Is a laptop a must?

I understand the time of old didn't have these luxuries but we have them now.

labtop is good idea.

info: what is around me while i'm here?

communication: web cam family, e-mail.

movies

game

For me it is a necessity. at least if i don't make it home for special occasion, I can be there via web cam. I'd say get it. uses are endless.

 

Just plug a monitor into my vga port and then go to display settings in control panel and extended or clone my display to it, u should be able to do that on any laptop as it is controlled through window and not your graphics utility


If you want to run 2 different different screens then you need a laptop (or desktop) that has 2 graphic cards... this could consist of on board graphics chip along with a graphic card, SLI ext..... this will allow you to run 2 screens separately and not just cloning a screen...

Now there are program that also help out and make things a little easier such as
http://www.realtimesoft.com/ultramon/



To bigblue
You would be amazed "IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME SAVED" a good laptop gps will provide you.... If you have "LIVE" as I do you will know ahead of time (in areas that provide it) that traffic is going slow, indicated by green ,yellow and red roads... Thus giving you an alternative route if there is one...
Far as getting to a customer... Well Copilot Truck is correct about 90% of the time but you cannot Solly rely on it alone... New roads always being built every day or the town just has poor mapping......

But I can honestly say and I do think everybody who uses programs such as Copilot streets and maps ext... will say it "saves" them time...

And yes copilot "truck" does use "truck route" but again it does not know all local non truck routes... always follow local signs...

 

yeah, on my desktops i have a 3monitors plugged into 1 of them that required a separate video card plus the original that came with itgiving me the 3 monitor setup works great when i have all my charts up chat rooms open

 

laptop cellphone gps cb raidos all nice to have BUT ALL TAKE YOUR MIND OFF THE JOB AT HAND !!DRIVEING!!

 

The first couple of times I did not have a laptop. I was left high and dry in north western Washington state. I spent a day by reading books. I still do not have a laptop, but on the last trip there were four of them in the truck. We have wireless internet on several of the trucks and one trailer so getting an internet connection anywhere is no problem. It would be nice if they would let me use them once in a while. By the way, I still rely on a map. I had someone in a truck with me ask where are we? I can't find us on gps. Break out the map and say we are here and point to the map and say we got to go here. Makes them feel not so smart when they can't use the high tech gadets that they bought.

 

Good Point!

The Trucker's Road Atlas is a definite must have. I guess it depends on whether or not the OP is addicted to the internet or not if he needs to have a laptop. My bf has his full PC set up with two monitors. He also has a GPS that attaches to the windshield.

 

me personally,I couldn't make it without mine. I will agree that a laptop is something that you really could make it without. I use mine more on the business end to keep track of various things

 

start out with a good atlas know how to read it and rough yourself then get a laptop because you never know when your going to find that pot hole in the middle of the night and your computer is bathed in the blue light of death and then ordering a new hard drive (unless you shell out the bucks for one of though new solid state hard drives)

 

My Laptop is away being fixed and I feel like my throat has been cut LOL

 

I see responses to the effect of, "Well, I did just fine before, so use your head. You don't need a laptop." But, I'll bet everyone that try to run that bull has a cell phone in their pocket. Technology is there, use it. Laptops provide entertainment, communication, directions, load info, weather info, you name it. You can scan your paperwork to cover yourself in the event of loss or damage, scan receipts, emails, you name it. Why would you want to deny yourself that capability. Do you NEED it? No. Will you run more efficiently, with a substantial reduction in stress and frustration? You better believe it!!!
And, yes, "...use what you have between your ears." Good advice, but don't limit yourself to it