh? Many Netbook models will run OSX: http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

Some tweaking may be required though. But you end up with the best of both worlds:) Although, it's a bit slow. I'd rather run Windows XP on a netbook.


Thanks for all input on this matter.I went and got my self a Acer 10.1 the cost was cheap and it only 2.76lb.I like the blue one and got it.It has the starter 7 on it but am going to update to the windos 7 home.And yes I can not live with out a computer lol.It can save my mind at night.I like to play games and talk lot to my wife when I am away form home.And I also got my self a new camer to take pics with.I know about weight my LHT is not light anyway.So this little weight I have added is not that much for me.And I can share the pics here as I travel I think it helps keeps your mind going when you have stuff to do at night and when you take time off for a few days it gives you something to read and have fun at same time.Now all I am waiting on is my Doct. report on my health and I should be good to go after that.

Don't install Windows 7 Home on a netbook. It'd be barely usable. They come with the starter version on purpose: it's less demanding than full version

Ever heard of a Hackintosh? Many Netbook models will run OSX: http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

Some tweaking may be required though. But you end up with the best of both worlds:) Although, it's a bit slow. I'd rather run Windows XP on a netbook.

Seriously??? I need to get out more....ermmm.... I mean google more.... Thanks a lot!

never ever even thought of brining a computer on a tour. heck i do not even like having my cell phone with me.

I would just buy the cheapest thing available and use that... I am a Ubuntu fan so that is what I would put on it and be done with it.

blackberry phone = phone, camera (passable), email (sometimes make you too available), notepad, small games, online google maps w/ sat view, alarm, video camera, voice recorder, watch digital uploaded movies, usb connection to copy files, blue tooth.

plenty of solar chargers available

Ever heard of a Hackintosh? Many Netbook models will run OSX: http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

Some tweaking may be required though. But you end up with the best of both worlds:)

I have a Dell Mini-9 running OSX. It will do that with no modifications. Neither Dell nor Apple support the idea. I bought it with OSX loaded just as eBay closed down all sales of Dell/OSX. I took it on tour last year. It worked perfectly and weighed about 2.2 lbs. The only thing I couldn't do was get a photo fixing program on it. I loaded Photoshop Elements, but it won't run because the screen is too small.

Tom

Hi All,

I just looked on eBay and there are nine auctions for Dell Mini-10s running Snow Leopard (OSX). So they may not be as concerned about it.

Tom

Yeah, the screen is too small, but it's not because it's OSX, you'd have that problem even under old Windows XP. Some apps won't work on it. I think Photoshop will work, although it'd be a pain to use. I wouldn't even attempt editing images on a netbook. I'd upload some unedited images to my journal but replace them later with better quality images once I'm back at my home computer.

Ever heard of a Hackintosh? Many Netbook models will run OSX: http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

Some tweaking may be required though. But you end up with the best of both worlds:) Although, it's a bit slow. I'd rather run Windows XP on a netbook.



Don't install Windows 7 Home on a netbook. It'd be barely usable. They come with the starter version on purpose: it's less demanding than full version
Seems funny to me I did put windows 7 Home on it.And it does work good no problem at all.Who ever told you it would slow it down did not know what they was talking about at all.

Good Web site to choose an Internet device for touring: http://www.umpcportal.com/products/

I would go Netbook if I wanted something on a tour. Less than $300 and you've got exactly what you need. Would be good for for websurfing from the couch at home, etc., if you don't have a laptop already/anymore, as in my case.

+1 for Ubuntu!

I always take my Macbook 13" in a Pelicase

I use a netbook. I barely notice any weight and it does the job. Acer Aspire One in Blue.

I have a Dell Mini-9 running OSX. It will do that with no modifications. Neither Dell nor Apple support the idea. I bought it with OSX loaded just as eBay closed down all sales of Dell/OSX. I took it on tour last year. It worked perfectly and weighed about 2.2 lbs. The only thing I couldn't do was get a photo fixing program on it. I loaded Photoshop Elements, but it won't run because the screen is too small.

Tom

And you couldn't install Google Picassa? I have never seen an installation of Picassa fail.

My second post from my new iPad. Loving this little thing!

It just seems funny to me how some people tells you don't install windows 7 home on a netbook computer.Guess I have the only netbook computer that works like a full size computer with no problem at all.My Acer Aspire one has replace my home tower computer for me.The cost for a usb dvd burner was not that bad.About 50.00 bucks.And it gives you all you the stuff you need to do with I think anyway.I did add the max on ram it now has 2 GB of ram.

Thanks for all input on this matter.I went and got my self a Acer 10.1 the cost was cheap and it only 2.76lb.I like the blue one and got it.It has the starter 7 on it but am going to update to the windos 7 home.And yes I can not live with out a computer lol.It can save my mind at night.I like to play games and talk lot to my wife when I am away form home.And I also got my self a new camer to take pics with.I know about weight my LHT is not light anyway.So this little weight I have added is not that much for me.And I can share the pics here as I travel I think it helps keeps your mind going when you have stuff to do at night and when you take time off for a few days it gives you something to read and have fun at same time.Now all I am waiting on is my Doct. report on my health and I should be good to go after that.Well did install install the windows 7 Home on my little computer and as far as I can tell it has not slow my computer down at all.Its nice to be able to take your computer with you and stay in touch and let anyone know how you are doing and let them see where and what you have seen while out on the road.And I am on it
now.

Congrats on the new netbook. They are very useful on tour, but you can do most of the necessary stuff on a smart phone like the Android or iPhone. If you are into serious photography I can see an argument for a netbook and camera combo but for most applications I find the iPhone perfect. Oh Im using it now.

Nokia N900. I love mine. It has a decent camera, GPS, cell phone, wifi connectivity, plays music (both mp3's and internet radio), plays video, has great battery life, and it will fit in your pocket. One cool thing is that it has Skype built in. You can make Skype calls through the phone anywhere in the world that has a wifi connection.

You're kidding, nobody has suggested an iPad yet?

Anyone who'd buy an iPad would already probably have an iPhone.

Aside from that, you're hostage to Steve Jobs edicts as to connectivity.

Anyone who'd buy an iPad would already probably have an iPhone.

Aside from that, you're hostage to Steve Jobs edicts as to connectivity.

I may buy an iPad for my upcoming tour (Northern Tier) because I don't have an iPhone. I do have an iPod Touch, which I love, but I'm not willing to commit to the recurring fees of an iPhone.

The iPod Touch would be fine, if only I could get pictures from my digital camera (Canon S90) to it without the use of a computer. I like the idea of being able to do some presorting of my photos along the way, rather to deal with two months of images when I return. Unfortunately, there's no (reasonable) way to move photos form a camera to the iPod Touch but, as has been mentioned, Apple does make this possible with the iPad.

I like the idea of an iPad over a netbook because of the small size and ability to power via USB. I have a Shimano front hub generator, and have ordered an E-Werk, so I'd have no trouble keeping it powered.

I like the idea of an iPad over a netbook because of the small size and ability to power via USB. I have a Shimano front hub generator, and have ordered an E-Werk, so I'd have no trouble keeping it powered.

Be sure to investigate the iPad charging issues (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4060) before embarking on this plan... I own an iPhone and have an iPad through work. If I couldn't get by with the iPhone, I'd opt for a Netbook over the iPad.

Be sure to investigate the iPad charging issues (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4060) before embarking on this plan... I own an iPhone and have an iPad through work. If I couldn't get by with the iPhone, I'd opt for a Netbook over the iPad.

Thanks for the heads up -- this does indeed look like a serious hurdle for my hub-charging plan, and I'm thankful to learn about it before buying the iPad.

An iPad in the field? Personally, I don't want to put my grubby hands on my screen be it a tablet or phone. I just don't want to hold the thing. For considerably less money, with a netbook, you can get a legit keyboard, a screen that folds open and stays put, and as much battery life as an iPad. If you know what you're doing, you can run some flavor of Linux (Ubuntu's a good place to start) to sidestep the Microsoft tax.

I'm going to give my Asus EeePC 1000HE a hug now.

An iPad in the field? Personally, I don't want to put my grubby hands on my screen be it a tablet or phone.

I figured I'd like, you know, wash my hands before use ;) I suspect our needs / wants are different. I just want to do some organization of photos from my camera, and occasionally write some email and blog posts (including photos from my camera). I anticipate less than an hour of usage per day -- when I'm relaxing after setting up camp (and hopefully clean) or in a cafe with Wi-Fi. I'd be happy with my iPod touch, if only it could pull photos from my camera.

Also, isn't the iPad lighter and smaller than any netbook? Since i don't plan to use it very much, that matters to me.

Finally, it looks like the charging issue won't be as big of a deal as I feared. From what I've read, it looks like it WILL charge even at the low end of USB 2.0 current levels (500 mA), albeit slowly and only while sleeping. Apparently if it's only getting 500 mA it gets just enough juice to keep running -- not enough to top up the charge. But, that would work for me because my daily usage will be so low. I have a battery that outputs USB that I'll be charging during the day with the E-Werk, and I could use that to charge the sleeping iPad overnight.

Note: I don't have either the iPad or E-Werk yet, so none of this is tested. The E-Werk should be here in another week or so, but i can test iPad charging from my external battery in the next few days because one of my friends already has the iPad.