Which small laptop for touring?
- Thread starter HelenD123
- Start date
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barq
Senior Member
- Location
- Birmingham, UK
I have an Acer Aspire One to which I added a six hour battery (in addition to the original three hour). The non hard drive netbooks are apparently more physically robust.
In my case I went for a linux version (although I replaced the installed version with Ubuntu). Obviously Windows is available if you prefer.
One issue with the netbooks is the small(ish) keyboard. I got used to mine, but there may be no harm in going to PC World and playing with a few different models. The trackpad didn't suit me and so I bought a bluetooth mouse (+ mini bluetooth adapter from ebay for the princely sum of £2).
In my case I went for a linux version (although I replaced the installed version with Ubuntu). Obviously Windows is available if you prefer.
One issue with the netbooks is the small(ish) keyboard. I got used to mine, but there may be no harm in going to PC World and playing with a few different models. The trackpad didn't suit me and so I bought a bluetooth mouse (+ mini bluetooth adapter from ebay for the princely sum of £2).
I bought an Hp Easynote Xs several years ago before the present trend to Netbooks established.
You need to decide what you want it to do... I find that on a week or so of touring I can accumulate about 10 Gb of video, pictures, GPS tracks and the odd PDF or map.
This is the crux.... a 4 Gb computer will deal with all of this on a memory card, unless you want to edit the photos etc in which case the 4Gb soon gets filled with software..
You need to decide what you want it to do... I find that on a week or so of touring I can accumulate about 10 Gb of video, pictures, GPS tracks and the odd PDF or map.
This is the crux.... a 4 Gb computer will deal with all of this on a memory card, unless you want to edit the photos etc in which case the 4Gb soon gets filled with software..
ACS
Legendary Member
- Location
- Just below the snow line
Samsung NC10. Atom Processor = 7 hours battery life. I have 35 in use by staff and no returns in last 6-9 months (staged roll out) So impressed that I bought one for myself.
Cunobelin said:
I was assuming I may need to add an external hard drive if I start filling it up with photos. I want something that could cope with an extended tour on the off chance that I decide just to take off and see the world. (I've been reading far too much crazyguyonabike
.)
CopperBrompton
Bicycle: a means of transport between cake-stops
- Location
- London
Samsung NC10 or eee 1000H. Both identical spec, both really reliable.
HelenD123 said:I was assuming I may need to add an external hard drive if I start filling it up with photos. I want something that could cope with an extended tour on the off chance that I decide just to take off and see the world. (I've been reading far too much crazyguyonabike
I chose a 30 Gb hard drive, but on retrospect there is a fragility to computers that on a long arduous tour may be a problem. There is a lot to be said for a solid state drive, but again there is an expense. Equally these are attractive items to thieves
With the availability of cheap USB sticks there is a lot to be said for backing up and / or storing on separate media. If this is the case then the actual machine memory becomes less important. Sufficient to do the initial processing and then remove to USB stick(s)
jay clock
Massive member
- Location
- Hampshire UK
I have an Acer Aspire One and love it for touring. CGOAB updates can be done offline in the email package and stacked up for days, then when you do get wifi access, off they whiz, all entered on the right days. And you can attach pics too saving the upload kerfuffle
On the point of Linux, it is amazingly easy. It will take minutes to understand
As for hard drive space, USB sticks are now very cheap
Agreed, the mousey thing is not perfect but I am now entirely used to it
Jay
On the point of Linux, it is amazingly easy. It will take minutes to understand
As for hard drive space, USB sticks are now very cheap
Agreed, the mousey thing is not perfect but I am now entirely used to it
Jay
twowheelsgood
Senior Member
- Location
- Zurich Switzerland
I have an Acer Aspire One which I bought to upgrade an original EEEPC 701.
I'd still take the 701 touring because :
a) It has an SSD which is more resilient (oh and if you are high altitude hard disk drives simply don't work or become extremely delicate).
The EEEPC is much more robustly built than the Acer Aspire One. The black plastic is far, far tougher than the thin, shiny stuff on the Acer.
c) It's smaller and lighter. This includes the power supply. The smaller screen is also less likely to crack.
d) The matte finish screen is far more usable outdoors than the shiny Acer
e) You can buy one secondhand for £50 and therefore wouldn't cry (too much) if it were lost/stolen/broken/waterlogged.
I'd still take the 701 touring because :
a) It has an SSD which is more resilient (oh and if you are high altitude hard disk drives simply don't work or become extremely delicate).
The EEEPC is much more robustly built than the Acer Aspire One. The black plastic is far, far tougher than the thin, shiny stuff on the Acer.c) It's smaller and lighter. This includes the power supply. The smaller screen is also less likely to crack.
d) The matte finish screen is far more usable outdoors than the shiny Acer
e) You can buy one secondhand for £50 and therefore wouldn't cry (too much) if it were lost/stolen/broken/waterlogged.
Chrisz
Über Member
- Location
- Sittingbourne
Without wishing to be too cheeky - I have an Asus EEE PC 701 sitting around going spare (been replaced by an Acer). It's in good working order (I was using it for work mostly) with Linux Ubuntu installed. It has a 4GB memory and an SD card slot as well as three USB ports for additional storage.
If you're interested PM me (I'm open to a sensible offer) - if not it will end up on fleabay soon.
If you're interested PM me (I'm open to a sensible offer) - if not it will end up on fleabay soon.
twowheelsgood
Senior Member
- Location
- Zurich Switzerland
Co-incidence that you went through the exact same upgrade path I did.
I have Windows on both my netbooks now but I still "use" the EEE more because I listen to internet radio a lot. Mainly radio 4 'cos you can't get it any other way here in Switzerland.
One of the consequences of having the small screen is the speakers are in the lid and hence the sound is MUCH louder (and the screen size isn't of much consequence). The Acer isn't loud enough to listen too over a running tap when preparing a bath!
I say "use" because of course I sit down and surf with the Acer, but I still hate the shiny screen and ridiculous shiny plastic. Still at the equivalent to £150 from a local store, it was too good to resist. I hardly use my desktop and company laptop for anything other than work now. Netbooks are pretty cabable if you know how to set them up right.
I have Windows on both my netbooks now but I still "use" the EEE more because I listen to internet radio a lot. Mainly radio 4 'cos you can't get it any other way here in Switzerland.
One of the consequences of having the small screen is the speakers are in the lid and hence the sound is MUCH louder (and the screen size isn't of much consequence). The Acer isn't loud enough to listen too over a running tap when preparing a bath!
I say "use" because of course I sit down and surf with the Acer, but I still hate the shiny screen and ridiculous shiny plastic. Still at the equivalent to £150 from a local store, it was too good to resist. I hardly use my desktop and company laptop for anything other than work now. Netbooks are pretty cabable if you know how to set them up right.
