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TOW
05-29-2005, 07:39
concerning the recent post of whether or not should one take a cell phone on the trail, what do you guys think if i took my pc with me? what kind of battery pack should i use for power? and should i carry a satillite dish too????????wanderer

titanium_hiker
05-29-2005, 11:52
I'm assuming laptop- (hehehe carrying a whole case, monitor and keyboard, mouse... )
You would probably want something "drop proof" fairly lightweight(this adds price though) and you'd want mulitple batteries. And you'd have to be fairly stingent on the use of it- those batteries run out like crazy. Every town you'd have to stop in- to get a recharge. Since you'd have to stop alot- just stop for a coffee (somewhere with wifi) and do your email there- no need for the dish.

The dish- I wouldn't, but then again, you might want to...

titanium_geek

titanium_hiker
05-29-2005, 11:58
I love surfing the net in my hammock (I'm doing it right now!) but that's inside the house.

titanium_hiker/geek

MacGyver2005
05-29-2005, 12:41
You'd want something like a Toughbook: http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelList?storeId=11201&catalogId=13051&catGroupId=12871 or a very padded, waterproof case for any other notebook. Either way you are talking about several extra pounds, and a lot of room in your pack. Unless you are utterly opposed to public access computers, like libraries, hostels, and some outfitters, I think it is silly to carry a computer down the trail. There are computers available all along the trail But if you are really stuck on it, go for it. Hell, if a kid can carry a Tuba on a Thru-Hike, a laptop is childs-play. ;)

Regards,
-MacGyver
GA -->ME 2005

TOW
05-29-2005, 13:18
You'd want something like a Toughbook: http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelList?storeId=11201&catalogId=13051&catGroupId=12871 or a very padded, waterproof case for any other notebook. Either way you are talking about several extra pounds, and a lot of room in your pack. Unless you are utterly opposed to public access computers, like libraries, hostels, and some outfitters, I think it is silly to carry a computer down the trail. There are computers available all along the trail But if you are really stuck on it, go for it. Hell, if a kid can carry a Tuba on a Thru-Hike, a laptop is childs-play. ;)

Regards,
-MacGyver
GA -->ME 2005so true, that be Tubaman. you know that fool rode his bike all the way from Seattle to Portland, Maine with the thing, a Trek mountain bike I think......wanderer

ShakeyLeggs
05-29-2005, 17:33
$2675 aint too bad of a price for http://tinyurl.com/al8tk . But then again the weight hurts my body.

TOW
05-29-2005, 18:22
just checked that place out, looks good to me. does wireless mean i'd be able to hook into a cell tower?




$2675 aint too bad of a price for http://tinyurl.com/al8tk . But then again the weight hurts my body.

MacGyver2005
05-29-2005, 18:38
...does wireless mean i'd be able to hook into a cell tower?
No, that means it is capable of using a wireless network, like you'd find at a computer café or possibly at your work, or a technophile friend's home. ;)

Regards,
-MacGyver
GA -->ME 2005

TOW
05-29-2005, 18:42
i wonder if they'll ever come up with a way to do it thru the towers just like i am here on the line?

wanderer


No, that means it is capable of using a wireless network, like you'd find at a computer café or possibly at your work, or a technophile friend's home. ;)

Regards,
-MacGyver
GA -->ME 2005

ShakeyLeggs
05-29-2005, 19:30
You can but you gotta use a cell phone as a your connection. I can with my cell. Haven't tried it though.

MOWGLI
05-29-2005, 19:38
concerning the recent post of whether or not should one take a cell phone on the trail, what do you guys think if i took my pc with me?

Here's a link to the journal of a hiker who carried a laptop this year. Poor guy didn't make it to Gooch Gap. He was carrying a 70 pound pack.

http://www.luckycowboy.org

Hey, at least he tried though. That's more than most people can claim.

The Old Fhart
05-29-2005, 20:07
Computers on the trail aren't really a joke if you know what you're doing. I carried an HP palmtop (11oz) my entire thru hike in 1998. I had over 20 novels, my journal, and the A.T. databook loaded. It ran on two AA batteries available anywhere and one set lasted for weeks. Several people have used PocketMail and with the advances in the last 7 years, Blackberry and other devices make a PDA/cell phone package somewhat practical.

And I did carry a color TV with me on one long 3-week section. Nothing like watching the Red Sox game while eating supper. No dish needed for reception or the meal. :D