Time for a new Laptop

I am having problems with my laptop... it has been taking longer and longer to upload and today it couldn't find operating system.... I reboot and thankfully it loaded but I have a terrible feeling this thing will die on me at any time, maybe when I most need it and in the middle of nowhere....

So, I inserted a CD to backup my files and the drive doesn't even show anywhere.... Would anybody know if there is another way I can see my drive? I went to Computer, went to Backup files, nothing there, went to device manager, didn't see anything "abnormal" that I know.... Could this be a mechanical problem?

Maybe the best way to find out is taking laptop to some business... but I am on the road for 2 more weeks.... impossible now to go anywhere for this.... and I need internet connection everyday...

I am thinking about buying "something" that can access internet quickier than laptop. Don't know if I get a smart phone or an I-phone or an I-pad.... I am totally ignorant... don't know what the difference is. I want to be able to copy and paste, access at least a couple browsers at same time, visit radio websites and listen live (for free)... use it for over 11 hrs a day...

Can anybody give me some suggestions?

I am afraid of turning this laptop off and not being able to turn it on again.... but can't leave it on...

 

Let us pray.....

Drive is going south.

Mark

 

@kwantz,

not everyone steals or thinks it is somehow fun.

 

I also use the Alfa because it is the most powerful long range wifi adapter on the market. However, I don't even attempt to crack private networks. If they are unsecured then I assume that people don't care if I connect, but I do not use the Alfa to break the law. This review of the Alfa clearly states that cracking private networks is illegal. It is also directly harmful to the people who own the private network. When you said in one of your posts that "we all steal," you are making an terribly erroneous assumption.

 

You know what? I just bobtailed to WalMart nearby this truck stop and bought a cheap (U$ 328.00 ) Toshiba laptop. It was the cheapest I could find with a CD drive. I doesn't have the 19 inches screen that my old one has but at least I am online again. On the way back to truck stop I stopped at a Verizon store and check an I-pad. I will get my old laptop fixed and return this one (within 15 days). And I am still trying to decide whether to buy an I-phone or an I-pad. I got so used to Google maps and satellite view to help me with my trip planning and finding addresses that I don't think I can do well without it....

 

OK, then I guess that settles it. We can all go out, download pirated music, and hack private networks and we have kwantz's blessing and authorization, and we don't even have to feel guilty about it. That's fantastic! But, I did not realize that the actions of a small minority can be construed as "everyone" ... guess you learn something new every day.

 

If your demands are not great, the iPad is a solid choice. Those things are really nice. They won't strain you eyes like doing mapping on an iPhone. And there are one heck of a lot of good apps available for it. And there are some really good racing apps for it. Real Racing 2 is a really good game and you just steer the iPad like a steering wheel. Graphics are hard to beat. But that is the fun side. There are a lot of good apps for business as well. The iPhone has a lot of good apps, but many of those same apps that are iPad specific really do far better.

If you get the old laptop fixed and it will work for you, I would opt for the iPhone. It will fit nicely in a cradle on the dash and you can use the iPod feature and listen to music, podcasts, and such while you cruise down the road. You could also select the hotspot feature and then wifi your laptop into it.

It is nice to have so many choices. Sometimes there are too many. Just try to find what works best for you and go with it.

 

I'm on my second Iphone and cant go without it . Dash mounted GPS will soon be a thing of the past, the Iphone as well as a Droid can do the same.

 

Another vote for asus, I have a g74 it's huge but will do everything you need. Asus has quality specs and the best cooling systems in a laptop. I do run an ipad2 and iPhone in my truck as well, for quick fast convenience.

 

Why would you buy a $500 Ipad when the Kindle Fire does 90 % of what the Ipad does and costs $200?