Laptop

[AZKomet]

I know there are a few out there that can give me advice on a relatively SMALL laptop that I can travel with on my m/c.

 

Requirements: Wireless and DVD player and of course all the programs that one may need. I would like to have the smallest one out there within a given price that is reasonable.

 

I have a 12" mac but I think I want a windows based one due to the problems with programs needing to be specially ordered.

 

Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

[Francois_Dumas]

Hi Dave,

 

a friend of mine got himself a little Acer a few months ago and is very happy with it.

http://reviews.pricegrabber.com/laptop/m/85845454/

 

I still lug my 17" notebook along in the topcase, taking up a lot of space indeed...... would love a smaller notebook too.

[Selden]

I know there are a few out there that can give me advice on a relatively SMALL laptop that I can travel with on my m/c.

 

Requirements: Wireless and DVD player and of course all the programs that one may need. I would like to have the smallest one out there within a given price that is reasonable.

 

I have a 12" mac but I think I want a windows based one due to the problems with programs needing to be specially ordered.

 

Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

I'll start by saying that although I was forced to use DOS/Windows machines at work for the past 25 years, I have never spent my own money on one. Since 1984, I have owned a series of Macs, and have never had a hardware failure of any sort. Assuming your 12" Mac has an Intel processor, you can run Boot Camp, create a Windows partition, and install XP and run whatever special software you need.

 

That said, if you have your heart set on Windows, a slew of "netbook" computers have been introduced in the past year; look for reviews, get some hands on time, if possible, and make your choice. I'm getting an Acer next week, but with flash drive and Linux. Even with the larger hard disk required for Windows, you should be able to find something for around $350. Although hard drives have become far more reliable and rugged in the past 20 years, a flash drive should be inherently more reliable if it's going to be carried around on a motorcycle.

 

That said, my 12" iBook survived an 11,000 mile ride to Alaska and back in 2006 without a hiccup -- and I never turned if off, except to change batteries. Just close it and go. I never understood why Windows laptop users always shut down Windows before closing the laptop until I had to use one, when I discovered that whether or not it would wake up was a crap shoot.

 

One other thing: Macs excel at wireless connectivity. On my long ride, I never once had problems connecting to a WiFi access point, unlike a fellow who made a similar ride last year, and was constantly frustrated by the inability of his Vista laptop to connect at motels along the way, although I don't know if the problem was inherent in his laptop/Vista, or existed between chair and keyboard.

[Pilgrim]

Dave, this isn't directly responsive to what you asked, but let me offer an alternate thought.

 

Between my IPhone (for commo) and an old Palm PDA (for documents) I have found I no longer need a computer with me. Yeah, there are some compromises in functionality, but there is a happy tradeoff there in cubic space taken up.

 

Pilgrim

[smiller]

Dave, this isn't directly responsive to what you asked, but let me offer an alternate thought.

 

Between my IPhone (for commo) and an old Palm PDA (for documents) I have found I no longer need a computer with me. Yeah, there are some compromises in functionality, but there is a happy tradeoff there in cubic space taken up.

Exactly what I was about to say. I've been using an iPod Touch (same as an iPhone but without the phone portion) and have found it amazingly adequate for basic uses such as checking email and browsing, doing about 90% of what a simple laptop would do if one's requirements are minimal. Plus lasts all day on a charge, 'boots' instantly, is very stable, and uses near zero space on the bike.

 

[AZKomet]

Dave, this isn't directly responsive to what you asked, but let me offer an alternate thought.

 

Between my IPhone (for commo) and an old Palm PDA (for documents) I have found I no longer need a computer with me. Yeah, there are some compromises in functionality, but there is a happy tradeoff there in cubic space taken up.

Exactly what I was about to say. I've been using an iPod Touch (same as an iPhone but without the phone portion) and have found it amazingly adequate for basic uses such as checking email and browsing, doing about 90% of what a simple laptop would do if one's requirements are minimal. Plus lasts all day on a charge, 'boots' instantly, is very stable, and uses near zero space on the bike.

 

Hmmmmmmm.......all an otion. TY Dave

[Mike]

Dave, this isn't directly responsive to what you asked, but let me offer an alternate thought.

 

Between my IPhone (for commo) and an old Palm PDA (for documents) I have found I no longer need a computer with me. Yeah, there are some compromises in functionality, but there is a happy tradeoff there in cubic space taken up.

Exactly what I was about to say. I've been using an iPod Touch (same as an iPhone but without the phone portion) and have found it amazingly adequate for basic uses such as checking email and browsing, doing about 90% of what a simple laptop would do if one's requirements are minimal. Plus lasts all day on a charge, 'boots' instantly, is very stable, and uses near zero space on the bike.

 

Hmmmmmmm.......all an otion. TY Dave

 

I'll jump on the iPhone bandwagon . . . within limits. If you want to while away the hours web-browsing, the small screen is a limiting factor. And, if you like to write long e-mails, or edit/upload photos from your computer, it just isn't an option. But, if you want to stay connected via e-mail and do some fairly non-ambitious web browsing, it's very workable.

[smiller]

or edit/upload photos from your computer, it just isn't an option.

Yeah, that's one bit of functionality that I'm missing. So far I don't know of anyone who makes a USB Host dongle for the iPhone/Touch similar to that available for other iPods, which would solve that problem. Hopefully one shows up on the market soon.

 

BTW for entering longer email messages have you tried the (free) 'WritingPad' app? It uses a very novel method for text entry and is amazingly efficient once you get the hang of it.

 

 

[ghaverkamp]

I'll jump on the iPhone bandwagon . . . within limits. If you want to while away the hours web-browsing, the small screen is a limiting factor. And, if you like to write long e-mails, or edit/upload photos from your computer, it just isn't an option. But, if you want to stay connected via e-mail and do some fairly non-ambitious web browsing, it's very workable.

 

I concur. I find the iPhone workable for a day or so of stuff, but I sure wouldn't recommend it for extended periods on the road. One of the new netbooks would probably be ideal for that. They're small, light, and relatively disposable should something ever happen to it.

 

Some of the other smartphones may be more workable, since you can hook up keyboards and such. I find it pretty annoying that you can't use a Bluetooth keyboard with the iPhone.

[Mike]

 

BTW for entering longer email messages have you tried the (free) 'WritingPad' app? It uses a very novel method for text entry and is amazingly efficient once you get the hang of it.

 

 

Hmmm. I'll check it out. This, by the way, is one huge "plus" in favor of the iPhone--there are many low- or no-cost apps that are very helpful when traveling. Even the basic Maps app has saved my bacon a couple of times (well, at least it made things easier).

[jfremder]

Picked up a Dell Mini for $279 at their outlet.

10" WiFi BluTooth 16Gb SSD No DVD. It's fast, with great battery life. Decent screen, usable keyboard.

 

Added a 16Gb SD for $20 from buy.com

 

Holds MS Office, Garmin Mapsource+City Nav, MS Streets + Trips

 

Can fit more movies, pics and songs than I need/have on the SD card.

[marcopolo]

I got an Acer Aspire One a couple of months ago, specifically for bike trips. It's great: small, light but very usable; runs Windows XP; 120GB hard drive; 1GB RAM; great battery life (six-cell bty) etc. Like all the netbooks I looked at, there is no DVD drive (I loaded Windows applications, like Mapsource for my GPS, through my desktop/wireless network).

[Selden]

As others have observed, an iPod Touch is a great minimalist solution. Netbooks are slightly up the food chain (and about the same price as an iPod Touch). So far, all the netbooks are pretty similar, so if you are interested in this approach, go to a big box electronics store, and see what feels best. I have yet to read a review of a netbook with a decent touch pad, and there probably won't be one until Apple releases a netbook (I don't consider the Macbook Air to be a netbook). The new buttonless Macbook touchpad is just plain brilliant -- much bigger, and I felt comfortable with it at first touch.

 

On Friday, as a retirement gift, I received (I had asked for it) an Acer Aspire One running Linux. Why this particular config? I wanted a SSD rather than spinning disk drive, and after 15+ years of being forced to use Windows, I didn't want all the excess baggage (including lack of security) that comes with Windows XP.

 

Here are my initial reactions, after about 10 hours of exposure.

 

Keyboard: Very nice. Big enough to adjust to easily, good tactile feel, has a wonderful "Home" key that takes you to the main menu (more later).

Touchpad: Sucks. Twitchy (even with sensitivity set to minimum. Vertical buttons on either side. Get a mouse.

Linux: Acer uses Linpus Lite. Linpus? What were they thinking? A challenge for someone who has never used Unix with a GUI (other than MacOS, which really doesn't count, because you have to be deranged/geeky to want to go under the hood). How ironic: 14 years ago, I was terrified of the Unix command line and vi, and now I'm flummoxed by trying to use Linux through a GUI. Anyway, Linpus provides a pretty nice GUI, combining some of the best features of XP and MacOS. In fact, it handles mounting/unmounting of flash drives better than either. However, nstalling new software is a total PITA. I eventually figured out how to install FireFox 3 (FF2 came with delivery) through the GUI, rather than resorting to Unix command line, but it took 6 hours and some profanity.

Overall build: Very nice. Loaded with ports (3 USB, 2 card slots (one for memory expansion, the other a multi-card reader), ethernet, video out, sound in and out), built in camera (0.3 mpx) and microphone. The memory expansion slot is truly brilliant, as the machine automatically uses the SD card as shared disk drive space. There's a technical description of how this works at the macles* web site. However, mine came with a 16gb SSD, (10 gb free) so I don't plan to explore this function for a while.

Documentation: What documentation? Unix geeks don't need no stinking documuntation. For all practical purposes, there is none, apart from "Ensure that the battery is probably locked in place." It probably is.

 

Overall, I'm quite pleased with the Aspire One, and I now have a mobile computing solution that should travel well in my homebrew top case. It will be "obsolete" in 12 months, but that's the way of the world.

[BanjoBoy]

Hi Dave,

 

Since you want a DVD player, I'd stick with a small LT. A friend of my bought one of these Linky awhile back, and is very happy with it. He's a mobile mechanic and uses it for diagnostics on many different vehicles.

The hard drive is chushioned so it should be able to take some abuse. And since it's inexpensive you don't have to worry too much about it.

 

Good luck,

 

Andy Norris

[Matts_12GS]

That's quite a deal on a box!

[Selden]

Way off topic, but possibly of interest. Although I'm starting to get used to the touchpad on my Aspire One, I went shopping for a mouse yesterday, and found one so nice I need to mention it: Logitech V450 Nano wireless laser mouse. The USB receiver is the smallest I have ever seen, about 0.25" long. The receiver is so small and unobtrustive that you just plug it in and forget about it. However, the real news is the mouse itself, which has a very satisfying heft due to 2 AA batteries. It's one of those devices that has an indescribably "right" tactile feel. I liked it so much that I decided to use it with the iMac, and use an old Logitech portable mouse with the Acer.

[Fightingpiper]

I used to have an older IBM T40 laptop until the video went out on it this fall. I picked up an ASUS EEEPC netbook. It meets my needs but does not have a DVD player. It comes with a version of Linux but I put Ubuntu Linux on it and have not had any problems. I love the portability and durability.

[ltljohn]

+1 on the Logitech mouse. I am also using a Dell D600 like the one linked to above.

I bought it about a year ago when my company sold them off. It seems rugged enough, I know it has been dropped one of the corners is broken off. It is not a mini but it is not huge either.