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moytoy
01-30-2010, 09:29
As some new netbooks are now 2.5-2.9 lb I'm wondering if anyone is carrying one on the trail now. Batt. life is over 6 hours on some and with some frugal use of time online it could last a few days. I know it's not for everybody but some like to journal and stay in touch. The I-phone and blackberry are just to small for my clumsy old hands.

Maddog
01-30-2010, 09:33
no way! you'll dump it first chance you get! hyoh! :)

Pedaling Fool
01-30-2010, 09:41
Netbook? You mean like this http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/ It even has a compass.

I love technology, but something just doesn't feel right carrying too much of it on the trail, except a camera of course:D.

garlic08
01-30-2010, 09:43
About the greatest joy I get out of hiking is getting away from the office.

white_russian
01-30-2010, 09:52
Just get a bluetooth keyboard for the smartphone if you don't like thumb typing. It would be much lighter.

Something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Stowaway-Ultra-Slim-Bluetooth-Keyboard-Handhelds/dp/B0002OKCXE

fiddlehead
01-30-2010, 09:57
I think if i really had to work, (and that means on the "net"), but found out I could be assured of internet signal and could still go hiking, but had to check in twice a day, I would consider it.
I know it can be done with a smart phone but, I could not do what i have to do on one, my work is too complicated for a phone but could be done with a netbook.
That is, if i could get online (which may be possible someday)
But to take one just for journaling, no way! Just too heavy for doing something that I don't really do much of anyway.

bigcranky
01-30-2010, 10:16
Yup, a netbook is great -- there is wi-fi access at every shelter. <sarcasm>

Seriously, if you want something with an almost-full-size keyboard for journaling or whatnot, then a netbook isn't a bad idea. But it will add 3+ pounds to your pack with the charger and all.

modiyooch
01-30-2010, 10:49
I'm not one to stay connected while hiking, or even on vacation BUT, I do have the Netbook and I think it would be ideal for what you want. It's 8x11 in size and lightweight. I even broke my own rule by taking it with me on my hiking vacation last summer (not on the trail). It's easy to hide in the car (protecting valuables) I bought mine from Best Buy and relied on wirless available. You could always buy one through Verizon and pay for the wireless subscription.

WalkingStick75
01-30-2010, 11:21
I guess if depends on where you will be hiking and why your are carrying it. I use pocket composer for my journals then when home back up to my pc and convert the .dat file to a word file. I carried my Aser EEE when hiking in the alps made it easier to communicate back home and get information in English off the net. For hiking on the AT use the pocket composer or a smart phone.

Snowleopard
01-30-2010, 13:15
I've got a netbook, an Acer Aspire One. The biggest problem with using it on the trail is not enough battery life. Even if the new ones are 6 hours, that's not much. I think most of the time you'd be carrying a dead weight. The best laptop for backcountry use still remains the old Radio Shack model 100 http://oldcomputers.net/trs100.html 16 hours run time on 4 AA batteries. An ex-girlfriend carried one to the Amazon for her dissertation, and it worked fine. The internet hadn't even really been invented yet.

I have used a laptop while car camping. Sometimes the ability to do some work in the evenings makes it possible to go camping in the first place.

Desert Reprobate
01-30-2010, 13:28
I looked at a netbook to journal. The power supply weighed almost as much as the netbook. If you bounce the power supply you may as well bounce the whole thing. Good Luck.

BrianLe
01-30-2010, 13:37
Yup, I think battery life and weight would make it a non-starter for most people. I'm with White Russian on the bluetooth keyboard, that's my solution too. The small screen is something that a person can get pretty used to and skilled at working around (the limitations of).

Other benefits of a smartphone over a netbook is that you can keep a smartphone "always handy", and it's (even) more of a multi-purpose device. I suspect my approach is common to have it on a shoulder strap of my backpack. So when I want to snap a picture (I doubt you would use a netbook as your camera??), it's right there. Ditto for use as a GPS (okay, maybe not so much on the AT ...), or as a voice recorder. And a smartphone can also be used as an MP3 player. I suppose you could use a netbook as an MP3 player too but again, battery life, plus just getting access to the thing to skip a track or pause or whatever.

Maybe a chest harness could be rigged up to carry a netbook. And they gave me the trailname of "Gadget" ... with a setup like that I think a person would almost be required to wear a propeller beanie! :-)

Lone Wolf
01-30-2010, 13:42
there's a Canadian SOBO in Damascus that started in Cape gaspe and goin' to key west. he's carrying a small laptop

Spokes
01-30-2010, 13:46
I always thought wearing a tin foil hat would help with the wi-fi reception in the shelters. Am I wrong?




http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/ManWearingTinFoilHat.jpg

g8trh8tr
01-30-2010, 13:52
About the greatest joy I get out of hiking is getting away from the office.


My thoughts exactly. I want to get as far away from computers/technology as possible while on the trail.

Miner
02-06-2010, 01:43
I bounced a 9" netbook with a 6hr battery life so I could copy video footage to and to have in hotels for internet use. It only weighed 2lbs, but there is no way I'd carry that backpacking. It would have to be protected from impact and rain.

My LG Versa phone has a larger keyboard then most blackberries. Some phones will support an external bluetooth keyboard which is a better choice then carry a netbook. You might try looking at the new Apple IPad which I think is 1.5lbs.

Jack Tarlin
02-06-2010, 16:19
Funny thing.......whil I personally have absolutely no interest in hiking with a computer, especially one that weighs several pounds, I think it's kind of funny to see so many people making fun of the original poster for considering doing this.

I also wonder how many of these folks would be first in line at a shelter or elsewhere asking to borrow or use the computer to check weather, E-Mail, send off some photos, etc.

This happens with maps all the time and I can't expect it'd be any different with a laptop.

"Useless" stuff and un-needed items somehow manage to become perfectly acceptable when other people are carrying it. :D

leaftye
02-07-2010, 22:53
2.9 lbs for a netbook that only gets 6 hours of battery life? What a joke! I'm carrying a laptop that weighs about half as much, has more resolution, gps, cellular chip, and gets much more battery life. Seriously, netbooks are for suckers. Don't fall for the marketing that has you paying more for a cheap laptop. You can do better.

moytoy
02-08-2010, 19:58
2.9 lbs for a netbook that only gets 6 hours of battery life? What a joke! I'm carrying a laptop that weighs about half as much, has more resolution, gps, cellular chip, and gets much more battery life. Seriously, netbooks are for suckers. Don't fall for the marketing that has you paying more for a cheap laptop. You can do better.

I wasn't telling a joke nor was I espousing some expert advice on laptops. I simply ask a question about the current netbooks and their use on the trail. I have got some good answers and ideas so for. I would be very interested to find out what you are carrying that weights half as much and has all the features you mention.

SurferNerd
02-08-2010, 20:11
Get a Droid..its a PC in the pocket. Quite literally for some of us. I have Windows 7 Pro on my PC, and with RDP(Remote Desktop Protocol) I can remote into my PC as if I was sitting there. The fingers move the mouse, and its quite fast.

moytoy
02-08-2010, 20:28
I researched Droids this past weekend and they are intriguing. I have the problem of needing reading glasses when I do anything like typing with my thumb on a tiny keyboard. A remote keyboard on a smart phone type device seems to me to be the best choice currently. I currently use a laptop in my car with air card that has unlimited data. The netbook with the air card on the trail was just a thought. I'm a couple of years away from my thru so i'm not getting anything for the trail until time is closer. Who knows what will be out by then.

leaftye
02-08-2010, 20:34
I would be very interested to find out what you are carrying that weights half as much and has all the features you mention.

Fujitsu u820. Fujitsu sells directly on ebay. You can get it there for about $500.

SurferNerd
02-08-2010, 20:44
Fujitsu u820. Fujitsu sells directly on ebay. You can get it there for about $500.

I owned a Fujitsu u810, LOVED IT! Sold it because Vista was total crap, and couldn't get XP Pro on it properly working.

leaftye
02-08-2010, 21:17
I have a buddy with a u810. I really like it, but I like the more efficient screen and gps in its replacement. I haven't purchased it yet. It's basically the last thing on my shopping list. When I get it, I'll be putting Win7 on it. It's nice that it can be used as a tablet, but I'll probably be using it mostly as an ebook reader. Still though, it's nice that I can use it to create new routes to upload to my handheld gps, do normal online activities over cellular or wifi, read books and whatever else I may do....although I don't plan to do much with it outside of reading guides and "nature" books and updating my trail journal.

moytoy
02-08-2010, 21:38
Very interesting on the F 820/810...I don't know how this little gem got by me.
The more I read the better I like it.

Mags
02-08-2010, 21:41
The best laptop for backcountry use still remains the old Radio Shack model 100 http://oldcomputers.net/trs100.html 1

This machine is the DC-3/C-47 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_DC-3)of laptops. Rugged, uber-reliable and still being used many years after it was made obsolete by newer, shiner models in places where the new ones will cry for mommy... :)


http://www.pcworld.com/article/146496/inside_a_classic_the_trs80_model_100.html

http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=233
Fun fact : its CPU was also used on the Mars Pathfinder probe's Sojourner rover !



http://www.trs-80.com/

moytoy
02-08-2010, 22:17
This machine is the DC-3/C-47 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_DC-3)of laptops. Rugged, uber-reliable and still being used many years after it was made obsolete by newer, shiner models in places where the new ones will cry for mommy... :)


http://www.pcworld.com/article/146496/inside_a_classic_the_trs80_model_100.html

http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=233
Fun fact : its CPU was also used on the Mars Pathfinder probe's Sojourner rover !



http://www.trs-80.com/

:) Brings back memories.. Although I worked for a company "MAI Basic Four" that marketed an accounting software package for the trs-80 I never owned one. I did build an Altair 8800 in around 1975.

Snowleopard
02-08-2010, 22:52
Mags, thanks for the Radio Shack 100 link.
That 20 hours battery life with 4 AA batteries would be really nice to have in a modern netbook.

Leaftye, thanks for the idea of the Fujitsu U820. I'd have to see one in person, but I suspect that I'd prefer a larger keyboard and my poor eyes might need a larger screen.

K2
02-08-2010, 23:40
I have this ongoing internal debate as to whether I should bring my AlphaSmart notetaker. A single charge = 700 hrs of operation, and it will download to almost any computer. On the other hand, pen and paper is much lighter; however, my handwriting is atrocious. K2

leaftye
02-09-2010, 02:41
Very interesting on the F 820/810...I don't know how this little gem got by me.
The more I read the better I like it.

Fwiw, I've also been using a Fujitsu t4210 for nearly 3 years. Fujitsu's are probably the highest quality tablets out there. My next two tablets will be Fujitsu's.


Leaftye, thanks for the idea of the Fujitsu U820. I'd have to see one in person, but I suspect that I'd prefer a larger keyboard and my poor eyes might need a larger screen.

We all make compromises when we buy stuff to pack into our bags. I think reading extra close won't be a problem for me, especially since I forsee using it the most when I'm getting ready to go to sleep, which means the thing will already be right up close to my face....plus using it at night will allow me to dim the screen all the way and get the added benefit of even longer battery life. In reviews it gets over 8 hours of battery life, but with wireless off and the screen dimmed all the way, plus a few other tweaks, I bet over 12 hours of battery life can be achieved. I've achieved over 12 hours on my big tablet with upgraded memory and a fast hard drive, when reviews normally get half that on lower spec versions, so I think 12 hours on the little u820 will be very easily achieved.

I agree that the keyboard is a bit small. Too small for touchtyping, but better than a blackberry type keyboard, no? Also, since it's a tablet as well, you could write on it....just don't expect it to easily convert your handwriting to text. The accuracy is pretty high, but it just isn't worth the trouble. If you're just writing notes like you would on a notepad, then do like you would with a notepad and keep you handwriting as handwriting--don't convert to text.

Anyway, as long as I can get my maximum pack weight to 45 pounds, and I have the money to spare, a Fujitsu u820 is definitely coming with me on my thru-hike.

Cakon
02-09-2010, 10:13
At some point you have to turn it off to enjoy hiking. I hope if you use a netbook on the trail you do it in stealth mode. Most people do not want to get to a shelter and see some dude looking up porn.

mweinstone
02-09-2010, 10:15
i noticed barbells come in small sizes down to a few lbs. does anyone carry these in their pack to work out with after hikeing?

moytoy
02-09-2010, 15:40
i noticed barbells come in small sizes down to a few lbs. does anyone carry these in their pack to work out with after hikeing?

thats just plain silly! barbells are just dead weight. my thinking! start out with a 3 lb. computer. as you grow stronger go to the 6 or 8 lb. laptop. with some steroids i can upgrade to a mainframe. leave dumbells at home.

JustaTouron
02-09-2010, 16:06
i noticed barbells come in small sizes down to a few lbs. does anyone carry these in their pack to work out with after hikeing?


I think these are what you want.....UL dumbbells

http://www.allegromedical.com/gift-ideas-c573/aquabells-dumbbells-aqua-bell-travel-weights-p210999.html

leaftye
02-09-2010, 17:23
i noticed barbells come in small sizes down to a few lbs. does anyone carry these in their pack to work out with after hikeing?


You're thinking about dumbbells. Barbells start off around 25 lbs for standard barbells, and 45 lbs for olympic bars. And yes. Who doesn't? I was thinking about bringing my squat rack, but that'd just be silly.

10-K
02-09-2010, 18:15
I'm going to bring my treadmill so I can go for a walk before turning in.

bpitt
02-10-2010, 17:29
I've thought of taking my ham radio along with me. Works anywhere, and you can send simple email over some.

tintin
02-10-2010, 18:14
I have this ongoing internal debate as to whether I should bring my AlphaSmart notetaker. A single charge = 700 hrs of operation, and it will download to almost any computer. On the other hand, pen and paper is much lighter; however, my handwriting is atrocious. K2

I'm thinking about getting one of these. I broke my wrist and thumb quite badly so I get very bad pains after handwriting a few sentences. I really want to keep an active journal and have read good things about them.

My main concern at the moment is having the right equipment to stay warm!

dickdurk
02-10-2010, 19:01
Get a Droid..its a PC in the pocket. Quite literally for some of us. I have Windows 7 Pro on my PC, and with RDP(Remote Desktop Protocol) I can remote into my PC as if I was sitting there. The fingers move the mouse, and its quite fast.

I've been playing with mine for a few months now, and am planning on taking it with me on a section hike early March. It's heavier than I prefer, but just having weather reports makes it worthwhile, I think. But maybe that's because I am in Baltimore now, looking at 30" of recent snow on the ground (and still coming). Decent camera, email capability, and news ( I admit it after 2 weeks I get news DT's) is icing on the cake. Reception seems a little less sensitive than my previous phone, so I am not sure how that is going to play out on the trail.

Maddog
02-10-2010, 19:09
At some point you have to turn it off to enjoy hiking. I hope if you use a netbook on the trail you do it in stealth mode. Most people do not want to get to a shelter and see some dude looking up porn.

hmmm...really?:-?

ragincajun
03-25-2010, 04:26
2.9 lbs where have i been il be packing an 8 pound dell the whole way just to keep up with streaming moivies i can watch once a week at hostels and play warcraft

singingpilgrim
03-25-2010, 23:27
I'm thinking about carrying a netbook, but hadn't mentioned it because I figured I'd get lambasted for the weight issue.
Most people I know who have netbooks get them to use as their computer, and they're much cheaper than laptops, but would prefer to have a laptop with a CD/DVD drive and more space and all if they could afford it. I own a laptop. My thought is I could find someone amongst people I know who would be willing to trade their netbook for my laptop for 6 months while I thruhike, I could get the use of one for free. I can't afford a smartphone. And, even if I was given a free smartphone, (with a free subscription, since that's the real expensive part about them, they typically cost an extra $30 a month and my normal cell phone bill is a total $40) I'm not sure I could blog on one. The fact that I've been typing so long it's effortless is what makes typing conducive to writing for me. On a smart phone I'd have to get oriented, and the writing just wouldn't 'flow' out. And I think that an online blog/journal will be my primary way of keeping in touch with people at home.

I also think a netbook is a smart option for me because I'm going to be hiking with my dog, so I won't be as free to go into buildings, such as libraries, to use other people's computer. But I can sit on the sidewalk outside, or get an outside table at a cafe with wifi, and still get online.

I still haven't decided if I will bring a netbook. But I love the idea of turning it on for twenty minutes each night or something to type up thoughts for my journal, and then being able to post them online in town in just a few minutes.

For me, cost is one of the top priorities, and I have no doubt that trading my laptop for a netbook would be the cheapest and easiest way to get online during my thruhike...

But when I think about the weight, I really am not sure. I know it'll be very annoying, but not having it may mean that I won't really be able to keep an online journal at all.

I am glad that I am not alone in considering it, and wanted you to know you're not alone, but I don't really care if other people think I should or not. This will be a decision I will make, not internet people. :)

ragincajun
04-02-2010, 01:39
:welcomeyep its all about freedom 20 years from now people with 5 ounce computers will think its silly to go hiking without ability to just attach your headphones plug into a movie while its streaming and choose wich role you want to virtual, JUMP into while interactivally watching

Panzer1
04-02-2010, 03:01
The new Wi-Fi+3G Ipad is only 1.6 pounds.

Panzer

moytoy
04-02-2010, 03:04
getting lighter every day! Like the man said 5oz may not be far away.

Mrpokey
04-02-2010, 04:44
The reason I wouldn't carry my netbook on the trail is, I'd be mad as fire if something happened to it and it was ruined. So much could destroy it on a hike. (mice chewing thru a wire, rain/moistur, dropped on ground, crushed in backpack, etc

singing wind
04-02-2010, 19:36
So much to see hear and experience on the Trail. The woods, mountains, etc. are the text and verse - and a paperback is less susceptible to damage and easier to carry.

Good luck with your hike!

Panzer1
04-02-2010, 20:51
The reason I wouldn't carry my netbook on the trail is, I'd be mad as fire if something happened to it and it was ruined. So much could destroy it on a hike. (mice chewing thru a wire, rain/moistur, dropped on ground, crushed in backpack, etc

add:
1) stepped on by someone in a shelter at night
2) stolen
3) constant vibration caused by hiking
4) extremes of temperature IE hot/cold

These devices are made to be used in air conditioned/heated offices and homes, not for the trail.

I think size matters more than weight. Something around the size of a cell phone would be easier to take care of on the trail.

Panzer

Snowleopard
04-02-2010, 22:19
I think I'm going to experiment with photographing handwritten pages for keeping a journal. Do libraries, etc., let you upload pictures on their computers? The backup is to snail mail the paper pages home.

The Old Fhart
04-02-2010, 22:28
Mrpokey-"The reason I wouldn't carry my netbook on the trail is, I'd be mad as fire if something happened to it and it was ruined. So much could destroy it on a hike. (mice chewing thru a wire, rain/moistur, dropped on ground, crushed in backpack, etc"
Panzer1-"add:
1) stepped on by someone in a shelter at night
2) stolen
3) constant vibration caused by hiking
4) extremes of temperature IE hot/cold

These devices are made to be used in air conditioned/heated offices and homes, not for the trail.

I think size matters more than weight. Something around the size of a cell phone would be easier to take care of on the trail. "
Computers on the trail aren't new and they can survive. In 1998 I carried an HP 100Lx PalmTop computer (http://pdadb.net/img/100lx.jpg)with a real (though small keyboard) the entire trip. It weighed just 11 ounces and ran on 2 AA batteries that lasted for weeks. I had the DataBook scanned and converted to a text file loaded plus I used it to type my journal at night in my tent as well as having 23 novels and other stuff loaded. If I had kept a paper journal and carried the DataBook that would have weighed as much as the computer so I didn't have any added weight. I made a padded pouch for my sternum strap and the computer was where I could check it during the day without taking my pack off. If it was raining it was inside 2 heavy duty ziplocks, then the pouch, or if was really bad, in my pack. The text editor it had that I used for my journal was set up with commands like Windows WORD so when I got home I could transfer the text to my desktop and edit and save it there. The OS was DOS 5 so it didn't suck up power like a windows machine and that allowed it to get extremely good battery life.

It not only survived the entire trip but I had used it on other trips like the JMT where I had that trail's data and and other goodies loaded. I replaced it with a PDA because of newer applications I needed to use but it is still sitting on my desk and still working fine after all those miles and all those years. So the bottom line is it is possible to take a PDA/Blackberry type phone device on the trail if you're careful and not a complete klutz. ;)

Connie
04-03-2010, 12:57
My iPod Touch cost less than my netbook.

My iPod Touch travels in my pocket with nothing more than an Air Jacket and a screen protector. I have paid for the Best Buy 2-year breakage warranty.

It has Notepad (for trail journal), Star Walk, iBird Pro, Topo Maps, The Weather Channel, Radar (for weather radar), Stanza (for eBooks) and Repeller (for mosquitoes).

Most people think: Podcasts, music, internet radio. News, RSS newsfeeds. YouTube, streaming tv, movies. I have that available.

I also have puzzles.

I have the Orange Gadgets iGPS360 and xGPS software, with GPSSerialHook I can use many of the other GPS apps in the Apple Store like GPS Tracker and, especially, for TrackMyTour I ran across online for bicycle touring, that may be used just as well for canoeing or kayaking or hiking.

I also use Map Quest, Rest Area and Around Me apps for getting to the trail.

I have Fring with Skype and a SIP account and Google. I have Google Voice.

I have the Voxie app for dictation.

I have a Kensington add-on battery, in addition to the solar Novathink Surge. I understand the Morphie Juice Pack (additional battery) will have the FLO TV receiver chip this quarter.

What is not to like? I can forget it in my pocket, if I like. I have a mindless tv episode, if I need to get my mind off things. I have a movie if I feel deprived. I have news, if I feel I really need to know what the world is up to now, as if, that isn't predictable: the usual "Pinky and The Brain" rulers of the world and the usual other idiots. <sigh>

I would not take my EeePC 900, except in a shock and crash protective case in the offside pannier on my bicycle. That netbook is too important: I have optimized the hardware and the operating system for performance. It has the touch screen replacement. I have Garmin map software in it. Nope.

That is my decision. Those are my choices.

If you go with the netbook, look at Runcore SSD (solid state drive) (e.g. very lightweight, I have a Runcore SSD in my EeePC 900) and their netbooks you add the hard drive or SSD.

The Runcore SATA SSD and the relatively inexpensive Point Of View "barebones" netbooks have Atom CPU and Invidia ION "Cuda" graphics are an excellent value.

I haven't seen a better netbook (http://www.mydigitaldiscount.com/CategoryProductList.jsp?cat=Browse+By+Brand:Point+ of+View) offered, unless you want to "HackIntosh" a Dell Mini or pay big bucks.

The Northtec Gecko Edubook starts at $199 and has surprisingly excellent options available for a traveler.

I would have a Runcore SSD, 3G, and N wifi internal cards for it, using the Li-3S2P or LI-3S battery pack or the rechargeable single AA batteries optionally. The bulky power adapter is built-in inside the case, so it uses a regular computer power cord.

I know I want one.

ragincajun
04-18-2010, 07:58
recently noticed on e-bay little 1.5 lb computers available for 100$ buying one just for trip so small so cheap almost disposable much less worried about it breaking wanna watch summer blockbusters streaming from inside tent with wi fi camping behind hotels motels ninja style

Bucherm
05-12-2010, 02:42
I suspect that those laptops are the little netbook knockoffs from no-name companies in China running Windows CE. Unless it has a actual known brand I would avoid those.

(And no netbook is going to be running flash-based streaming media well)

moytoy
05-12-2010, 03:15
(And no netbook is going to be running flash-based streaming media well)

You are correct my friend but not for long. How do I know this? Because I started out in 1968 working for Univac on the Fastrand drum that weighed 5K lbs. and had a storage capacity of 100 megabytes. Yesterday I replaced a hot swap 500 gigabyte HD in a server in less time than it took me to drive into the parking lot. The point is of course that nothing that is true today is true tomorrow in this industry.:eek:

Bucherm
05-12-2010, 05:33
You are correct my friend but not for long. How do I know this? Because I started out in 1968 working for Univac on the Fastrand drum that weighed 5K lbs. and had a storage capacity of 100 megabytes. Yesterday I replaced a hot swap 500 gigabyte HD in a server in less time than it took me to drive into the parking lot. The point is of course that nothing that is true today is true tomorrow in this industry.:eek:

Oh, I know. I worked on a system when I was in the service(In 2005) that proudly said "Hewlett-Packard Computers HPUX-1986" when it booted up. It looked like it came from a SPECTRE warehouse in the '70s. I just doubt that Adobe is going to figure out a way to make Flash less intensive on CPUs when the processor trend is more power, not less. Existing netbooks just aren't built for it.

And of course there goes into the whole cell coverage while you're in the woods. I'm not super-impressed with 3G even when in DC, and I highly doubt Verizon or Sprint are going to be rolling out WiMAX and LTE coverage in the woods anytime soon...:-?

If the OP just wants something to use for blog updates, I would grab a smartphone. If he wants comething for entertainment...maybe a Kindle or iPad. I don't think the return is quite there yet for watching Family Guy form the FOX website while in a shelter in the mountains.

moytoy
05-12-2010, 06:57
All true, actually I am the OP.. My biggest problem with the smart phones is the size of the keyboard. I can't even effectively text let alone feed a blog or journal.
Most of my work now can be done from a laptop with an aircard. I'm in the Ocala National Forest now. Of course I'm tethered to my truck for power for the LT.
I'll probably do a 5 mile walk this morning and then return here for some online work and then do another 5 miles tonight. Thats pretty much my routine these days.

Miner
05-12-2010, 13:57
(And no netbook is going to be running flash-based streaming media well)
If you meant it can't fully handle streaming HD content (720P or 1080P) then you are correct. However, my year old 9" Acer netbook handles anything lower then that just fine and there is no point to watching HD content on a 9" screen anyway.

Bucherm
05-12-2010, 20:48
If you meant it can't fully handle streaming HD content (720P or 1080P) then you are correct. However, my year old 9" Acer netbook handles anything lower then that just fine and there is no point to watching HD content on a 9" screen anyway.

I was actually referring to Flash-based media, rather than something like Silverlight or HTML5. Flash is, IMO, CPU intensive all out proportion to the quality of video. My Samsung NC10 hates youtube and other flash media sites.

The Weasel
05-13-2010, 20:54
add:
1) stepped on by someone in a shelter at night
2) stolen
3) constant vibration caused by hiking
4) extremes of temperature IE hot/cold

These devices are made to be used in air conditioned/heated offices and homes, not for the trail.

I think size matters more than weight. Something around the size of a cell phone would be easier to take care of on the trail.

Panzer

Perhaps there IS a reason why the Army/Marine Corps doesn't use 'off the shelf' laptops in the field, and has special specifications to prevent damage, moisture and other inimical conditions. Remember, you'll fall a lot on the AT. It will rain a lot. There are people who aren't totally honest in shelters, hostels and towns. And there are plenty of computers in every town. Need to keep some data, such as journals, maps, etc. to print later? Put it on a cheap thumb drive and plug in when you get to a library or such.

TW

Hikerhead
05-13-2010, 21:12
Perhaps there IS a reason why the Army/Marine Corps doesn't use 'off the shelf' laptops in the field, and has special specifications to prevent damage, moisture and other inimical conditions. Remember, you'll fall a lot on the AT. It will rain a lot. There are people who aren't totally honest in shelters, hostels and towns. And there are plenty of computers in every town. Need to keep some data, such as journals, maps, etc. to print later? Put it on a cheap thumb drive and plug in when you get to a library or such.

TW

Fall a lot? Where does that come from, personal experierence? I'm no expert but I think you'll find most people fall maybe 4 or 5 times on a thruhike unless.... you'll just really clumsy.

The Weasel
05-13-2010, 21:38
Fall a lot? Where does that come from, personal experierence? .
Yes. And personal observation.

I'm no expert .
You said that, not me.

but I think you'll find most people fall maybe 4 or 5 times on a thruhike .
Once I woujld have asked how you're so sure you're right, and I'm wrong, or even why that matters to you. Now, to borrow Cap's phrase, I just "smile and wave, boys."

unless.... you'll just really clumsy.
Yeah, that's me. I fall once ever 350 miles. Or so. That would mean maybe 6 times in a thru. I guess I've used up my allotment. So the next time won't be a fall...just an unintentional application of gravity. :D


TW

Skidsteer
05-13-2010, 22:40
I highly doubt Verizon or Sprint are going to be rolling out WiMAX and LTE coverage in the woods anytime soon...:-?

I expect Verizon will because they are. I takes about 7 hours to prepare a cell site for LTE. No big deal and Verizon never does anything with half measures. I doubt they will stop at the city limits unless they are bankrupt.

Bucherm
05-14-2010, 00:29
I expect Verizon will because they are. I takes about 7 hours to prepare a cell site for LTE. No big deal and Verizon never does anything with half measures. I doubt they will stop at the city limits unless they are bankrupt.


Let me rephrase: I meant within the next few years. I note that I can't even get Verizon service in (off Skyline Dr)SNP, which is a local destination for folks in the DC area. While existing coverage may get LTE I suspect that we won't see expanded coverage for years and years.

The Weasel
05-14-2010, 01:05
Won't it be wonderful when the AT isn't wild any longer? Maybe we can rename it...Times Square.

TW

moytoy
05-14-2010, 06:29
Won't it be wonderful when the AT isn't wild any longer? Maybe we can rename it...Times Square.

TW
An argument could be made that the AT hasn't been wild for many years.
I first hiked on the AT in 1960 and it was pretty well maintained then.
(not wild)

leaftye
05-21-2010, 22:29
I owned a Fujitsu u810, LOVED IT! Sold it because Vista was total crap, and couldn't get XP Pro on it properly working.

I put Windows 7 on it. I think the first installation went horribly bad somehow, but redoing the installation worked really well. My only problem is that the drivers are a bit picky about the order in which they're installed, which I blame on Fujitsu for not documenting this themselves. My keyboard led still doesn't work. Good tablet otherwise. I would've continued carrying it until I got off the trail if I hadn't switched to a much smaller pack.

maxdakota
06-26-2010, 00:44
one huge complaint was the prodigious amount of driver incompatibilities, which ultimately contributed to a negative product perception that Microsoft still can't shake. The software vendor is taking pains to eliminate that problem with Windows 7 by releasing its code at an earlier stage.

MisterSweetie
06-26-2010, 17:12
I have a netbook I'd sell. :D Not that anyone asked. But it's pretty much what the OP was describing/wanting. HP 110 I think it is. Retail 350, sell for 200. Pristine.

moytoy
06-27-2010, 07:40
I have a netbook I'd sell. :D Not that anyone asked. But it's pretty much what the OP was describing/wanting. HP 110 I think it is. Retail 350, sell for 200. Pristine.

Thanks for the offer, I was more asking about what people thought of carring a 3 lb computer than actually looking for one. At 5lbs your's might be just a tad heavy for carring. I just went with the HTC smart phone recently but I have not mastered the art of typing on it yet.

Powder River
06-29-2010, 13:30
I would forget the netbook and just use a phone with a keyboard. I used a tiny windows phone and a bluetooth keyboard during my thru hike and I was pounding out a novel every single night with no discomfort. Total weight was about 9 ounces. The new iphone OS now allows bluetooth keyboards, and Android phones should work too.

On the other hand if a netbook seems like a good idea to you then do it. Once you've hiked a couple hundred miles with it you'll have no need of any of our opinions on the issue; you would have either sent it home by then or not. Go out there and try it out and let us know how it worked for you.

six6two
12-01-2010, 22:51
I'm going to do a thru hike in about a year and a half after I graduate. I'm interested in possibly carrying a small laptop of some type, just to blog and nothing else. If the bluetooth keyboards are that good, I could just do that and bring the droid. I don't really want to be in contact with anyone, but I would like to do a blog to document my trip/keep people updated.

leaftye
12-02-2010, 01:47
A phone may do everything you need, but I suggest taking a look at the HP Slate 500.

moytoy
12-02-2010, 02:22
The issue with any electronic device is the battery and how to to keep it charged.
My droid needs to be charged every two days even when it is only on standbye.

TheChop
12-02-2010, 03:21
Kindle seems like the only possible electronic device to carry on the trail. I'm thinking of getting one to put books in as I like having something to read at night. It has a keyboard so I could write/journal with it although I doubt I will. The battery life is also obscene.

leaftye
12-02-2010, 03:43
Wait, scratch that, I think the Asus EEE Note may be a better fit.

It does 13.5 hours of continuous use. It runs Linux, so it has the potential of running a wide variety of full featured free software.

My favorite thing is the pen. I think I would prefer to write my notes, possibly in a pdf annotated with Jarnal, and then email that....maybe via someone at home to transcribe it. I tried typing on a tiny keyboard this spring, and it was just way too slow and prone to typos. Handwriting is good though.

It also has a microphone, which means I can do audio journals. A camera...well, I probably wouldn't use that, but it's there. I might use the headphone jack though, especially on zero days. It has a microSD slot, so I can copy pictures from my gps camera and store lots of ebooks and music.

moytoy
12-02-2010, 07:40
Asus Eee is interesting but not available here until next year. This type of Technology is moving so fast that I can't keep up and I'm in the industry. I'm thinking a smart phone that runs Linux will take the market, but thats just me wishing.

jimplatz
12-05-2010, 10:21
Anyone have recommendations/suggestions/experience for solar chargers?

moytoy
12-05-2010, 10:29
I personally have never tried a solar charger. They seem iffy at best. I'm sure technology will give us a good one if they havn't already. There are several threads on WB with info. Here is one of the most recent ones.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=66889&highlight=solar

couscous
12-09-2010, 14:22
Anyone carrying a netbook may want to consider this hat (http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/hats-ties/bd12/).
http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/frontsquare/bd12_wifi_detector_cap.jpg