what do i need in a laptop

[backroads]

I'm a truck driver and i want a laptop to take on the road. I don't know what kind, speed or memory size would be right for me. I need a Navigation device (eg. Rand McNally), be able to check my e-mail, and able to pick up WI-FI @ flying J. Our home computer has Norton and we are happy with that. Can you get that on a portable? Also I'd like to be able to put the pictures that I take with my phone (Motorola- razor) on the computer, and put a CD of eg. Hoyle card games - or other games. What do i need in a laptop?

[soybean]

Well, if buying a new laptop, you'll surely be getting Windows Vista; there are five versions of Windows Vista.  I think Vista Home Premium would be fine for you.  With Vista, be sure to get a computer with at least 1GB of memory.  And, 2GB may well be worth paying a little more. 

Nearly all new laptops come with built-in Wi-Fi; just be sure to confirm that before you buy.  In other words, they are capable of picking Wi-Fi signals without installing/attaching any additional hardware.

Sure, Norton can be installed.  A new laptop may have a trial version of Norton already installed.  But, I suggest avoiding Norton and getting AVG Anti-Virus Free or Avast Home Edition.  Norton is too much of a resource hog.

Regarding installing games, sure, you can do that.  All you need is a DVD-ROM drive, which a new laptop is sure to have.

In summary, since your requirements are actually fairly basic, most laptops on the market would meet your requirements.  So, you can stay in the lower end of the price spectrum if you want to keep the cost down. 

[WillyW]

... Also I'd like to be able to put the pictures that I take with my phone (Motorola- razor) on the computer, ...

I have no experience with this myself.   A friend of mine does it all the time.
As I understand it, with his cell phone service,  if he emails a picture out of his phone to himself,  he has to pay a charge for it.

But, just recently,  they got a new laptop.    This one has built in Blue Tooth capability.  The old one did not.  This laptop can communicate with his cell phones!   Now,  he can access the photos in the phone, and simply copy them straight to the new laptop via Blue Tooth.

You might want to look into it.   Maybe Blue Tooth on laptops is standard stuff now - I don't know.

Sorry that I can't be more specific about it.   I just wanted to call your attention to the possibility - maybe soybean or someone else here with experience with this will comment.

[Calum]

Bluetooth is available on many multimedia laptops nowadays.
However, a more reliable and faster way would be to use USB - the cable may have come with the phone or it may be sold separately (roughly £5 here).  Alternatively, if the phone uses a memory card, the laptop could have a built in card reader, which is another way to transfer files.

[WillyW]

Bluetooth is available on many multimedia laptops nowadays.
However, a more reliable and faster way would be to use USB - the cable may have come with the phone or it may be sold separately (roughly £5 here). 
...

I don't remember the details,  but there was some difficulty with that.   It sounded to me like the phone company was trying to make it so that the only option was to have to pay to send them.   I'm really not sure though.

One thing is sure,  when I saw him do it with Blue Tooth,  it was very convenient.  No looking for a wire!       

[neljan]

Just curious, how can someone mobile (on the road) connect to the internet?

I mean, where's the access point?

[WillyW]

Just curious, how can someone mobile (on the road) connect to the internet?

I mean, where's the access point?

http://www.flyingj.com   is the one he mentioned.

[neljan]

Oh I see, thanks Will.

[soybean]

Hmm, it's a bit pricey: http://www.fjcomm.com/internet-hotspots.asp

[neljan]

 

[WillyW]

Hmm, it's a bit pricey: http://www.fjcomm.com/internet-hotspots.asp

I saw that.   $20 a month is not too much more than DSL plans. 

Here is what is interesting though.   As I understand it,  many hotels now offer wi-fi for free - an amenity for businessmen and vacationers.
Yet these places charge the truck drivers for it.

In one market they need to offer it as an attraction, to get more business.
In the other,  it is a way to generate more revenue.
Interesting how that works.

[soybean]

Hmm, it's a bit pricey: http://www.fjcomm.com/internet-hotspots.asp

I saw that.   $20 a month is not too much more than DSL plans. 

Here is what is interesting though.   As I understand it,  many hotels now offer wi-fi for free - an amenity for businessmen and vacationers.
Yet these places charge the truck drivers for it.

In one market they need to offer it as an attraction, to get more business.
In the other,  it is a way to generate more revenue.
Interesting how that works.

A Flying J is located only about 7 miles from where I live.  Besides selling the diesel fuel that truckers need, it has a nice restaurant and small retail store that sells various items, and a large parking lot where truckers who stop to sleep overnight in their cabs can park.

We also have Panera Bread restaurants in my area. They are Wi-Fi hotspots and charge nothing for access. I would have thought Flying J might do the same for truckers.

[neljan]

Hey, do you think Backroads is on the road again or something