Durable Laptop for OTR

Heat. When the laptop is on, don't put it on the bed where the air-vents are blocked by blankets, etc, is what he is referring to. I also agree with that one poster also about having a 'chill pad'. One of those $20 plastic fan thingy that you can set the laptop on. (ESPECIALLY if you have an HP.)
Or, at least the $1,100 HP I had 4 yrs ago should have had a 'chill pad' with it. The motherboard expired, right after the warranty. It always was 'hot' to the touch and I didn't even know they had chill pads then.
It would have cost nearly the same as the $400 Acer I replaced it with to have the Motherboard replaced, so I got the Acer. It works for me. It has a chill pad tho, always 'On'. Live and learn...

 

I didn't consider the heat aspect from underneath only because I would either not have it powered up while driving, or would flip it over if I did need to keep it powered up.

 

I used to sell computer and IT equipment and everyone should heed the advice to use a chiller for any laptop you use. All laptops get hot and the heat will eventually destroy your laptop, sometimes sooner and sometimes later.
The ruggedized laptops are very expensive, Panasonic toughbooks and Dell Latitude Ultra-Rugged, but you can get semi-rugged and business class laptops that will stand the test of time. You are going to drop a grand minimum. All the major manufacturers offer shock proof hard drives on their better business class laptops. It is not just the hard drives but everything about these laptops is more durable and will stand test of time.
As someone mentioned you can get a laptop with a solid state drive or you can replace the hard drive with a solid state after you purchase it. The solid states have smaller capcity, but since they don't have spinning parts they are not suseptible to being damaged by vibration. The benefits that outweigh the smaller capicity and price tag is that besides the durability they are also super fast and programs run and start up almost instantly, no more waiting for your computer to catch up to what you want to do. The most affordable lower capicties around 64GB are enough to hold operating system and your programs, maybe even some MP3 files, but your large photo and video files you will want to store on external drive with large capicity. I would recommend the LaCie ruggedized external drive. It has shock absorbers in the case and the exterior is a rubberized casing.

 

I've had issues with both my Compaq and my wife's Acer where the RAM sticks actually become loose (probably just from vibration in the truck) and it causes all kinds of startup issues - at times, they just won't come on. Had Best Buy check out both units and we tightened and tweaked the hold-down clamps for the RAM sticks and it seems to be working...

 

we have two laptops on in the truck ALL THE TIME
1st acer 8.9 net book running drivers daily log and it sits in the dash all the time. it get turned on monday and turned off sunday.
2nd is a 7 year cheap walmart HP it sits in a ram mount (the best i have ever seen) running gps. the ram mount hold any laptop and is mounted to the passenger seat. with the turn of two knobs you can move the laptop from 6" from the drivers seat in a volvo to over the passenger seat

this is the stand
http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogRes...45086066045049052048045083087049/Default.aspx

add this so the screen can close in the mount
http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogRes...65077045050051052075049045052085/Default.aspx

and get a chill pad the one i have is usb or AC powered ( i use it ac) and it has a 4 port powered usb hub. the reason i use it on ac it that running the chill pad off the laptops usb will at some point burn out the usb's power chip, they are not made to have that much power run ALL THE TIME

 

Just cautioning that the stand think in your post only works for National Seating Captain's Chair models.

 

That's what I am using as well, about 2 1/2 years old does great. Getting a new one soon though just for more power/space etc.. If you have a good bag and just baby your machine you shouldn't have any problems. I actually am using a 15 year old very heavy nylon computer bag I got from a guy in PA selling tablet (windows 3.1 lol) pc's in 97 at a truckstop, had a bunch he would sell for $200 with a new bag. I've been running laptops on the trucks since 1999 and not one broke on the road, they were all just replaced. Just remember never to put a laptop near a seat, when you sit down crunch, never done it but hear about it many times.

 

I haven't used it in a truck yet... But I have a Netbook (ASUS Eee 700) with a USB GPS antenna and several software options for mapping. The BIG thing that you should be concerned with in a rig, would be vibration. Best part of a lot of the netbooks (and the Eee is included) is that they have Solid State Hard Drives. This translates to NO SPINNING platters. Which translates to NO CRASHING HEADS when you hit a bump on the road!!!

I find the 7 inch screen to be adequate for using as a GPS moving map, and even for checking e-mails. BUT!!! for extended usage it, and the cramped keyboard is hard to use.

If you aren't willing, or able to get a system with a SSHD be sure you invest in a great mounting system IF you are going to use while driving. (I strongly suggest you use it for NOTHING more than the GPS moving map while driving, NO Mahjong driver!!! ). Here's one for netbook type: http://www.netbookmounts.com/?gclid=CPak-475kqcCFcbc4Aod2FSgdw

RAM mounts are well known and probably best of the best - http://www.ram-mount.com/nodrillsystems/nodrillbases.htm

All that being said. I've not really looked into it, but am not aware of any of the software packages being geared toward CDL type driving. I know that there have been more instances than we all can count, with drivers using car type GPS's and running into trouble (or overpasses ) and even with the great "Truck Friendly" GPS's, there are still some drivers having problems going where they shouldn't be. Please remember that the voice inside that box, isn't always right .

 

that is true, i posted a link to the one i use BUT they make mounts for OTHER seats also and as a company driver if i change trucks to one that DOESN"T have the national seat all i need to do is order the BASE for the other brand of seat as the rest of the mount is interchangable with ANY BASE.....

the reason that i like the ram mount is that it is the best i have ever seen. it will hold any size laptop with or without a chill pad (12" to 17" with standered tray or down to my 8.9" acer one netbook with the small tray) it will hold the screen at any angle and by hold it i mean that the screen WILL NOT MOVE and by setting the locking clips any ware you want you have access to any and all ports (front back and both sides) and cd/dvd driver any time you want with out removing the laptop.

by loosening one knob you can remove the mount (minus the base) from the seat, it holds the laptop so well that if you take the mount off the seat turn it upside down and shake it the laptop WILL NOT FALL OUT, by truning two knobs you can take the laptop fron 6" from the drivers seat to using it over you lap in the passenger seat.

 

Panasonic Toughbooks are the best rugged laptops ever, yes they are expensive, big and heavy. For a truck I would recommend a IBM T400, HP 6930P with SSD drive. Both these computers usually don't come with SSD drive but you can upgrade. Thanks to this, you will never loose any data unless you put hummer to action . If you want something that is more powerful then I recommend IBM T410 or HP 8440P. Both come with the newest Intel Core I processors but they cost more money unless you have the need for the speed. The IBM T400 is my choice, very good durable laptop, very fast, 14.1 LED screen, pretty light and thin. For a truck it is perfect. Don't get anything bigger then 14.1 Wide screen, it will be nightmare to drive with it. I have a laptop mount and it works great, bought it on ebay for $40 You can also get both notebooks on ebay for about 350-600 or the Intel Core I for about 750-3000. These are Professional Series notebook, usually come with 3 year warranty and they last long time.

Good luck, Raf.