Tiny Computer for travel for WP& Net surfing

Sharon, I agree with the others. All of the features you're describing in a Computer fit the description of a Netbook perfectly! I travelled with one for the first time last year, and it will be on every trip from now on! A few points to mention..... > Netbooks definitely fit the description of "inexpensive", especially compared to the cost of a larger Laptop. They typically range from about Cdn $350-500. Check your local electronics shops. > Most Netbooks have similar features, but some are a bit better than others. Check CNET or other review sites to get some idea on which model might best fit your needs. > I'd recommend buying a model with a 250 GB Hard Drive (some models are supplied with a 160 GB Drive to keep the prices down). It's nice to have the extra capacity if you need it for photo storage or whatever. I'd also recommend 2 GB of RAM, if possible. > Look for a model with the larger Battery (6-cell?). That will provide longer duration use before recharging. > Be sure to check the Power Supply / Charger supplied with the Netbook, to ensure that it's designed for "world operation". That will avoid the expense and trouble of packing along a Voltage Converter. Most these days are supplied with that, but it's still worthwhile to check. > Most of the current models are supplied with Windows 7 Starter, which I've found works quite well. I also purchased MS Office Home & Student edition, which works great for writing. > One point to note is that Netbooks DON'T have the "horsepower" for processor-intensive tasks such as gaming, Photoshop, etc. Good luck with your decision and Buon Viaggio!

Also recommend my Acer...small, easy to carry, and does the job...

If you are doing a writer's workshop that implies a great deal more typing than typical email and blog travel tasks. Before you buy a typical netbook, be sure you stand there in the store and type a few paragraphs of text at full speed to test the keyboard layout. All of them I have seen have a keybord that is compromised to some degree - either by shrinking everything to 90% or so, or by shrinking or moving individual keys. The only comperable (in terms of size and weight) laptop I can think of that has a true full size keyboard is the new 11" Macbook air, but that retails for $999 (you can get a "like new" refurbished one from Apple for $849). That's what I have, but yes, it is significantly more expensive and because it uses flash memory, its capacity is much less - though plenty to hold what you need for a trip.

Sounds like you are looking for a netbook. They are about the size of a wide paperback book, a 10 inch screen, large hard drive, full keyboard, and have WiFi cababilites. Prices range from $300 for the basic model up to $600. All the big computer companies sell them: Dell, HP, Acer, Toshiba. I love my Dell Mini. It's incredibly light, compact, and the battery life is unbelievable. After 10 overseas trips, I cannot imagine traveling without it. My netbook frees up a lot space in my bag. I use it to store travel documents, pages from guidebooks, ebooks, and maps. I can also use it as a nightlight, white noise machine, stereo system, mini-cinema (in hi-def and widescreen), alarm clock, and make cheap calls back home via Skype. ...and it's smaller than a Bible, and yes I can store a Bible in my netbook as well. My drive also has every episode of The Office, Battlestar Glactica, NPR's This American Life, and contains my entire music library. It worked great on my 15+ hour non-stop flights from Newark to Beijing and Hong Kong. It's the ultimate multi-media device, like a hi-tech Swiss army knife!

I love my Acer Netbook. Did have it upgraded to a better version of MS Office, but it's only 2+ pounds and has plenty of memory and storage for my on-the-road needs. Also save my precious pictures to it daily, and have them backed up to a service daily so if I lose it, it breaks, etc., my stuff is safe.

Thanks, guys, very helpful information.

Sharon, To add to the comments posted by Randy, the Keyboard was something I forgot to mention (I also ran into the text limit). The Keyboard on most Netbooks is a bit smaller than a "standard" Keyboard. In my experience, I've had to adapt my typing style somewhat on the Netbook, but it's not a problem at all. I've never checked, but I suspect my typing speed is only slightly slower on the Netbook than on a full-sized Keyboard (I can normally "flash along" at 80 WPM+. I learned touch typing from a very strict Teacher in the '60s, and looking back that was one of the best courses I ever took in High School). I didn't mention the new MacBook Air due to the cost (you did say "inexpensive"). Also, the 64 GB memory limit is a problem for me, as I need LOTS of capacity for photo storage). BTW, the Netbook I bought is a Toshiba NB-305, and it's been an outstanding travel accessory so far. I just returned from a trip to Seattle (RS Travel Reunion) and Portland (visiting family) and having the Netbook is wonderful for long airport layovers (and of course posting replies on the HelpLine). Cheers!

For five trips to Europe (2001-2004) I used an NEC Mobile Pro. Mine had a full size screen and weighed just over 2#, but the half screen versions weigh less than 2#. They use flash memory on a ROM for the Op Sys and software. They load immediately. When they came out they saved abbreviated Word and Excel files to save memory space, but with the advent of large flash drives, that is no longer necessary. Battery life is very good, particularly if you can turn down the display, like on an airplane with dimmed lights (I used one almost full time on a flight back from Europe). You can still pick them up for less than $100 on ebay.

Is WordPerfect still in use? Do all platforms still support it? I thought it died years ago, when Word took over the market for wordprocessing.

WP don't work with Win7. Dangnabit.

iPad!

Word Perfect is still available . I'm not sure about earlier versions but the latest version is compatible with WIN7.

"Word Perfect is still available . I'm not sure about earlier versions but the latest version is compatible with WIN7." This is correct. I use Word Perfect X4 on a netbook (ASUS) running Win 7. For those unfamiliar with Word Perfect, it has always given writers control of their documents. With Word, the program acts like it knows better than you do and inserts a ton of formatting commands that are a pain to override. I'd rather write in Notepad than try to use Word. Unfortunately, Microsoft has a monopoly on Office programs and it is impossible to avoid Word. One other thing Word Perfect does is maintain backward compatibility with earlier document formats. With Word, Microsoft seems determined to come up with a new format that is unreadable if you don't have the newest program (e.g., .docx files).

Microsoft doesn't have a monopoly on office, nor is it impossible to avoid word. Give http://openoffice.org a go (it's free).

I bought a 12 inch ASUS last fall for travel from NewEgg for around $500- lots of memory. You can get them for less and can get smaller ones. It's lightweight, thin but not excessively skinny, good size keyboard. Easily fits in the backpack with a cover, does not seem fragile.Sons have had several ASUS and like their standard 2 year warranty.

Randy hit the nail on the head. For a lot of typing, you want a keyboard you like, so be sure about that. Ipads are great for many things, but not for word processing. My Asus netbook drives me crazy if I do very much on it other than brief emailing, but it's great for that and photo storage and processing. There are lots of notebooks that have full keyboards, so include those in your shopping.

I love my netbook....I'm using it right now. I never even use our full sized laptop anymore. My husband has taken that over for himself! I have a Gateway. I think the most important thing is to get the 6 cell battery for longer life. The keyboard is smaller, but I have big hands for a woman and don't have any problems with it. My guess it that it would be a little more difficult for a guy. I have taken my netbook on a couple of trips and I won't go on another without it.

I bought the Toshiba NB 305 after asking a similar question.I got varied answers with lots of different suggested netbooks.However 4 persons suggested the Toshiba,one being Ken,and I really like it.Im not a great typist but I dont see a great deal of difference between it and my desktop computer.

"Ipads are great for many things, but not for word processing." I beg to differ -- I do quite a bit on my iPad. Prefer it to traditional laptop. I can so spreadsheets, but they are clunky. Word processing, smooth as glass.

We also took an Acer netbook on our recent trip. Not only was it lightweight, it also fit into our backpack very easily. This was our first trip having a computer with us and it was very helpful. We were able to IM the kids and reserved a few hotels on the way. Also, like others mentioned, downloaded our pics and kept a blog of our travels. We purchased it at Costco. Have fun on your trip.

Thanks everyone, for all your great replies and thought-provoking answers. I did purchase a Samsung netbook from my local Best Buy at a good price. Now I am wondering about security - should one spring for a plug -in lock with a steel cable or a packsafe shoulder bag with steel webbing inside and a lock to secure to immovable furniture - any thoughts on that aspect?? I'm thinking that the pacsafe bag might have room for my camera too.

Sharon, I haven't felt it was necessary (so far) to provide that level of security for a Netbook. When I'm out touring in the daytime, it stays locked inside my luggage in the Hotel room, and so far I haven't had any problems with that approach. I don't carry it around with me during the day. Some of the Hotels I used during my trip last year provided a Safe in the room, so it could have been stored there but I never bothered.

If my hotel room doesn't have a safe then I use my Pac-Safe portable safe to secure my netbook and attach to the bar in the closet: http://tinyurl.com/6dyrzda

Dell has an 11 incher which has all of the firepower that most larger ones do with the exception of no dvd/cd drive. Plenty of usb's though. It is only a smidgen larger than the 10 notebooks but can handle full programs such as ms office, the price wasn't much more than the notebooks so check them out and they certainly don't weigh much more either.

"It is only a smidgen larger than the 10 notebooks but can handle full programs such as ms office" My Toshiba 10.1" Netbook easily handles MS Office, as I suspect many of the others do. However, it doesn't have the "horsepower" for PhotoShop or similar processor-intensive applications.