stokell

I bet you didn't know there was a tablet for this!

It's a little different, it allows access to the internet from anywhere using wi-fi (assuming there is wi-fi).



I can get one for $230. What do you think?

staehpj1

I like mine, but haven't yet toured with it. Battery life seems good and features are good. The newer model with the keypad (n810) would be nice though. Typing on the on screen keyboard with the stylus is slow. If you plan to type much a usb folding keyboard or the n810 instead of the n800 are probably worth the extra.

Turd Ferguson

Stokell, check out the iTouch. It's pretty kick ass. You can buy it for about the same price (depending on size, 8G, 16G etc.)

There may also be some wireless keyboards options...not sure tho..

https://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/

Bizurke

I'm considering getting one of these to take on tours. it's a laptop that's only 7" and cost about $300 at newegg but you can usually find 10% off or Free shipping coupons from Newegg if you look around.



7" screen
2GB Solid State (fast) hard drive
512mb RAM
Linux for the OS (I'm a linux guy)
only 2.8hrs battery time, but this will be fine to check email and stuff (I think)
size: 8.86" x 6.30" x 0.79-1.26"

late

I just walk into a library or internet cafe. I don't want to spend a lot of time on the thing, and it's one less thing to carry.

ks1g

I have an N800; check around for prices as Nokia just dropped the price on the N810 to low $300s. I prefer the 800; it has 2 memory card slots (I have 2 x8GB, I know it can handle 2x16GB and I've heard rumors the OS will read 2 x32GB cards!). My main use for it is as a portable web browser, including email and newsreader, it can also play music and videos. VoIP (Skype, G-talk, Gizmo Project) is supported. Wifi performance is great! Battery life might be a challenge when touring; but it uses a Nokia cellphone battery so charging options or an external pack are doable. While the underlying OS is Linux, the GUI is powerful enough that you don't have to get into the intricacies of it unless you want to.

Pair it with a bluetooth equipped cellphone and a data plan ($20/mo) and you can at least do basic email if you can get a data signal from your phone network. I've use an external bluetooth GPS receiver and mapping software (maemomapper) for tracking local rides. Since the tablet is not a ruggedized design, I'd be reluctant to put it on handlebars like a bike GPS unit. You can get a bluetooth folding keyboard if you prefer typing on a physical vs a virtual keyboard.

The N810 gives up the internal memory card slot but adds GPS and a small slide-out keyboard. Both N800 and 810 run the latest OS2008 and are application-compatible. The Asus EeePC is a bit larger and more expensive but gives you a slightly better keyboard and a faster CPU. I prefer the ultraportability of the N800. Two good sources of info are maemo.org and internettablettalk.com

n4zou

+1
I just carry a Linux Leech.

https://www.instructables.com/id/LINUX-LEECH/



Most library computers are so locked down that you can't do much with them. I just plug in my leech and reboot the computer with my OS and the Wi-FI USB dongle just in case the hijacked computer's network card is a windoze only device. I also added an SD card reader so I can upload photos and videos directly from my cameras SD card. As the hijacked computers hard drive is not used I leave no information behind.

quester

Most of the terminals I see these days are in plain view of the librarians so that they can catch kids looking at porn. So what do they say when their machines are rebooted in linux?

staehpj1

+1

I would avoid hijacking library computers. If you are caught you will make life harder for other cycle tourists that follow later. The possible "bad will" that could be generated is not worth it in my mind.

n4zou

My background image is a captured Windoze IE screen so it appears I am using IE just like everyone else. When I'm done I just shutdown the computer and tell the librarian it crashed, something that happens all the time. I've been using it for a couple of months now and no problems from the staff, even Nurse Ratchet never notices I've hijacked one of her computers.

stokell

I'm sorry, what has this got to do with the original post?

Bacciagalupe

As I think I've said previously, I agree with the other folks that using the Leech without explicit approval is extremely rude.

I've heard good things about the Asus Eee; apparently you can run Windows XP on it, if you are so inclined. I prefer to avoid anything more techie than a Blackberry when on tour, though.

n4zou

Avoiding having to carry an expensive Lap Top computer or purchase an internet tablet.

I used to carry a Palm TX similar to the Tablet in the first post but after I discovered the Leech and how well that works I don't carry any computer at all. The Leech does not leave anything on the hijacked computers hard drive and I can use my own software which prevents keyboard logging.

Go ahead and use that public computer "as is" with no protection from people logging your user name and passwords or some employee thats loaded who knows what on it. Call me rude if you like but I've not harmed the computer at all by hijacking it and I can log on to photobucket and upload my photos and log on my blog and send in my reports.

derath

I would just carry a bootable CD, like Barts (for windows) or any of the linux distros. There are plenty of machines out there that still don't support booting from USB, but pretty much all of them these days support boot from CD. Plus it is even less to carry.

-D

[edit]

I also carry a USB drive with standalone apps like firefox. Allows you to run them directly off of the USB stick. It also leaves nothing behind on the computer and doesn't require a reboot.