Testing new touring PC

[steveindenmark]

I recently bought a PC for touring with and am just testing it out and finding out what is where.

The PC is a Lenovo Mix 300. It was the last one in PC World in Burnley and I got them down to £99 from £150. What I like about it is that it has a good size keyboard with USB ports, but it can very easily separated to just become a tablet.

I am pretty sure I can plot routes on the PC and download them to my Garmin out on the road. I just have to work out how. It takes time when your not a PC buff. But its easier to learn in the living room, rather then in a tent.

I am taking today to plan a trip and want to be able to keep in touch with CS so you can see how the trip pans out.

I am just playing with the camera at the moment. So hopefully here is a photo of my touring washing kit. Minus razor.

Towel
Toothpaste smells of mint
Butt cream. doesn't smell of mint
Toothbrush
Soap in matchbox
Nail clippers
Shampoo
Glasses cleaner

This is my kit for a week. I can always buy more on the trip.

 

[Gravity Aided]

I had a travel toothbrush I got in the scouts, that saw quite a few tours. Quality.
Enjoy the tour, and the new computer.

 

[doog]

The toothbrush needs cutting in half (think of the weight saving )

 

[fossyant]

These Windows tab/laptops are great. I have a Linx 1010B, similar specs.

 

[Pale Rider]

The toothbrush needs cutting in half (think of the weight saving )

I have a not very grand one overnight stop tour planned and have been agonising over toothbrush and paste.

Current plan is to load the toothbrush with paste and wrap it in foil.

Should work for a single use.

We are stopping in a decent quality B&B so I'm hoping towels, soap for washing, mug, etc will be provided.

Think I'll take a flannel, there might not be one of those.

 

[Blue Hills]

I recently bought a PC for touring with and am just testing it out and finding out what is where.

The PC is a Lenovo Mix 300. It was the last one in PC World in Burnley and I got them down to £99 from £150. What I like about it is that it has a good size keyboard with USB ports, but it can very easily separated to just become a tablet.

I didn't know you could haggle with PC World, i have been looking at pc/tablet conversion jobbies for a while as i like to use basecamp for editing/tweaking routes i have initially had calculated online, and then transferring them to the garmin etrex20.

One of the ones I saw was a lenovo but can't remember which.

I do remember having doubts about the durability of some of the units but can't remember if this related to the lenovo at all. So i will follow this thread and your views/feedback with interest.

Ps, so you aren't in denmark at all but burnley thereabouts?

 

[TheDoctor]

Not sure I'd take nail clippers for a week.
My touring PC was a Nexus 7 last time, but now I'd probably just take the smartphone, which has a 5 inch screen. Typing on it is doable for posts, but I'd hate to do more than that on it.

 

[Blue Hills]

Er, the nexus isn't a PC.

I'm pretty sure you can't run basecamp on it.

To then get routes onto an etrex.

If you can let me know and i'll put it on my samsung android tab

 

[TheDoctor]

It lets me post photos and search the internet. I don't use a GPS device for riding. Mind you, I don't mind getting lost either!
Each to their own.

 

[outlash]

A Nexus 7 combined with a Bluetooth keyboard would be ideal. If I was worried about routes, I'd install them on the Etrex before I left.

 

[Blue Hills]

A Nexus 7 combined with a Bluetooth keyboard would be ideal. If I was worried about routes, I'd install them on the Etrex before I left.

Well that really addresses the OP's point.
You don't happen to have a nexus 7 do you?

 

[outlash]

TBH, the OP didn't really have a point. But if you want to head this way, you can plot routes, upload your Garmin etc etc on a tablet. Nexus 7 or otherwise.

Silly me thinking taking something lighter and smaller that does the same job on a tour.

 

[Blue Hills]

The OP cleary has a wish to plot and transfer routes on tour whereas you said you wouldn't bother.***If you can do this on an android tab (i'm not saying you can't) I and others will definitely be interested in the methodology.

** it is of course possible that the OP is planning longer tours than you.

 

[outlash]

How I've done it with my Etrex and android tablet:

Plot a route with RWGPS
Export the .GPX file
Ensure Etrex is in USB mass storage mode and place .GPX file in the GPX folder (you don't need basecamp to transfer files)
Use file as a track or route as normal
Enjoy

You may find it works differently with other Garmins, Google is your friend. Of course, you could use your phone for both plotting and navigation, just take a power tank with you for recharging.

 

[Blue Hills]

How I've done it with my Etrex and android tablet:

Plot a route with RWGPS
Export the .GPX file
Ensure Etrex is in USB mass storage mode and place .GPX file in the GPX folder (you don't need basecamp to transfer files)
Use file as a track or route as normal
Enjoy

You may find it works differently with other Garmins, Google is your friend. Of course, you could use your phone for both plotting and navigation, just take a power tank with you for recharging.

Thanks - personally I've always liked basecamp, not for initial route plotting (in the UK I use the generally excellent cyclestreets) but for editing/finessing of the route and auto and manual hacking out of excess points - I find a lot of online route plotters put way too many in. I find editing routes in many online plotters complicated and far from intuitive - I will experiment with the android.tablet.