Question for STEVE BOOTH

[rank]

Steve,

I'd like to hear your thoughts on the best value in communications equipment for a truck. You know...what to look for in a laptop, cell phone provider, wireless internet provider, scanner, fax etc.

[CrazyRussian]

Steve,

I'd like to hear your thoughts on the best value in communications equipment for a truck. You know...what to look for in a laptop, cell phone provider, wireless internet provider, scanner, fax etc.

I'm not Steve, but my 2c - cell phone- Verizon is the best coverage provider,
laptop - DELL.

[-FlyByNight-]

Steve,

I'd like to hear your thoughts on the best value in communications equipment for a truck. You know...what to look for in a laptop, cell phone provider, wireless internet provider, scanner, fax etc.

I'm not Steve, but my 2c - cell phone- Verizon is the best coverage provider,
laptop - DELL.

Well, you got the wireless carrier right. However, I use an Apple MacBook Pro. I'll never go back to a regular PC. I like having my cake and eating it too.

Steve,

I'd like to hear your thoughts on the best value in communications equipment for a truck. You know...what to look for in a laptop, cell phone provider, wireless Internet provider, scanner, fax etc.

My cell phone is T-Mobile. I've had them forever before I was driving and it works fine for me and no complaints. I think any carrier you get will have weak areas so pick your poison.

My laptop is DELL and have always bought them. My current laptop is the cheapest model Inspirion B130 for less that $500. I did upgrade it to 1 gig of memory and a DVD burner. I am religious about backups.

My Internet provider is Verizon and has worked in the most out of the way places even when my cell phone doesn't work.

I have the cheapest HP printer/scanner/copier they make. It's an HP Photosmart 3100. I paid about $75 from Walmart and just replaced it after 6 months. The scanner part broke.

I use E-Fax and receive and send faxes via email.

I'm happy with all the equipment I have and works good and have no plans to change anything. I am considering buying another backup laptop in case something happens to this one. Being on your own you are VERY dependent on your link to the NET.

[teamster]

Posted by rank in other Steve thread
"I'm cool with it until I see a red star car hauling cheap FB freight in my lanes then he'll wish he bought more air hoses"


Funny how you bashed Steve and wrote this in one of your posts and now you want to ask him for advice. That takes balls.

I hear you Teamster, thanks. I post this for the benefit of others.

[gcal]

for what its worth steve i have been watching your post and learning alot.
thanks

[Rev.Vassago]

I hear you Teamster, thanks. I post this for the benefit of others.

Let me go get the "Humanitarian of the Year" award.

[rank]

Thanks for the info Steve (and everybody else). Sorry you feel that way. Seems to me you started the bashing tho. Especially in my case. No hard feelings on my end.

And funny how a guy named teamster takes exception to that post of mine.

[teamster]

Thanks for the info Steve (and everybody else). Sorry you feel that way. Seems to me you started the bashing tho. Especially in my case. No hard feelings on my end.

And funny how a guy named teamster takes exception to that post of mine.

I just thought it was funny that you basically threatened to cause harm by busting airlines and then ask for advice in a seperate thread. My name has nothing to do with it.

[rank]

-I'd never cause anybody harm....just kidding is all.
-It's a separate thread because it's separate topic IMO. Should have a separate title to attract anyone who's interested.
-And teamsters were once noted for their aggressive strike tactics....I'm sure the odd air hose has been damaged by a teamster.

cheers

[teamster]

-I'd never cause anybody harm....just kidding is all.
-It's a separate thread because it's separate topic IMO. Should have a separate title to attract anyone who's interested.
-And teamsters were once noted for their aggressive strike tactics....I'm sure the odd air hose has been damaged by a teamster.

cheers

I agree that teamsters were ONCE noted for this, but the key word is once. I think nowadays teamsters are just happy to be getting a fair wage with good benefits. I am sure teamsters in other industries may still do things like this, but I have not witnessed it in the trucking industry. I only called you out because you did not sound like you were kidding. I'm good if you are.

[Ian Williams]

My cell phone is T-Mobile. I've had them forever before I was driving and it works fine for me and no complaints. I think any carrier you get will have weak areas so pick your poison.

Good point. I've fount that Verizon has the fewest weak spots. Everyone has coverage in metros, its out in the sticks that you find out who is worth a darn.

Here in Northern Nevada Verizon is the strongest going east on 80, Cingular is the best on 395 South according to the line drivers at my terminal.

[tootie04]

Sprint works GREAT for us. we have sprint cells and the wireless card and we rarely loose coverage....except out in the boonies of CO!!

We have HP Pavilion with a 17 inch screen for the laptop. It is also our TV so it serves two uses.

tootie

[hamboner]

I have followed Steve's threads and posts for quite a while now, and I find it amusing how people are now asking him for advice, when not too long ago he is was doing all the asking! I truly believe Steve will find success here. He definately has a lot of determination.

[MADLUX]

I hear you Teamster, thanks. I post this for the benefit of others.

Let me go get the "Humanitarian of the Year" award.

I wish you guys would stop this bull :dung:

This place is getting as bad a truck net :sad:

[Arizona]

Thats a good call Steve, I have 2 identical laptops, both with the same software packages.
I use one for everything, and the other sits in a box for when the other one craps out.

[jnk2001]

Sprint works GREAT for us. we have sprint cells and the wireless card and we rarely loose coverage....except out in the boonies of CO!!

We have HP Pavilion with a 17 inch screen for the laptop. It is also our TV so it serves two uses.

tootie

How do you use it for TV? My wife, dog, and I will be trucking together so we want the smallest equipment for the truck. Thanks

[RostyC]

I had the Geek Squad come to my house to fix some computer issues I was having (it was about to crash) and while he was here we talked a bit about computers. We were talking about laptops and he said not to overspend on them cause they're really only designed to last a few years. Find a bargain was his advice.

I have a Dell desktop, I like it. A friend of mine (who works in the field) said Dell has lost some quality over the last couple years but still a good computer.

Take that for what it's worth, I dunno, I just plug em in and look for porn.

I have sprint for cell phone they're alright but I believe Verizon might be a bit better. For the work I do the radio feature of Sprint comes in handy, also due to a dispute I won't buy cell service from Verizon, not yet anyway.

[Krzysztof]

Sprint works GREAT for us. we have sprint cells and the wireless card and we rarely loose coverage....except out in the boonies of CO!!

We have HP Pavilion with a 17 inch screen for the laptop. It is also our TV so it serves two uses.

tootie

How do you use it for TV? My wife, dog, and I will be trucking together so we want the smallest equipment for the truck. Thanks

You can get a PCMCIA card that will allow u to plug in coax cable (TV Cable) and software to decode the signal. Most will also operate on "antenna" mode.