Laptop On Tour - How/Practicalities

Cycle-touring, Expeditions, Adventures, Major cycle routes NOT LeJoG (see other special board)
simonhill
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Joined: 13 Jan 2007, 11:28am
Location: Essex

Re: Laptop On Tour - How/Practicalities

Post by simonhill »

You missed the point of my post. It was meant to be see if you can get an 'armoured' laptop.

It was not a recommendation for Chromebook which incidentally I am happy with as a browsing machine, but unlikely to meet your needs.

Edit: Smaller machines may be more robust. I use an 11" one.
Last edited by simonhill on 11 Sep 2021, 8:36am, edited 1 time in total.
pwa
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Re: Laptop On Tour - How/Practicalities

Post by pwa »

Unless it is for work, I can't understand anyone wanting to drag a laptop around. Isn't part of the attraction of cycle touring leaving stuff like that behind and living a simpler existence for a few weeks? Even a smartphone might spoil it for me, unless I was disciplined enough to leave it alone except for calls and messaging.
Psamathe
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Re: Laptop On Tour - How/Practicalities

Post by Psamathe »

pwa wrote: 11 Sep 2021, 7:59am Unless it is for work, I can't understand anyone wanting to drag a laptop around. Isn't part of the attraction of cycle touring leaving stuff like that behind and living a simpler existence for a few weeks? Even a smartphone might spoil it for me, unless I was disciplined enough to leave it alone except for calls and messaging.
As I said in the earlier in the thread
Psamathe wrote: 10 Sep 2021, 9:00pm Some example problems I've had (my personal use) is developing photos the iPa does not give an accurate rendition meaning reprocess everything on return to UK. I use LrC for photo library/processing but on mobile (tablet/phone) only Lr is available and the import to LrC means going back to original raws meaning re-tagging, re-labelling, re-processing and takes an age. Anf if the image has not geotagged properly tagging from recorded tracks is a lot less reliable in different time zones. And for visiting complex sites memory of detail fades when trying to identify which temple ... iPad storage gets to limited on some trips meaning clearing things and caches off the iPad (which soon reload which means deciding what maps and music to start clearing off.

I'm trying to balance pros against cons (a balance that will be different for everybody).

Ian
Different people do different things. My decision is that tablet had not been meeting my needs. It has some advantages and disadvantages so considering the alternative (a laptop).

Ian
djb
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Joined: 24 Mar 2013, 9:27pm
Location: Canada eh

Re: Laptop On Tour - How/Practicalities

Post by djb »

Psam, regarding shocks, rubbing etc, just use common sense in packing and it can work out. Homemade foam around it and not up against solid stuff like pannier hardware nuts etc, ideally surrounded by soft objects.
I worked in commercial photography, working on location all the time, so following common sense on reducing shocks to the item is key.
Not my choice to bring a laptop but many people have successfully.
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Mick F
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Re: Laptop On Tour - How/Practicalities

Post by Mick F »

Taken an iBook and then latterly a MacBookAir.
No issues at all because we have a padded zipped sleeve for them.

Everywhere I've stayed overnight has WiFi so blogs can be updated and emails received and sent, plus posting on this forum! :D

Absolutely not a problem at all.
Mick F. Cornwall
geocycle
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Re: Laptop On Tour - How/Practicalities

Post by geocycle »

I’ve often carried a laptop as many of my longer European tours were coupled with work meetings. A laptop sleeve in the pannier and all was well. If touring for recreation I usually take a phone and sometimes an iPad. I tour solo so the iPad doubles as route planner, book, communication tool etc.
st599_uk
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Re: Laptop On Tour - How/Practicalities

Post by st599_uk »

I have a tiny Raspberry Pi Zero that:
  • Automatically backs up photos from my camera, action camera and phone to a USB Drive
  • Adds geotagging as necessary
  • Creates a list of locations from the Lat/Longs (requires Internet)
  • Produces a contact sheet of each day's photos and videos
Currently trying to find an online service that shows its latest location, then will add that to the Pi.
A novice learning...
“the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.”
Des49
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Re: Laptop On Tour - How/Practicalities

Post by Des49 »

For quite a few years (before Covid) I have made 2 trips each year of 200 miles round trip with my 15" MacBook Pro, I needed the laptop so I could continue to work while away. Plus some limited short local trips too.

I wrapped it well in a large bubble wrap envelope that it went into and round again. This just about slotted into my Ortileb pannier vertically next to the backing.

I was nervous about it on each pothole or bumpy road, but it seemed ok. Having an SSD I think is essential and I would not use a machine with a spinning hard drive. Of course a cracked screen is a risk and on computers like this is very expensive to replace, it was £750 for a screen replacement on the same model.

Though now the laptop is barely usable as it has a fault that means it often has a black screen, while this matches a known fault with this model I do wonder if usage on a bike has contributed.

Personally I think that a laptop of this size is not a great idea to take on tour, it is too large and heavy and the risk of damage to it is high. I did slide out in a ford once which resulted in the bike lying down in the water with the pannier with the laptop on the bottom, fortunately I picked it up quick enough and very little water found its way in the pannier!
Additionally you also need a power adapter, plus a backup drive, this all mounts up to use precious pannier space.

A smaller 13" or smaller laptop would be better for sure on the bike, but it really depends what you want it for. Mine is for photographic purposes and 15" is what I have, lesser machines cannot cope and take ages or overheat, mine has had enough issues like this.

The higher specced iPads look very nice and Lightroom Mobile is an option. But while I do know someone who makes use of this and likes it I personally have no experience of this.

I have used a Panasonic rugged laptop (not mine) and it was huge, very heavy and slow. But not necessary if you pack your laptop well and it is of modest size so easier to pad out and pack.
scottg
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Re: Laptop On Tour - How/Practicalities

Post by scottg »

simonhill wrote: 11 Sep 2021, 7:54am You missed the point of my post. It was meant to be see if you can get an 'armoured' laptop.
There are industrial computers, Panasonic Toughbooks are common in construction and aviation.
Pricing is in the "Other Peoples Money" range.

https://na.panasonic.com/us/computers-t ... uters/2-1s
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irc
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Re: Laptop On Tour - How/Practicalities

Post by irc »

simonhill wrote: 11 Sep 2021, 7:54am You missed the point of my post. It was meant to be see if you can get an 'armoured' laptop.
I don;t think you need to worry. I have carried a small 10 or 11.6" laptop on my USA tours totalling 33 weeks. No issues. Carried inside a front pannier in a neoprene sleeve. So I don't think the vibration on a bike is an issue.

I suppose there may be hard cases for more protection but if I was to crash badly the laptop would be the last of my considerations.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00 ... UTF8&psc=1

Being on a front pannier meant if I was parking the bike in a public place for any length of time I just lifted the pannier off and carried it with me. Nothing else left on the bike having any attraction to casual thiefs.
SprokenBroke
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Re: Laptop On Tour - How/Practicalities

Post by SprokenBroke »

I've never had a problem carrying a laptop in a sleeve put inside a plastic bag. I used to carry a Vaio netbook that had a hard drive and it was ok. I would always use an SSD now. I don't know about USB C charging. I use a bog standard mains charger. Modern laptops are made to be slim and lightweight. A the moment I have a Dell with 12.5 inch screen.

The reason I have it is because I'm a bit of a geek. I might spend an hour in a coffee shop charging it up then another hour in the tent learning to program. At the moment I'm learning Kotlin used to create Android apps.
Zanda
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Re: Laptop On Tour - How/Practicalities

Post by Zanda »

I've killed two laptops in the last 20 years, in each case by carrying the machine in a rear pannier. The first time the magnetic HDD failed through being shaken. Second time a cooling fan failed, apparently from being shaken while on the bike. More recently I've owned a fanless laptop with SSD, but I've learnt my lesson and carry the PC in a small backpack rather than a pannier. Two tough plastic bags keep the water off the computer if the backpack lets the rain in.
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speedsixdave
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Re: Laptop On Tour - How/Practicalities

Post by speedsixdave »

I quite often like to write on tour, finding the quiet evenings on my own in a pub most conducive. I'm typing this on a Planet Gemini , which has a proper but tiny keyboard and is the lineal successor to the Psion 5 of the late 1990s. I have their forthcoming third generation device on order - the Planet Astro Slide - which should address some of the compromises of the first two devices. If you want to type and you want to travel light, this is the device to find. I've done about 8000 words on it this week on tour. The downside is it's fundamentally an android phone*, so will not assist much for your photographic needs. I include it here principally as a reference for other people, and because it is a little-known British product that fills a niche.

Like you, if I'm photographing seriously I want specialist software (Capture One, Affinity Photo, Sigma Photo Pro) and that means Windows or Mac, or Linux alternatives. So I tend to go for a proper laptop when travelling with a car, but tend not to bother when cycle touring. If I did want to edit while cycle touring, I'd be looking seriously at one of the Microsoft Surface devices, which seem pretty much ideal, but are a bit pricey when new. Places like Morgan Computers often have older models for cheap though.

Re carrying, I've always thought packed in a pannier amongst other things is quite a good place. The laptop is suspended and should not be shocked at all. I'd keep it well clear of the rack though.

* The Planet devices will all run some form of Proper Linux too, which means some fairly hefty programs like Darktable, RawTherapee and Gimp are available. Storage issues still apply, however, and you'd still be working on a sub-6" screen, which is not ideal. Ah, compromises...
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SprokenBroke
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Re: Laptop On Tour - How/Practicalities

Post by SprokenBroke »

speedsixdave wrote: 15 Sep 2021, 6:49pm I'm typing this on a Planet Gemini , which has a proper but tiny keyboard and is the lineal successor to the Psion 5 of the late 1990s
That Planet Gemini looks like a nifty toy. If you already have an Android phone you could use a USB or bluetooth keyboard. There are Linux distros around that will install on some Android hardware.
SprokenBroke
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Re: Laptop On Tour - How/Practicalities

Post by SprokenBroke »

This looks like it would take up allot of space:

https://bicycletouringpro.com/safely-ca ... -computer/
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