Which Laptop for GPS Use?

My question is for those who use laptops for GPS navigation. Which
laptops have given trouble free service for at least 30 travel days? My
reason for asking is that I have experienced several hardware problems on
IBM Thinkpads after using them extensively for GPS tracking.

>My question is for those who use laptops for GPS navigation. Which
>laptops have given trouble free service for at least 30 travel days?

For the current GPS software go with the latest Pentium chip of at least 1.5
gig with at least 256 megs of memory, if you can afford it 512 megs is
better. Some will say get as much hard-drive as you can, 20 gig is enough
for me your needs may vary. Be aware that all hard drives are not created
equal, some are better at taking jars and jolts then others. This will vary
from model to model. Get as bright a screen as you can afford, overly large
screens though nice can be prone to accidents. Brands? Like RV's you will
find that whatever brand a person sinks his bucks into is the best in their
opinion, even Fleetwoods. For every glowing recommendation you will hear a
horror story. Find a unit that has the features you want in a usable
arrangement. For instance:
Serial ports are becoming rare due to the advantages of USB. If you use a
hand held Garmin, Magellan or older Earthmate you may need a serial port.
Mapping software that accepts and gives spoken commands will need a boom
mike headset. Make sure the mike and external speaker jacks are located
close together in a convenient spot.
My present laptop is a HP Pavilion N5445. It has been used for GPS mobile
mapping five days a week for two years with out a glitch. Previously My wife
and I both had Compaqs that didn't last much past a year. They both
experienced failure of the rear power connector twice within one year. The
HP has a similar connector but it is reinforced with metal. The hard drives
in the Compaqs were very sensitive to jars and jolts. The latches on these
units didn't last more then a month. My wife's present laptop is a Dell
which has been trouble free except for a few software glitches. Those were
easily handled over the phone. Gateway is presently blackballed at my wife's
school due to numerous hardware problems and poor service, especially
laptops. A few had problems with Toshiba about six or seven years ago that
the company refused to resolve. It seems they have improved a great deal
since.

"Jim Walker" <walkerjd1@worldnet.att.net.net> wrote in message
news:bl4ub.74338$Ec1.3981526@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> My question is for those who use laptops for GPS navigation. Which
> laptops have given trouble free service for at least 30 travel days? My
> reason for asking is that I have experienced several hardware problems on
> IBM Thinkpads after using them extensively for GPS tracking.

What are the problems with the Thinkpad? And, my WinBook has given great
service while travelling, although battery life is low compared to other
laptops.

I have had two Thinkpads and operated them for four years. I use them
at home for all of my computing and on the road for GPS navigation. On one
Thinkpad I have had two hard drives replaced and on the other one I have had
two motherboards replaced. IBM customer service is the best that I have
ever found. The motherboards were replaced free with Airborne Freight
picking up the computer at my door and delivering it back in from two to six
days. I now look carefully at the warranty period on a laptop. My most
recent laptop has a three year warranty and that is the least I will have
for future laptops. From all of the comments I conclude that reliability of
laptops is not a brand issue but an individual unit issue. Therefore, I am
inclined to go with IBM because of their customer service and three year
warrantees on some of their laptops. I will always travel with a backup
laptop. On my last trip this really came in handy. With a backup you
really are prepared for a possible problem. In my case the backup didn't
cost me anything because I just kept my old laptop when I upgraded.


--
Jim Walker
Northern Va
"Jon Porter" <jporter@netwalk.com> wrote in message
news:3fb85ffb_1@newsfeed.slurp.net...
>
> "Jim Walker" <walkerjd1@worldnet.att.net.net> wrote in message
> news:bl4ub.74338$Ec1.3981526@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> > My question is for those who use laptops for GPS navigation. Which
> > laptops have given trouble free service for at least 30 travel days? My
> > reason for asking is that I have experienced several hardware problems
on
> > IBM Thinkpads after using them extensively for GPS tracking.
>
> What are the problems with the Thinkpad? And, my WinBook has given great
> service while travelling, although battery life is low compared to other
> laptops.
>
>

I was able to buy a 5-year warranty with my new IBM T40. Cost is $200 for
drop off and $400 for on site repair.

--
Gatorized Bob Siegel in Gainesville FL
"Jim Walker" <walkerjd1@worldnet.att.net.net> wrote in message
news:AtLub.289622$0v4.17954247@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> I have had two Thinkpads and operated them for four years. I use them
> at home for all of my computing and on the road for GPS navigation. On
one
> Thinkpad I have had two hard drives replaced and on the other one I have
had
> two motherboards replaced. IBM customer service is the best that I have
> ever found. The motherboards were replaced free with Airborne Freight
> picking up the computer at my door and delivering it back in from two to
six
> days. I now look carefully at the warranty period on a laptop. My most
> recent laptop has a three year warranty and that is the least I will have
> for future laptops. From all of the comments I conclude that reliability
of
> laptops is not a brand issue but an individual unit issue. Therefore, I
am
> inclined to go with IBM because of their customer service and three year
> warrantees on some of their laptops. I will always travel with a backup
> laptop. On my last trip this really came in handy. With a backup you
> really are prepared for a possible problem. In my case the backup didn't
> cost me anything because I just kept my old laptop when I upgraded.
>
>
> --
> Jim Walker
> Northern Va
> "Jon Porter" <jporter@netwalk.com> wrote in message
> news:3fb85ffb_1@newsfeed.slurp.net...
> >
> > "Jim Walker" <walkerjd1@worldnet.att.net.net> wrote in message
> > news:bl4ub.74338$Ec1.3981526@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> > > My question is for those who use laptops for GPS navigation.
Which
> > > laptops have given trouble free service for at least 30 travel days?
My
> > > reason for asking is that I have experienced several hardware problems
> on
> > > IBM Thinkpads after using them extensively for GPS tracking.
> >
> > What are the problems with the Thinkpad? And, my WinBook has given great
> > service while travelling, although battery life is low compared to
other
> > laptops.
> >
> >
>
>

I didn't know IBM offered the extended warranty. My newer laptop is a
T20 and I am looking at a T40 if I buy in the near term when it is the
latest and greatest. The T series has a three year warranty as you know for
having them ship it to a repair facility. The five year warranty would just
add two years to that. The extra $200 is less than the cost of one repair.
The long term warranties by IBM are impressive because they must have
computers that don't require that much repair in order to make a profit.
Also, if you need to use the warranty the service is excellent.


--
Jim Walker
Northern Va
"Robert Siegel" <bobsiegel@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:A_Mub.290109$0v4.17962031@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> I was able to buy a 5-year warranty with my new IBM T40. Cost is $200 for
> drop off and $400 for on site repair.
>
> --
> Gatorized Bob Siegel in Gainesville FL
> "Jim Walker" <walkerjd1@worldnet.att.net.net> wrote in message
> news:AtLub.289622$0v4.17954247@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> > I have had two Thinkpads and operated them for four years. I use
them
> > at home for all of my computing and on the road for GPS navigation. On
> one
> > Thinkpad I have had two hard drives replaced and on the other one I have
> had
> > two motherboards replaced. IBM customer service is the best that I have
> > ever found. The motherboards were replaced free with Airborne Freight
> > picking up the computer at my door and delivering it back in from two to
> six
> > days. I now look carefully at the warranty period on a laptop. My most
> > recent laptop has a three year warranty and that is the least I will
have
> > for future laptops. From all of the comments I conclude that
reliability
> of
> > laptops is not a brand issue but an individual unit issue. Therefore, I
> am
> > inclined to go with IBM because of their customer service and three year
> > warrantees on some of their laptops. I will always travel with a backup
> > laptop. On my last trip this really came in handy. With a backup you
> > really are prepared for a possible problem. In my case the backup
didn't
> > cost me anything because I just kept my old laptop when I upgraded.
> >
> >
> > --
> > Jim Walker
> > Northern Va
> > "Jon Porter" <jporter@netwalk.com> wrote in message
> > news:3fb85ffb_1@newsfeed.slurp.net...
> > >
> > > "Jim Walker" <walkerjd1@worldnet.att.net.net> wrote in message
> > > news:bl4ub.74338$Ec1.3981526@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> > > > My question is for those who use laptops for GPS navigation.
> Which
> > > > laptops have given trouble free service for at least 30 travel days?
> My
> > > > reason for asking is that I have experienced several hardware
problems
> > on
> > > > IBM Thinkpads after using them extensively for GPS tracking.
> > >
> > > What are the problems with the Thinkpad? And, my WinBook has given
great
> > > service while travelling, although battery life is low compared to
> other
> > > laptops.
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

I am a retired IBM exec. I do not know if the extended 5 year warranty is
available for non-employee sales.
--
Gatorized Bob Siegel in Gainesville FL
"Jim Walker" <walkerjd1@worldnet.att.net.net> wrote in message
news:odOub.290480$0v4.17968369@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> I didn't know IBM offered the extended warranty. My newer laptop is a
> T20 and I am looking at a T40 if I buy in the near term when it is the
> latest and greatest. The T series has a three year warranty as you know
for
> having them ship it to a repair facility. The five year warranty would
just
> add two years to that. The extra $200 is less than the cost of one
repair.
> The long term warranties by IBM are impressive because they must have
> computers that don't require that much repair in order to make a profit.
> Also, if you need to use the warranty the service is excellent.
>
>
> --
> Jim Walker
> Northern Va
> "Robert Siegel" <bobsiegel@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
> news:A_Mub.290109$0v4.17962031@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> > I was able to buy a 5-year warranty with my new IBM T40. Cost is $200
for
> > drop off and $400 for on site repair.
> >
> > --
> > Gatorized Bob Siegel in Gainesville FL
> > "Jim Walker" <walkerjd1@worldnet.att.net.net> wrote in message
> > news:AtLub.289622$0v4.17954247@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> > > I have had two Thinkpads and operated them for four years. I use
> them
> > > at home for all of my computing and on the road for GPS navigation.
On
> > one
> > > Thinkpad I have had two hard drives replaced and on the other one I
have
> > had
> > > two motherboards replaced. IBM customer service is the best that I
have
> > > ever found. The motherboards were replaced free with Airborne Freight
> > > picking up the computer at my door and delivering it back in from two
to
> > six
> > > days. I now look carefully at the warranty period on a laptop. My
most
> > > recent laptop has a three year warranty and that is the least I will
> have
> > > for future laptops. From all of the comments I conclude that
> reliability
> > of
> > > laptops is not a brand issue but an individual unit issue. Therefore,
I
> > am
> > > inclined to go with IBM because of their customer service and three
year
> > > warrantees on some of their laptops. I will always travel with a
backup
> > > laptop. On my last trip this really came in handy. With a backup you
> > > really are prepared for a possible problem. In my case the backup
> didn't
> > > cost me anything because I just kept my old laptop when I upgraded.
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Jim Walker
> > > Northern Va
> > > "Jon Porter" <jporter@netwalk.com> wrote in message
> > > news:3fb85ffb_1@newsfeed.slurp.net...
> > > >
> > > > "Jim Walker" <walkerjd1@worldnet.att.net.net> wrote in message
> > > > news:bl4ub.74338$Ec1.3981526@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> > > > > My question is for those who use laptops for GPS navigation.
> > Which
> > > > > laptops have given trouble free service for at least 30 travel
days?
> > My
> > > > > reason for asking is that I have experienced several hardware
> problems
> > > on
> > > > > IBM Thinkpads after using them extensively for GPS tracking.
> > > >
> > > > What are the problems with the Thinkpad? And, my WinBook has given
> great
> > > > service while travelling, although battery life is low compared to
> > other
> > > > laptops.
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

"Jim Walker" <walkerjd1@worldnet.att.net.net> wrote in message
news:odOub.290480$0v4.17968369@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> I didn't know IBM offered the extended warranty. My newer laptop is a
> T20 and I am looking at a T40 if I buy in the near term when it is the
> latest and greatest. The T series has a three year warranty as you know
for
> having them ship it to a repair facility. The five year warranty would
just
> add two years to that. The extra $200 is less than the cost of one
repair.
> The long term warranties by IBM are impressive because they must have
> computers that don't require that much repair in order to make a profit.
> Also, if you need to use the warranty the service is excellent.
>

Five years is a long time to keep a computer. Trouble is, software upgrades
and such pretty much make them obsolete by then. A business is more likely
to upgrade before the warrenty period expires.