Good Laptop

[doubledragon5]

Looking to buy a decent laptop for my truck.. What I meas is I now drive Tractor Trailer for Swift and need a decent laptop to use when I'm on my off duty time and when I need help with directions, when the Co directions fail (as they mostly do).. I was told not to get a high end one, because we can only use a max 400 watt inverter in the truck.. I can have up to 3 put nothing higher than 400 watt for each I install... I am looking for one with built in Wifi cause when you in a truck stop of a hotel you can generally get free internet access... Thanks

[glc]

Get one of the small 4 pound 12 inch screen models for lowest power consumption. Something like a Dell Inspiron 710m is a good choice here. You are looking at a starting price just over $1000 and that's very well equipped.

What would be very slick for directions is a GPS and mapping software, DeLorme and Microsoft both offer a nice package for around $100. The GPS receiver plugs into a USB port and does not require any external power.

EDIT: 400 watts? That's actually a LOT - my old Thinkpad AC adapter is 16 volt DC and 3.36 amps - which is about 55 watts. I run it off the lighter socket in my car with a 60 watt universal DC adapter. You could power a cheaper (and bigger) laptop just fine, and you wouldn't need an inverter, just a lighter socket adapter as long as the fuse has a high enough amp rating.

[Staren]

Dell 710M for that kind of mobility would be my choice even of power wasn't an issue. Right now Dell has a 22% off deal going so you could get a good price on one.

[doubledragon5]

Thanks for the reply guys I was looking at either a Dell or Toshiba... That Delorme maping program I plan on buying.. My trianer had that same one and it helped us get out of some real tough spots... I also plan on getting a decent cooler for my food and drinks which also plug into that inverter.. Maybe even a microwafe oven..

[glc]

Toshibas have been having reliability issues lately. I used to be a big DeLorme fan, but Microsoft has a real nice GPS package now, packaged with Streets and Trips. I think their software is easier to use. Best Buy has it on sale for 90 bucks this week.

[doubledragon5]

I'll look into the Microsoft one as well glc.. If Toshibas are having issues I will stay away and maybe go Dell again... Well today I will pick up my truck and tommorow start out for the first time as a solo driver... I'll be gone for about 4 weeks, so by then I'm hoping to have my new laptop, up and runing...

[doubledragon5]

Well I finally sprung for a laptop, two days ago.. Since I'm harldy ever home I choose a Thoshiba Sattelite A105 anyway.. I bought it at Best buy for just over a $1000.. It has a Centrino mobile 2.0ghz porcessor, built in Intel chip for a video card, 2Gb DDr two ram, and a 120GB hard drive.. I didn't need anything fancy, so this was the choose... I stayed away from the Compaq, HP and Gateway ones they tried to sell me.. The Sony was to expensive so I stayed away from that one as well.. The Delorme was on sale, so I choose that for the maping program, and also I'm familiar with its functions... Will see how it all goes from here...