Netbook, Laptop, ???

[jeff1981]

What kind of computer, and what operating system do you guys use in the truck? I'm considering a laptop or netbook, but I want to make sure I will be compatible with the wifi at as many truckstops as possible.

[Orangetxguy]

What kind of computer, and what operating system do you guys use in the truck? I'm considering a laptop or netbook, but I want to make sure I will be compatible with the wifi at as many truckstops as possible.

Get a decent laptop. You can watch movies with it, and unless you want television, that is all you need. Laptop is better for "Gaming" if ypou plan to play on line.

I have a HP with AMD processor and watch movies, surf, and do books, just fine with it.

[GMAN]

What kind of computer, and what operating system do you guys use in the truck? I'm considering a laptop or netbook, but I want to make sure I will be compatible with the wifi at as many truckstops as possible.

I have a Toshiba, but any laptop will work that has a card. Most have WiFi capability. If it is compatible with one WiFi then it will be compatible with all of them. You may want to buy an air card and then you can have Internet access no matter where you are located. I pay about $70/month for my air card time.

[SickRick]

Netbooks are pretty much for accessing the internet on-the-go. They don't really have the horsepower or capacity to do any REAL PROCESSING.

From Wikipedia:

Netbook users typically rely on online applications and services which do not require powerful hardware on the local computer. Some netbooks do not even have a conventional hard drive. Such netbooks use solid-state storage devices instead, as these require less power and are smaller, lighter and generally more shock-resistant, but have a shorter read-write-cycles life. On netbooks, which generally have no optical disk drive, application software is typically transferred over a network or read from a USB device. An external hard disk drive can be used with a USB port.

Netbooks typically do not contain premium features of fully-fledged notebooks, such as support for 64-bit operating systems, virtualisation technology, Trusted Platform Modules and Intel Active Management Technology.

All netbooks on the market today support Wi-Fi wireless networking and many can be used on mobile telephone networks with data capability (for example, 3G). Mobile data plans are supplied under contract in the same way as mobile telephones. Some also include ethernet and/or modem ports, for broadband or dial-up Internet access, respectively.

So, if you're looking for full-fledged computing OTR, then a LAPTOP is the way to go. If you're just watching internet porn, checking your Yahoo Mail, or posting on classadrivers - then a netbook would work fine. If you're doing your books and operating your trucking business on a 'puter, then a laptop is really required. I've got a portable printer and portable scanner, with a MetroFax account. I can do just about ANYTHING on the road, as I can do in my home office - including accessing my Mac and PC remotely. I've used this setup to run my computer business from the road for years while I was Road Managing bands. My laptop also has DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) and Adobe CS4 on it, so I can do all my music production and photography work on the road, as well as accounting and everything else.

Besides, a full-fledged/entry level lappy, is only marginally more expensive than a netbook - and is upgradeable (to a certain extent, ie: memory and drives) and expandable.

Rick
MCSE/A+/Net+

[Malaki86]

I'd take my 17" dual-core AMD over any 10" low-end cpu based netbook any day. I can do pretty much anything with it, and for watching movies & tv at the end of the day, it'd be hard to beat.

[jeff1981]

Thanks for all the input. Any thoughts about xp vs vista vs win7? I want to make sure i'm good for a few years, but i'd hate to be unable to use programs.

[GMAN]

I use XP. I would not recommend Vista. It has been plagued with problems, some of which have been software compatibility. Windows 7 is so new I would wait and see how things develop. Personally, I would see if I could get something with XP. Most programs are compatible with it, but I am not sure about the current availability on any of the new systems. Microsoft tends to roll out some of their software before the bugs are worked out.

[Fredog]

vista premium works fine, it's the home version that has all of the problems

[Skywalker]

Right about now.....you want to stay away from Vista Home....the Vista Premium may fly well, but considering how Microsoft jumped through hoops to come out with Windows 7.... I think that's a strong indicator about the future of "Vista".

I've had a laptop with Windows 7 on it for a couple of months now....it originally came with Vista Home on it..... but my son the "geek" is a VP/Partner in a company that Microsoft sends new software to for beta testing, etc....and he loaded it on my wife's laptop. It seems rather stable....doesn't have the garbage that Vista has....and it seems to be good.

I recently had my hard drive scrog out....laptop wouldn't boot. So...I bought a new hard drive and a copy of XP to mount on it. I got the OEM version.... My laptop originally had XP on it, and I like it....so I replaced it with an XP OEM 3 version. I had to purchase the XP because I forgot to make recovery discs.....oh duh.... Gonna do it for this one and the other two. I bought my wife another laptop....get this.....with a "downgrade" from Vista to XP Pro.... It works really well, and the Pro version seems really good. She works with software that is XP specific....and not supported in Vista or W7 yet.

Keep in mind....not all laptops will accept XP if it came with Vista....some of the "chipsets" are not compatible with drivers and vice versa....or so the geek says...and he's normally correct. I think the type of drive also makes a difference.

If you are going to get a computer to use on the road....get a full blown laptop. Some of the smaller netbooks are more meant as email machines and light duty use. They may not have the features you want...and the screens are pretty small.

Tiger Direct has a pretty good assortment..... Here is a link to them and current XP Pro laptops.. Laptops & Notebooks Guided Search at TigerDirect.com

[jeff1981]

[QUOTE=Skywalker;465087]Right about now.....you want to stay away from Vista Home....the Vista Premium may fly well, but considering how Microsoft jumped through hoops to come out with Windows 7.... I think that's a strong indicator about the future of "Vista".


Thanks- great ideas there

[jonp]

Thanks for all the input. Any thoughts about xp vs vista vs win7? I want to make sure i'm good for a few years, but i'd hate to be unable to use programs.

Neither xp or vista. Wait a few weeks for Win7. You can upgrade easily from vista to 7 but with xp you'll have to back up your files, load up 7 then re-install everything one at a time. I'd just wait for Win7 if I were you. If you have to get a comp right now then get one with basic vista and upgrade.

A Review of Windows 7 - WSJ.com

Good article on Win7 vs xp/vista/mac

[jonp]

I use XP. I would not recommend Vista. It has been plagued with problems, some of which have been software compatibility. Windows 7 is so new I would wait and see how things develop. Personally, I would see if I could get something with XP. Most programs are compatible with it, but I am not sure about the current availability on any of the new systems. Microsoft tends to roll out some of their software before the bugs are worked out.

I agree. I used xp for several years and never had a problem with it. I have Vista on a laptop now and don't care for it. The main problem that I have is that it has way too much stuff that the average user will never use and that just slows the loading/start-up times down. Vista seems to me to be a "hey, look what I can cram into an operating system ain't I smart" solution in search of a problem in a lame attempt to compete with Mac. Kinda like Windows 2000. Remember that turkey?

[jonp]

By the way, I used a Gateway with a single core intel processor for a few years on the road and it did everything that I needed. Built in wifi and a dvd for watching movies. It was fine and lasted through much abuse. I have 19 inch Everex laptop with Vista and a duel-core amd now. I use it as a desk-top replacement and am quite happy with it. Its a little big to carry around although I've done it many times. \

Pay close attention to the battery times on the laptops your considering. they vary wildly and more is better.

And I bought it from TigerDirect. Ordered it and it came the next day. No kidding and the price could not be beat by anyone on the net. They run alot of sales and closeout stuff. Good company

[Kevin0915]

What kind of computer, and what operating system do you guys use in the truck? I'm considering a laptop or netbook, but I want to make sure I will be compatible with the wifi at as many truckstops as possible.

I had an HP dv6000 till i cracked the screen. then bought an HP G60. pretty good computer.....watch my movies on it....GPS is on it....and its my iPod. =)

[FLnosedive]

I had an HP dv6000 till i cracked the screen. then bought an HP G60. pretty good computer.....watch my movies on it....GPS is on it....and its my iPod. =)

What is a good GPS program to use on the laptop?

[GMAN]

I will just stick with my XP. It is working just fine for me.

[jonp]

If my new comp didn't have Vista I'd still be using xp. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I'm with you Gman

[heavyhaulerss]

I will just stick with my XP. It is working just fine for me.

same here. I have a vista in the family room & the old xp in my office & I use the xp & let the others in the house deal with the vista. it does load all kinds of sh#t that I have no use for.

[GMAN]

Most of us have a few things we do on our computers. The rest is useless. I would like to find out what makes my computer hang up sometimes when I am keying in. The computer just locks up for a few minutes.

[geeshock]

vista premium works fine, it's the home version that has all of the problems

SLackware linux or BSD lol. No seriously though, I have run vista on my sony vaio for a while now and have had no problems. As long as you keep your patches and drivers up to date it runs good. Also, I have 4 gigs of ram. more ram is always a good thing.

Of course I mentioned Slackware, yes, I am dual boot and use Slackware for stuff that don't require windows.