What laptop do you travel with?

[aussiejohn]

I've had an Asus 900 netbook for 3 years but found the keyboard a bit small to do much typing. Recently replaced that with a Samsung
N145 10" netbook. Just come back from 4 weeks in Singapore/Malaysia/UK and it was great. Only weighs about 1.2kgs, gets about 6 hours battery life if using wi-fi. Turn the wi-fi off and you can get up to 10 hours. Keyboard is almost full size so typing is much easier. It is not my main computer, at home I use a 15.6" Asus laptop but for travelling, the Samsung is great. Take copies of my important files and also use Dropbox to keep both computers in sync. Genealogy is my passion, so I use the Samsung as my genie machine as I can take it to record offices, and use it when I visit relatives to show them things.

 

[Timtammi]

The screen is superb, it's quick, allows genuine multitasking and has flash

Thanks for the feedback about the playbook, if it really is as you say above that is really all I want and was expecting. Anything more and I would use my laptop anyway, really I'm just looking for more real estate and an easier way of doing what I already do on my phone which is really very email driven, reading email, writing email, opening attachments etc.

Think its ok for that?

Lack of apps is annoying and a shame but really I don't use many.

Cheers

Timmi

 

[TonyHancock]

Thanks for the feedback about the playbook, if it really is as you say above that is really all I want and was expecting. Anything more and I would use my laptop anyway, really I'm just looking for more real estate and an easier way of doing what I already do on my phone which is really very email driven, reading email, writing email, opening attachments etc.

Think its ok for that?

Lack of apps is annoying and a shame but really I don't use many.

Cheers

Timmi

The lack of a native email client on the 1st gen Playbooks might cause you a problem. Email is picked up via my Blackberry torch using the "Blackberry Bridge" setup. So effectively I only see what comes in on my torch. (I believe the next gen Playbooks will have 3G capability and native email.)

You can use web based mail.

It comes preloaded with documents to go and it handles spreadsheets and word documents. It also has a pdf reader. I have been quite happy using it to view some quite complex spreadsheets.

It handles movies well too, and they are transferred via usb cable. My MacBook Air just reads it like another drive.

I like the playbook, but the iPad gives me more. I'm looking forward to the iPad3, when hopefully, the screen will match the iPhone4.

 

[jb747]

I also carry an Airport Express, and I connect the hotel cable connection to that. That way all of the devices can access the internet. It also allows me to stream video from the laptop to the ipad, which is way better than watching most hotel TV sets, which for some obscure reason, are almost invariably set in the wrong aspect ratios, and then locked there.

 

[serfty]

OT:

... which is way better than watching most hotel TV sets, which for some obscure reason, are almost invariably set in the wrong aspect ratios, and then locked there.

Fully agree! Many people I know don't give two hoots about aspect ratio's, but I like a circle to be a circle!

 

[KitKat]

1st Gen 13" MBA with a now small SSD, therefore pocket HDD comes along for movies etc.
Light, quick start up, slim (goes in/out of bag easily at security checks)
Problems: overheating...... (keeps you warm in winter)

 

[TonyHancock]

I also carry an Airport Express, and I connect the hotel cable connection to that. That way all of the devices can access the internet.

Yep I carry an Airport Express too. A very handy little gadget.

 

[Maca44]

Asus 10" 1005P. Is light, large HD which I have over 100 movies, great camera for skpying kids and although it is said to have an 11 battery life I can watch two movies without a problem, but in reality I would say between 9-11 hours. When I bought it, reformatted HD, put on WIN7 Ultimate and it is quite fast.

 

[nomadic]

Wow - fantastic thread. Thanks for all the amazing responses.
If I had to do a quick poll I'd say, in this order
- Lots of iPads!
- Quite a few 13 inch MBA
- Quite a few Lenovo X series
- Few Sony X, Toshiba, and Dell

And then of course, we all have some type of smartphone..
Excellent AirPort Express tip too!

Me - can't quite bring myself to get a Mac. I need to use Windows and I think the power management issues, plus keyboard discrepancies would be too annoying. Seems like Lenovo is probably the next popular, so I've been doing some research.

I found a site on twitter that says tonight there is a Lenovo sale from 8pm-12. This is it for anyone else who's in the market for a Lenovo: http://bit.ly/ivAxcf

While the T series seems quite good, I think Lenovo X220 or X1 is the way to go for a travel laptop. Seems like a few on here also agree.

Looking around at reviews, I see the X220 seems to get this reception (paraphrasing): boring looks, fast, nice screen, excellent keyboard, amazing battery life (~15 hours). X1 gets similar reviews, but I think for the price difference (with that sale) the X220 looks perfect. Bit smaller and lighter too.

As for a tablet, still looking. I think I might wait until a great Android one comes out (maybe Lenovo K1?) or ideally, a Windows Phone 7 powered tablet - there are rumours on these.

 

[nomadic]

What about an iPhone app? There's one called DocScanner which a lot of people use. There are many though. You just use the camera, fix up the scan orientation, contrast, etc. and then email, fax, etc..

Can anyone recommend a good portable scanner that's not too bulky or heavy? Must have scan-to-PDF ability.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

My 13" acer (2nd one same model) is starting to die, despite only being 6 months old.

For the new one I'm thinking 13" MBA running Win7 or a Samsung Series 9.

Only thing I can't stand with mac laptops is the microfone is right next to the keyboard, so talking to someone on video while typing is super super annoying to listen to!

 

[nomadic]

If you are considering the Series 9, you could also look at the Lenovo E420S
I can't post links but if you Google winsupersite lenovo 420s there is a pretty good comparison of that to the MBA

My 13" acer (2nd one same model) is starting to die, despite only being 6 months old.

For the new one I'm thinking 13" MBA running Win7 or a Samsung Series 9.

Only thing I can't stand with mac laptops is the microfone is right next to the keyboard, so talking to someone on video while typing is super super annoying to listen to!

 

[TonyHancock]

Only thing I can't stand with mac laptops is the microfone is right next to the keyboard, so talking to someone on video while typing is super super annoying to listen to!

I hadn't thought about that, but on the 1st gen MBA the microphones were near the camera, but on my new 11" they are, as you correctly state, right next to the keyboard. I wish I had known that prior to my VC board meeting last month! :shock:

 

[anthropologist]

I use a MacBook Pro 17" early 2011 model 2.3Gb i7 - like taking my desktop MacPro with me. A bit a of a hassle putting the thing in the trays and getting them out again (tray is the same size as the puter) but the 17 inch screen is great for watching dvds etc. Also has 8Gb ram and a 256 Gb ssd hard drive, which makes it lightning fast starting up and shutdown.

It recently replaced a 15 inch 2008 laptop, which in turn replaced a 13 inch MacBook Air I used to take with me on flights.

Also I can use my iPhone 4 as a personal wifi network...brilliant (although I also use the Bigpond elite usb modem).

 

[drron]

No business usage so I use a Sony netbook.PCG 21212W.Really light.Small enough to fit in mrs.dr.ron's handbag.Easy to use.Plenty of space for my photo's.

 

[pblackm]

I hadn't thought about that, but on the 1st gen MBA the microphones were near the camera, but on my new 11" they are, as you correctly state, right next to the keyboard. I wish I had known that prior to my VC board meeting last month! :shock:

The new Lenovo X1 has DSP keyboard noise cancelling technology, so they'll never know!

 

[timmmb]

Until recently, a 2 year old Toshiba Satellite Pro A600 (12") nice and light, but lacks processing power and was getting rather slow.

Currently using a behemoth HP ProBook 6550b. I do plan on going back to the Toshiba one day, when I can be bothered reimaging it.

 

[markis10]

I travel with my Lenovo X200 Tablet but its about to be replaced by my $450 Lenovo Edge 13 that is currently somewhere in the world with DHL.

 

[jb747]

If I can source the right sort of remote, that will let me control a number of TVs, and more importantly, get them out of 'hotel' mode, I'll add said remote and an Apple TV to the mix. Won't have room for clothes, but who cares as long as the toys fit.

 

[KitKat]

If I can source the right sort of remote, that will let me control a number of TVs, and more importantly, get them out of 'hotel' mode, I'll add said remote and an Apple TV to the mix. Won't have room for clothes, but who cares as long as the toys fit.

Out of curiosity, does the flight crew have a special spot to place their carry on luggage (I presume this will vary with the aircraft)? Is there some sort of imposed limitations?