Follow-up RE: [at-l] trail related computer question

[nealb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (William Neal)]

Since I have gotten a few replies about what they are going to use it for,
here is the skinny.

They have a book length document for their Ph.D. program.  Finished.  Now it
needs polishing.  For later on, they want to write articles, etc.  Maybe
even the great American novel.  Also, like me, they are an omnivorous
reader.  So some of the smaller pocket pals may not be too good unless they
can load and download from disks, etc.  And they would like to be able to
correspond with people by "mail" (e or snail -- think printout because their
handwriting is worse than mine.) and not by voice -- several reasons for
that; including one that means that any mail to the receiver must be in
text.

And while weight is a concern, they are in pretty good shape.  They would
probably be doing triathelons if they had the time to really train.  So
something bigger is doable if it is not the size and weight of the old
portables.  Just think of them as someone in average but good shape.

William, The Turtle

-----Original Message-----
From: ken bennett [mailto:bennettk@wfu.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2003 2:08 PM
To: William Neal
Subject: Re: [at-l] trail related computer question


On 3/26/03 1:47 PM, "William Neal" <nealb@midlandstech.com> wrote:

> I have a friend who is thinking about long section hiking the AT during
> their summers off.  But they would like to carry a computer.

What is the computer to be used for? Photo editing and storage is different
from writing a journal, for example. This is going to be difficult, but
maybe not impossible. After all, scientists use computers in some very
remote places (but they probably have a generator to charge batteries.)

There are some very small sub-notebooks in the under-3-pound range, mostly
from Sony. The problem is going to be battery life -- you're looking at 3-4
hours between charges. Carrying a spare battery is fine, but they are the
heaviest part of the computer. The best bet may be to rig up a solar
charger, and charge the battery while hiking during the day.

http://www.global-merchants.com/home/computer.htm

I know NOTHING about this company or product -- it was the first thing that
came up on a Google search.

The other option is a palm-top computer running Windows CE. These are much
more powerful than the Palm OS handhelds, and can run most Windoze software.
I don't know about battery life, though. The Compaq model is heavily used
around campus.

Other things to think about are protection from rain/humidity, impact
protection, using it (or not) when other hikers are present, etc.

With more info on the end use, I might be able to give you some more info.

Ken