View Full Version : Net book?
Wise Old Owl
08-18-2009, 22:48
Well it had to be asked, (I forgot to check if it has been done before)
Net Books just keep getting better for doing WB and journals - Would you pack one?
Feral Bill
08-18-2009, 23:07
It's still at least three pounds packed, and charging issues loom large. I like the netbooks, but not for the trail.
This
http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:eswYZvnB13JNCM:http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/3713598/2/istockphoto_3713598-pencil-and-notebook.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/3713598/2/istockphoto_3713598-pencil-and-notebook.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/arts-and-entertainment/writing/3713598-pencil-and-notebook.php%3Fid%3D3713598&usg=__Rp88GERvmVNxmS0h0mXovRsg8lc=&h=335&w=380&sz=55&hl=en&start=3&um=1&tbnid=eswYZvnB13JNCM:&tbnh=108&tbnw=123&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpencil%2Band%2Bnotebook%26hl%3Den%26r ls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox%26rlz%3D1I7GGIK%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1)
looks better.
Wise Old Owl
08-18-2009, 23:22
yea I guess I deserve that..
but these things keep getting better for taking notes and checkin in.
My Windows Mobile cell phone can do WB well enough and mobile browsers keep getting better and better. I'll stick with it at 7 oz. and the size of a deck of cards. It will handle reading, GPS, and communicating with family and shuttles (Netbook doesn't). Battery life is still an issue though, but with a spare one I can do what I like to do for 7-9 days.
Yeah, you double deserve that! :p
BitBucket
08-18-2009, 23:55
Check out the Verizon MiFi 2200 mobile hotspot...it's about the size of 8 stacked credit cards and weighs 2 oz or so. Take along your iPod Touch, iPhone, WinMo, or netbook device and get broadband access where ever you get a Verizon signal for up to 5 users
David@whiteblaze
08-18-2009, 23:59
I would be tempted to just mess around all night on whiteblaze and end up w/ nothing to journal with.
I thought about this too, but ultimately decided that the netbooks are still just too heavy considering the iPhone 3Gs has a pretty robust browser that'll get the job done. As for charging an iPhone on the trail, this is what I am thinking about purchasing once production begins this fall...
http://www.greennpower.com/personalenergy
According to Aaron LeMieux, Founder & CEO of the manufacturer Tremont Electric, his device will easily handle small electronics and was in fact dreamed up during his own thru-hike.
Anyway, the phone device isn't quite the panacea I'd like to have, but we're supposed to be "roughing it" anyway, right? At least it does have a workable browser along with video and still camera not to mention GPS and MP3 player...and oh yeah it's a phone too. (-:
In my book this little device beats the pants off of my original idea of lugging a netbook, video and still cameras, MP3 player, etc. etc. along for the hike. Anyone have any other ideas for those who must have their tech devices along for the stroll? Is there something even better in the pipeline I just haven't read about yet?
I wish there was a way to have more robust electronics on the hike, but all I had to do was toss all of the separate components I would love to have into my pack and walk around the block one time to decide I wasn't doing that for 2,200 miles.
freefall
08-19-2009, 00:51
Even with the Sony Viao P series at 1.4 pounds, it is not all that great. Short battery life being the biggest complaint. The software issues you could adjust and remove anything you did not need but the battery life is tough to overcome, add extra batteries and you add weight.
Sounds like a smartphone is the better way to go if you need the connectivity while on the trail.
Review on the Viao P: http://blogs.zdnet.com/computers/?p=316 (http://blogs.zdnet.com/computers/?p=316)
Only problem with the IPhone is you're forced (today) to use AT&T, which offers far poorer reception than Verizon Wireless up and down the AT.
Wise Old Owl
08-19-2009, 09:43
Only problem with the IPhone is you're forced (today) to use AT&T, which offers far poorer reception than Verizon Wireless up and down the AT.
I looked at that, and only once so far my dad's phone worked where mine didn't in the woods - I thought that was rare.
Ok I have 3g - how does one set up WB for the browser? I am already paying for it.
Monkeywrench packs a netbook this year. Here is his website...why not email him. PS He is still on the trail. It may take a day or two for a reply.
http://allenf.blogspot.com/
max patch
08-19-2009, 10:08
I use a netbook everyday -- these are so useful! -- but I wouldn't take it on a hike. It wouldn't survive.
I looked at that, and only once so far my dad's phone worked where mine didn't in the woods - I thought that was rare.
Ok I have 3g - how does one set up WB for the browser? I am already paying for it.Browse to WB in your browser, log in. Make sure your browser settings have "save cookies" enabled. Shouldn't have to log in next time. If the browsing experience isn't satisfactory, look into other browsers . . . Skyfire is a good one.
This past spring Christus Cowboy and I hiked together. On more than one occasion he used my phone to call home as his AT&T one wasn't connecting and my VZW one was. We were in the Wayah Bald / Nantahala Lake area (Bartram Trail / AT). Another thread here about best cellular carrier on the AT revealed a lot of unhappy AT&T customers on the AT.
brooklynkayak
08-19-2009, 12:01
I thought about this too, but ultimately decided that the netbooks are still just too heavy considering the iPhone 3Gs has a pretty robust browser that'll get the job done. As for charging an iPhone on the trail, this is what I am thinking about purchasing once production begins this fall...
http://www.greennpower.com/personalenergy
9oz and needs to be attached to a leg or arm to charge effectively. I suspect you'll hate the thing after a hundred miles? But if you need to use the phone a lot, it may be the best answer.
David@whiteblaze
08-19-2009, 12:32
y not try a razr? use a tablet and chisel 4 your journal and razr 4 phone. if u get stuck with a slowpoke (me, for instance) u can sit on a rock on the top of a hill and call home. buy a $15 usb wall plug and use usb charger. unless u have in pocket u won't know its in your pack. turn phone off whe not in use, on when in use. if u are clumsy, there is a water-shock-impact-proof phone called a casio for people like me whor accident prone. if u dont like my idea, dont read it.
David@whiteblaze
08-19-2009, 12:33
"usb wall plug availible at radioshack and wal-mart (isn't everything these days?)
9oz and needs to be attached to a leg or arm to charge effectively. I suspect you'll hate the thing after a hundred miles? But if you need to use the phone a lot, it may be the best answer.
Actually I intend to mount the charger to my external frame backpack with a few zip ties. Arm bands and belt clips won't even be available in the first round of production (see website). The site did recommend a vertical orientation, but in a bag/pack, purse, pocket, etc.
The creator told me it would charge as fast as a regular 110v charger, so I think 9oz is worth it for this convenience (much lighter than all the individual components I could be carrying). And yes, I do intend to use my iPhone extensively during my hike (subject to AT&T signal) to keep in touch with the world (phone/Internet), in-town GPS, video/still camera, MP3 player, etc. You cannot easily swap out batteries, so extra are not very feasible. This means I will need a charging system that will keep up with hours of use per day.
I'm really a little surprised at the resistance I've seen to this new technology as each time I have posted about it, there have always been objections. I realize that many are late-adopters of new technology, but I'm just not seeing the cons. I suppose 9ozs is signficant, but then I'm not trying to do the ultralight thing either. I suppose if I want something in my pack bad enough, I'll have to decide if I feel like carrying it or not. On many items, I choose to carry the weight. I'll still be under 40 lbs though (25% of my body weight).
They haven't even started shipping yet, so you're right; I may hate it. But I sure am in love with the idea of it. But then again this is coming from the guy that was originally planning to build an adjustable rack to stretch a 12x36" flexible solar panel across my backpack to orient toward the sun. LOL! Unfortunately, the solar technology out there currently just isn't efficient enough to justify the hassle.
I am enjoying this thread though guys. Sorry for the hijack, but I get excited when people talk about bells, whistles, and tech gadgets adapted to new uses.
Unfortunately, the solar technology out there currently just isn't efficient enough to justify the hassle. Not to mention the lack of prolonged exposure to the sun on the AT. I wonder about mating this device to the gazillion different phones/devices and about as many different power plugs?
Monkeywrench
08-19-2009, 16:28
Monkeywrench packs a netbook this year. Here is his website...why not email him. PS He is still on the trail. It may take a day or two for a reply.
http://allenf.blogspot.com/
Not quite accurate. I do not carry a netbook in my pack. I do have a netbook in my bounce box so I can use it when in town for processing and uploading photos, as well as whatever else a computer is useful for. I passed many lazy hours in town streaming movies from NetFlix.
For daily journaling I use my Palm Treo 755p smartphone with a fold up bluetooth keyboard. Since my blog is hosted by blogger I can submit posts simply by sending an email. Very convenient.
I also have software on my phone and on my netbook that allows me to use my cell phone's data connection as a modem for the netbook. Now that everybody seems to have their WiFi locked down, this is very convenient.
Not quite accurate. I do not carry a netbook in my pack. I do have a netbook in my bounce box so I can use it when in town for processing and uploading photos, as well as whatever else a computer is useful for. I passed many lazy hours in town streaming movies from NetFlix.
For daily journaling I use my Palm Treo 755p smartphone with a fold up bluetooth keyboard. Since my blog is hosted by blogger I can submit posts simply by sending an email. Very convenient.
I also have software on my phone and on my netbook that allows me to use my cell phone's data connection as a modem for the netbook. Now that everybody seems to have their WiFi locked down, this is very convenient.A man after my own heart . . . sob! With all your connectivity! :eek: :)
Snowleopard
08-19-2009, 18:40
I have a netbook, an Acer Aspire One. It's great for what it is and I like it for typing. BUT, battery life is short, so you'd need to add the weight of additional batteries, solar chargers, etc. I would consider it for hiking only if I needed to do some work while I was away and was mainly staying in campgrounds with electricity.
JaxHiker
08-19-2009, 22:13
I've thought about taking one on the next hike. However, I think you need to look at the solid state ones. I don't think the hard drives in the newer ones will hold up well. I'd rather have no moving parts that can get banged around.
David@whiteblaze
08-20-2009, 00:05
I have a netbook, an Acer Aspire One. It's great for what it is and I like it for typing. BUT, battery life is short, so you'd need to add the weight of additional batteries, solar chargers, etc. I would consider it for hiking only if I needed to do some work while I was away and was mainly staying in campgrounds with electricity.
Work? on the trail? those mesh like ? and ! not following the whole, leave first, then do work thing.
Fiddleback
08-20-2009, 11:45
Avoiding the issue of netbooks on the trail or not on the trail, be aware that netbooks themselves are in transition. The divide between netbooks and ultrathin/light laptops is starting to blur...check out Dell's Inspiron 11z.
FB
The divide between netbooks and ultrathin/light laptops is starting to blur...
FBYeah, especially in price, where you can get a low-end laptop for about the same price. My two college kids grabbed the $298 Dell laptops from Walmart's recent back-to-school special. I configured my daughter's and it's not a bad little machine, especially @ < $300.
I see the netbooks being especially attractive to females as they fit nicely into a large purse and can be carried everywhere. Not so much of an advantage for us guys, a little size/weight reduction but at the cost of considerable functionality vs. a laptop.
AMOLED displays and more memory in smartphones may shorten the golly gee factor of netbooks considerably very soon.
Fiddleback
08-20-2009, 21:01
Yeah, especially in price, where you can get a low-end laptop for about the same price. My two college kids grabbed the $298 Dell laptops from Walmart's recent back-to-school special. I configured my daughter's and it's not a bad little machine, especially @ < $300.
I see the netbooks being especially attractive to females as they fit nicely into a large purse and can be carried everywhere. Not so much of an advantage for us guys, a little size/weight reduction but at the cost of considerable functionality vs. a laptop.
AMOLED displays and more memory in smartphones may shorten the golly gee factor of netbooks considerably very soon.
...if only my iPod Touch could access the internet...all the net...:( I really like the device and it's perfect for me when I travel except, without Flash capability, it can't stream from the net unless what I want happens to be accessable from a purpose-built app. Give me a device that fits in my pocket (a la Touch) and has the same internet capability of my nearly six-year old, XP desk top. Then I can stop ranting.
Meanwhile, I keep looking at the netbooks...
FB
I'd recommend that you try the Alpha Neo. See this link:
http://www.neo-direct.com/default.aspx
It's very light, runs 70 hours on three AA batteries. Excellent writing tool. Lots lighter than a NetBook, but no web.
Austin Boyd
www.austinboyd.com
Wise Old Owl
08-20-2009, 22:16
Thanks Sweet - but life without web and WB? I think not..... Bill Curtis would wonder what I was doing???
http://www.iwpa.org/curtis.jpg
...if only my iPod Touch could access the internet...all the net...:( I really like the device and it's perfect for me when I travel except, without Flash capability, it can't stream from the net unless what I want happens to be accessable from a purpose-built app. Give me a device that fits in my pocket (a la Touch) and has the same internet capability of my nearly six-year old, XP desk top. Then I can stop ranting.
Meanwhile, I keep looking at the netbooks...
FBSearch Samsung Omnia 2 or "II" . . . due out any day now on Verizon Wireless. It's probably not going to be cheap but the AMOLED display is supposed to be awesome, using way less power than current displays, giving great battery life. AMOLED displays are the next gen displays to blow away HDTV displays when they figure out how to make them economically at that size. I saw a netbook size one at Best Buy for $3000! :eek:
The Omnia 2 also has new touch technology that is supposed to be cutting edge. Also has a 800Mhz processor (most WM devices have around 400 to 500 MHz processors and it has a 5 megapixel camera!
Link: http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2009/06/15/samsung-omnia-ii-now-official-amoled-touchscreen-with-touchwiz/
I'll stick with my Verizon Blackberry for thr trail
Snowleopard
08-23-2009, 11:45
Work? on the trail? those mesh like ? and ! not following the whole, leave first, then do work thing.
Mostly you're right, but when traveling for work I've sometimes camped instead of staying at a hotel. I've also combined work travel with hiking trips. For example, work paid for me to go to a meeting in Moscow, Russia. Once there it was cheap to travel further to Central Asia for vacation and trekking for three weeks.
One lesson from this kind of travel with a computer is that you need a secure place to leave the computer when you don't want to carry it; this can be hard to find. Even playing tourist and staying in hotels it can be a pain to carry an extra 5 lbs of stuff all the time. My netbook is a little lighter than my other laptops, but unless I need a computer (giving a talk at a meeting = powerpoint) I leave it home. Travel is just less tiring carrying less stuff.