Time for a new Laptop

I disagree. Live data (internet) based devices that rely heavily on graphical data are useless when cellular data coverage becomes flakey or non-existent. Nothing more frustrating than waiting 30 seconds for a screen update when you're in a fringe area or in a deep valley where a solid 3G signal is hard to find, edge is tolerable, but gprs?, forget it.

 

ASUS Netbook FTW.

 

Are you stating that from what you read or do you have experience with each? While they are similar in some ways, it is an apples to oranges comparison. Does the Kindle sync movies, music, and data files with your desktop and laptop automatically? How about running a database for business on your iPad or desktop and changes are updated across both devices automatically, even when those devices are 1000 miles away from each other? How about operating your desktop from your iPad when you are not home and have the desktop screen up on your iPad? Or what about Face Time. The nice little feature (included free) that allow you to video phone call family and friends that also have an Apple product. And is all your contacts automatically synced between the Kindle and your desktop, laptop, and phone like the iPad will do.

Guess it depends on what you want to do as to whether the Kindle would fit your needs or not. Just like anything else, you have to see if a product does all you want. If the Kindle makes the grade, then buy it. But you also have to figure, that all other tablets, including Kindle, combined are only a fraction of the number of iPads out there. Where do you think most of those that program apps are going to concentrate their efforts? And just in the screen, put both of these side by side, running comparable apps and see which one has the most clarity. I have read several reviews of the new Kindle and it does seem like a decent product. Worth at least taking a look at. It will be all some would need.

 

But one factor that the GPS units do not have is that with an iPhone, you can get satellite image of the area you are going in to to see the "lay of the land" of an unfamiliar area. Makes it great to see such things as which entrance to a receiver is the one that leads to the docks and what the dock area looks like ahead of time. Maybe to also see if there is spots to park if you get there early and want to take a break so you have a fresh 11 to run when you get loaded or unloaded. And doing these things on an iPhone (or any good smart phone for that matter), you get to see all the businesses in the area so that you can establish landmarks to better negotiate your way into an unfamiliar area. I really don't use my iPhone for point-by-point navigation as I run. I primarily use it for establishing the best route. Lot's more information than can get from a GPS unit. Though, I would not discount the worthiness of a good GPS as well. I like to use multiple tools when it comes to routing. My phone and laptop are real nice to have to pull up detailed state road conditions to know which routes to avoid. Even if some GPS units are updated to reflect such information, they may not provide the best alternative routing.

If I were limited to only one device, I would select the iPhone or other smart phone. But then, I was doing all this finding route stuff long before any consumer GPS units were around. Thankfully, though, I use a laptop, iPhone, the GPS router in my Qualcomm, and a current RM atlas. Each one has something the other doesn't and together, they are a great set of tools.

 

For all those professing the faith of macs (cowpie), they are reliable, solid systems with a hefty price tag. Sure, you can get os upgrades for thirty bucks, but you already paid for it in advance by buying a laptop with an inflated price tag. Are you really getting all those applications for 'free'? Think about the price you paid for the system and os. Take the value of those free programs out, and the value of the discounted os upgrades. All in all, you pay the same upfront what we may or may not pay in the long run.

That said: macs are great for the average user (see: face book, youtube, simple photo edits, solitaire, and a school paper or spreadsheet). That, and I greatly recommend, regardless of choice, a solid state drive. Lightning fast loading, reduced power consumption, and no moving parts will save your data from the road noise that kills hard disk drives.

I can't stand using macs. I'm a gamer and power user. I triple boot windows xp, 7, and linux(ubuntu in particular).


A special shot out to kwantz: I torrent. I pirate. I even crack secured wireless networks if absolutely necessary(or for practice). You believing that what you're doing makes you a hacker insults me. You're a blackhat cracker at best, and that is being generous. You sound like a run of the mill script-kiddie. All hackers know the only unhackable system is the unbuilt one, and that all computer actions are traceable. Just because you're spoofing an ip address from within a network doesn't mean a thing. the mac address is difficult to spoof, and even if you do, all it takes is one time that you forgot to do it.

I recommend that everyone here secure their networks by not only setting a password, but also using the mac address access control built into all but the cheapest of wireless routers. The almighty google will help with that, as will your users manual.

 

I am in the process of installing a long range antenna that will give me and extra 100 miles of range.....

WIFI at 100 miles? Why? Plenty of McD and Starbucks around and closer.

Mark

 

No way you could get 100 miles of range out of wifi. You could be broadcasting at a million watts all day long but you're not going to get anything in return. There's no router to broadcast back that far.

 

I have FIVER Acer laptops. I love them all. Bought 3 of them recently at tigerdirect.com's store in Jefferson, GA
$300 for a dual core 2.2gHz 15.6 LED, webcam DVD-RW, HDMI output, full keyobaord w/10key, Windows 7 and 250g HHD

 

I once bought a product online from Tigerdirect.com. I had to get rid of the email address that I gave them. I was literally getting 200+ spam advertisements per day after I paid for their product. For that reason, I'll never do business with them again.