What's the best laptop thats also sturdy out on the market? I want to get a laptop with a printer to setup in my truck. Has anyone heard of a fax that you can hook up to your cell phone or I guess you could fax from a laptop? Has anyone out there explored these avenues. Thanks, Ken

Reply to post by Ken Six, on November 20, 1999 at 13:56:44:

Ken, there's sturdy and then there's STURDY. The industry term seems to be "ruggedized." They are water resistant if not waterproof, particularly the keyboard. Extra shock mounting so if you drop it it's OK. Extra heavy hinges and cases. Panasonic makes one. There's a whole line from HuskyInc. (try that as a search for their web site).

What you may find however is that the same computing power is a lot more expensive. You might decide to buy two "regular" machines for the price. Consider one a throw away. That is if you don't lose irreplaceable data.

There seem to be a lot of printers and if you have the laptop, a modem and a cell phone it all works (except scanning in documents not created on the computer).

Pick up the various specialty magazines, look for titles like mobile office or portable computing.

You probably want to give some thought to power source, lots of 12v hookups and be sure the devices will run off it or maybe a power inverter that lets the truck produce 120v. I've heard about but don't know much about an issue with the inverters and whether they produce "true sine wave" current and that it might infulence performance.

And lastly how will you mount and stabilize it all? Sitting on the truck seat is very prone to sliding off onto the floor. There must be ready made soultions to this too. You see a lot of police cars now with a pedestal sort of thing mounted to the floor or dashboard with a computer hooked to it.

Good luck... keep us posted on how it all works.

Reply to post by Scott Cullen, on November 20, 1999 at 13:56:44:

I think I found it! Check out www.arborsys.com & www.itronix.com for ARBOR LYNX XC-6250 MOBILE COMPUTER COMMUNICATION DEMO SYSTEMS with wireless technology, cd, & fax modems, the used demo units look a little more affordable to me. Let me know! I am going to set up a demonstration next week. Ken

Reply to post by Ken Six, on November 20, 1999 at 17:43:48:

There was an article in today's (SUNDAY) NY Times about a guy in MN who is a construction estimator. He got tired of pencils, laptop, coffe, whatever sliding off the seat of the car and built a car/truck desk. Got it patented and is producing it. Mercedes is offering it in SUV's. Couldn't take the paper so don't have web address. But you might try nytimes.com and see if the article is on-line. Try mobile office as keyword.

Reply to post by Scott, on November 21, 1999 at 11:47:24:

OK, I'm on it. Thanks, Ken

Reply to post by Ken Six, on November 20, 1999 at 17:43:48:

Be sure you check out the communications link. I have been told that most of the wireless phone systems don't handle modems very well. Not usre if you need a special modem, special phone, or special service provider (or combination thereof). That part could be an ongoing expense.

Reply to post by Scott, on November 21, 1999 at 11:47:24:

Try: www.a2zsolutions.com/marquee

Reply to post by Scott Cullen, on November 20, 1999 at 13:56:44:

For the last several years, I have used a seat top sesk that I purchased through Sharper i,age. They dont stock it, so you will have to order it. It is held in place with a seat belt, It has storage for files and a convinient pocket undernieth for you map book. I use an AST pentium 166, which I have velcrowed to the top of the desk. I use a 500 watt inverter which I purchased from Pep Boys to power it and my HP 855c Color printer which sits in the back seat of my Trooper. I use software called Super Office, which generates my bids, schedules crews, appointments, stump and chem apps. etc.. It is very effecient. I have used it for some 10 years now. I simply stretch a cable to my truck in the morning when I get to the office and my laptop automaticly syncronizes with the network database, so everyone has current and accurate information.

jerry

Reply to post by Scott Cullen, on November 20, 1999 at 13:56:44:

I recently got a catalog from Forestry Suppliers that listed a floor-mounting bracket for a laptop.