[Rhodes22-list] Another Computer Question

[brad haslett]

Slim,

I'm on my second laptop, both IBM's.  The first one
weighed about 8 pounds but had all the bells and
whistles.  The second is the lightest on the market at
2.5 pounds but has no external devices.  I've found
over time that the extra weight really becomes a PITA
and the stripped down version does 98% of what I need
to do on the road.  I have wireless at both home and
work but carry a LAN cable to hardwire whenever
possible.  Sometimes I'll score a free connection on
someones unsecured wireless but usually use NetZero
dial-up on the road for $10 per month, slow but
reliable.  Bill and Mark and some others are up to
speed on the mobile phone connection issues.  I'm
interested but can't justify the additional expense at
this point.  I've stayed away from Apple for the same
reasons Bill mentioned, there is a whole lot more
support for IBM and it interfaces with my company with
less hassle.  So here is my recommendation based on my
experience:  spend the extra money to get the lightest
unit you can afford.  I very seldom miss the bells and
whistles and I don't have to carry an extra bag, I
just wrap my IBM X40 in a pair of jeans and throw it
in the suitcase.

Brad

--- Bill Effros <bill at effros.com> wrote:

> Slim,
> 
> I know Brad knows about this because he's all over
> all the time.
> 
> I got a laptop to download pictures into when I'm
> traveling.  If that 
> was all it did, it would have been worth it to me. 
> I have been amazed 
> at how much I have used it, and basically I can't
> travel almost anywhere 
> without it any more.
> 
> It now lives on the boat during the summer when I'm
> not using it for 
> something else.  Next summer I plan to set up
> wireless instruments, and 
> a computer controlled auto pilot.  The smallest
> computer is 1000 times 
> more powerful than the biggest hand held GPS, and
> costs a fraction of 
> the dedicated instrument systems.
> 
> I got a PC because 20 PCs are sold for each Apple. 
> That means that most 
> of the significant new programs are now available
> first for the PC, and 
> later, if at all, for the Apple.  The Apple people
> never find out what 
> they can't get, and the PC people no longer have the
> time to try to 
> explain it to them.
> 
> For you that would mean learning a whole bunch of
> new small words.
> 
> Mark has been happy with the Verizon cell phone
> carrier wireless 
> Internet System.  They just dropped their price by
> 25% in my area, and I 
> may pick it up, and drop some of the other services
> I have.
> 
> I really like being able to get on the net wherever
> I am without having 
> to plug into anything I didn't bring with me.  I
> find I use it all the 
> time, even though it's slower than other things I
> can go out and buy.
> 
> I'm sure you'll hear more from others.
> 
> Bill Effros
> 
> Slim wrote:
> 
> >I have a question too.  (Slim raising his hand.)
> >
> >I expect to be traveling more in the near future
> and I figger I oughtta get
> >me one of them there whachacall laptops.  First of
> all, I'm strictly a Mac
> >guy.  But I don't know anything about Wi Fi or
> whatever it's called.  Or Air
> >Port.  Or is it easier to just plug in somewhere.
> >
> >Can somebody explain this to me using small words? 
> What are my
> >options/limitations, costs, etc.?
> >
> >Slim
> >
> >__________________________________________________
> >Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help?
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> >
> >  
> >
> __________________________________________________
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> 


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