PDA or Laptop

Based on the charges he'll get hit with if he tethers his cell to the laptop.

A PDA/Smartphone would be a much cheaper.

As far as software that is available for something like that, and what he needs. Someone else will have to answer that question.

My son uses the Moto Q. But once again, I'm not sure of what it has available.

 

Hi

I am a bit of a geek and have both an IPhone and a lap top. I would continue to use the laptop as the device of choice. WiFi is getting and will continue to get easier to get for free. I am on for free at a Pilot right now.

I have a cheap o dell and as long as you pack it away when driving you will have no problems.

John

 

he uses his laptop to connect to the truckstop wifi to get to his banking account???!!!???

that my friend is the easiest way for someone to get his info and steal his money!

 

Personally, I would go for the Palm Centro if that is all that he does with the online capabilities. It would be easy to navigate, and would work with all of the different types of websites (flash, java, etc.) since it uses Windows Mobile. If he did more online, I would recommend getting mobile broadband for the PC instead. I don't use wifi at any of the truck stops.

You can tether one as well and use it as a modem for the laptop. For the most part, unless you are eating through bandwidth (no hulu.com or youtube.com), they won't really care.

 

Well, I've exchanged laptop to PDA for the car and left laptop at home because its easier to use and more convinient. laptops are good if you travel to a certain destination and than use it. PDA gives you a chance for easier, permanent internet access.

 

i would stick with the lap top, the reasin being the screen is way bigger to see. where as the palm only has a 2 in screen,
at the end of the day when your dad is doing his log and dealing with the itty bitty lines, which takes some effort cause the lines are tiny, and has to focus on them, then picks up a tiny screen and has to continue to over work the eyes could make focusing a bit un setteling for the eyes.
or maybe your dad has really good vision, but as we age, so does our vision.
i would think long term. thats what im using my 17in screen on my laptop. go to his cell carrier and see what they charge for an air card, may be the same more or less then the palm.
imho

 

Get a sturdier laptop. Speaking as someone who recently got her first pair of progressive lenses (bi-focals) the Palm Centro is too tiny to be looking at spread sheets and banking info on, let alone the occasional movie. Plus the keys are too close together unless you use a stylus.

 

laptop....

I had a dell like for 3 years of trucking, for 2 of those years it was on 24/7 on a laptop stand, i had to replace both hinges, but it has held up well.

K

 

I would not tether the cell phone....

Get a USB modem, I have one from Verizon. I tethered for 3 years before I got the USB modem.

$60 a month for a 5 gigabit limit (that is more than anybody that gets any driving done is ever gonna need)...it costs a little but I can connect almost anywhere, anytime.