Desktop + something small and light for when on the move
Discussion
So I have a desktop^ however it would be useful to have something else that I can use when on the go with all files and email syncing up etc etc Does such a thing exist and can you recommend me a few alternatives pls. I'm office based perhaps 4 days from 5 so it doesn't need to be all powerful, just do me for say that 1 day a week when I'm out.
A tablet would probably do (with a keyboard) although I don't know if they do the business thing ok or not.
TX.
PS I have a Crackberry too (yes we do still exist) so all my emails come to that anyway when out and about.
^windows based + Outlook
A tablet would probably do (with a keyboard) although I don't know if they do the business thing ok or not.
TX.
PS I have a Crackberry too (yes we do still exist) so all my emails come to that anyway when out and about.
^windows based + Outlook
Does it have to be a PC? If you're just doing email and office, would a macbook work? the new M1 mac air is £900 or so and about as thin and light as you could want and has a great battery life.
Lots of cheaper options, but that's the nicest if you're not fussed on the platform switching.
Lots of cheaper options, but that's the nicest if you're not fussed on the platform switching.
netbooks are a thing again, but they are a bit better this time around. I tried tablets for a while but couldn't get on with them.
This wee gem has been a revelation for portability, battery life, usb charging and decent horsepower. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08QMSGVKP/ref=cm_sw_r...
This wee gem has been a revelation for portability, battery life, usb charging and decent horsepower. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08QMSGVKP/ref=cm_sw_r...
I'd look at ultrabook form factor PC with a good screen, good battery life, feeble CPU, smallish SSD and average RAM. Cheap, light, nice to use, runs all day.
Or that netbook with its magnificently stupid screen spec just because. If I was traveling to and from somewhere with a screen I could plug into (e.g. Hotel du Merde, avec HDMI equipped TV and trouser press), that netbook would be on my list. Use its own screen for films and browsing on the train, plug it into something else when you need to do some work. Struggle occasionally with work on its own daft screen. With an external monitor, that's a properly useful machine.
Or that netbook with its magnificently stupid screen spec just because. If I was traveling to and from somewhere with a screen I could plug into (e.g. Hotel du Merde, avec HDMI equipped TV and trouser press), that netbook would be on my list. Use its own screen for films and browsing on the train, plug it into something else when you need to do some work. Struggle occasionally with work on its own daft screen. With an external monitor, that's a properly useful machine.
I bought a s/h Macbook Air (2013, IIRC) on eBay for this very use case, and it has gone all over the world with me (when that was allowed) for about 7 or 8 years. It's been fine (although very recently I decided I was sick to death of macOS and installed Linux Mint on it - not because of performance but because there's so much about macOS that annoys me and I run Linux on my desktop. Mint runs fine on the Air, also.) About the only downside is deciding which Air is yours among the big pile at airport security 
so mine's got stickers all over it.
(BTW, the heavily locked down Lenovo I got given by work which travelled with me as well (the Air was and is my personal machine) fell to pieces over the same period.)
so mine's got stickers all over it.(BTW, the heavily locked down Lenovo I got given by work which travelled with me as well (the Air was and is my personal machine) fell to pieces over the same period.)
tapandunwrap said:
Does it have to be a PC? If you're just doing email and office, would a macbook work? the new M1 mac air is £900 or so and about as thin and light as you could want and has a great battery life.
Lots of cheaper options, but that's the nicest if you're not fussed on the platform switching.
Forgive my ignorance but can you switch between Apple and M/Soft with ease eg if all my work files were on a memory stick would that work between each machine? I use Excel, Outlook etc as I have never owned a Mac Lots of cheaper options, but that's the nicest if you're not fussed on the platform switching.
TX.
The Microsoft apps on iPad are really good these days, particularly if you use Office 365. Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Outlook/OneNote/Teams all work fine, not 100% feature equivalent but fine for basic use, looking up something in a file or quick updates. Actually better in some ways, I often prefer reviewing docs on iPad using pen markup. Keep your files in OneDrive and you can get to everything easily. Even the base iPad has an official keyboard/pen now, or there are loads of third party options.
Have TeamViewer or similar on your PC along with the iPad app installed and you can easily hop on there if there is something you forgot, or a PC-only app you need to use.
Have TeamViewer or similar on your PC along with the iPad app installed and you can easily hop on there if there is something you forgot, or a PC-only app you need to use.
How about something from the Microsoft Surface range?
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/surface
Not particularly cheap but they do run O365.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/surface
Not particularly cheap but they do run O365.
I've recently picked up a Lenovo L13 Yoga for work like This
It's very light and does exactly what I need for a laptop. Convenient for the annoyingly small tables on the back of a train seat etc.
I've just found out that it's also touch screen and folds into an ipad type device!
Edit: The MSoft Surface Laptop Go looks v nice. Not sure on spec for what I need, but v nice indeed!
It's very light and does exactly what I need for a laptop. Convenient for the annoyingly small tables on the back of a train seat etc.
I've just found out that it's also touch screen and folds into an ipad type device!
Edit: The MSoft Surface Laptop Go looks v nice. Not sure on spec for what I need, but v nice indeed!
anonymoususer said:
A nice cheap 10 year old small laptop with a fresh install of Linux Ubonto Mint should do the trick
Beat me to it, I'm typing on something like that now. Lenovo X1 Carbon Ultrabook, Linux Mint, O365.
And you really don't need to be that au fait with Linux to do it!
Zumbruk said:
anonymoususer said:
A nice cheap 10 year old small laptop with a fresh install of Linux Ubonto Mint should do the trick
Whatever "Linux Ubonto Mint " is. Even spelling "Ubuntu" correctly, there's no such thing.I save my geniusmness for actively using Linux something which many lesser people cannot do
Why anyone ever says its complicated i will never know
Just today I managed to get onto my facebook account via Firefox and also made the text bigger
Criticising me for misspelling is of no importance
Now you will have to excuse me I am off to install a printer on my newly acquired HP pavillion thingey my jig.
I am starting it now and hope to have it finished for Lunch tomorrow
anonymoususer said:
So I got some things confused. So what
I save my geniusmness for actively using Linux something which many lesser people cannot do
Why anyone ever says its complicated i will never know
Just today I managed to get onto my facebook account via Firefox and also made the text bigger
Criticising me for misspelling is of no importance
Now you will have to excuse me I am off to install a printer on my newly acquired HP pavillion thingey my jig.
I am starting it now and hope to have it finished for Lunch tomorrow
Just reading this takes me back to the days when i used to go to linux user group meetingsI save my geniusmness for actively using Linux something which many lesser people cannot do
Why anyone ever says its complicated i will never know
Just today I managed to get onto my facebook account via Firefox and also made the text bigger
Criticising me for misspelling is of no importance
Now you will have to excuse me I am off to install a printer on my newly acquired HP pavillion thingey my jig.
I am starting it now and hope to have it finished for Lunch tomorrow
TX
Are you still looking?
Who looks after the desktop already?
Do you have an office 365 plan already?
Depending on the answers to those you may already Have OneDrive and can install the office suite on either mac or pc and use OneDrive to automatically sync your documents between devices.
Linux is slightly different in that you can only use the web apps and therefore need internet access to be productive.
Are you still looking?
Who looks after the desktop already?
Do you have an office 365 plan already?
Depending on the answers to those you may already Have OneDrive and can install the office suite on either mac or pc and use OneDrive to automatically sync your documents between devices.
Linux is slightly different in that you can only use the web apps and therefore need internet access to be productive.
Gman20 said:
anonymoususer said:
So I got some things confused. So what
I save my geniusmness for actively using Linux something which many lesser people cannot do
Why anyone ever says its complicated i will never know
Just today I managed to get onto my facebook account via Firefox and also made the text bigger
Criticising me for misspelling is of no importance
Now you will have to excuse me I am off to install a printer on my newly acquired HP pavillion thingey my jig.
I am starting it now and hope to have it finished for Lunch tomorrow
Just reading this takes me back to the days when i used to go to linux user group meetingsI save my geniusmness for actively using Linux something which many lesser people cannot do
Why anyone ever says its complicated i will never know
Just today I managed to get onto my facebook account via Firefox and also made the text bigger
Criticising me for misspelling is of no importance
Now you will have to excuse me I am off to install a printer on my newly acquired HP pavillion thingey my jig.
I am starting it now and hope to have it finished for Lunch tomorrow
Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff