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.

Ever heard of a Hackintosh? Many Netbook models will run OSX: https://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

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

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.

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: https://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.

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.

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.

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.

Be sure to investigate the iPad charging issues 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.

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.