Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Equipment, Travel > Communications
Communications Connecting - internet cafes, laptops, smart phones - how to connect, use, which one, and intercom/radio systems.
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 30 Sep 2005
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Far, Away
Posts: 168
Keeping a diary - Small electric WP

Is there a really small word processor or something similar that portable and power light that can be used to keep a journal/diary. I'm just thinking it'd be nice to type, then upload at a internet cafe to send home reports.

Any advice much appriciated.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 1 Oct 2005
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Mimbres, New Mexico, USA
Posts: 510
I just bought a used HP Jornada 820 on ebay. This is a small "sub notebook". It runs Windows CE, and has no mechanical hard drive, which is why I decided to try one. I think a solid state device will hold up better on a motorcycle. I haven't had a chance to use it much, except to find out that CE doesn't include a picture viewer. Hopefully I can find one. All I want it to do is word processing and picture viewing, so I'll post again when I get into it more.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 2 Oct 2005
Bill Holland's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Stoke, UK
Posts: 210
I would think that any keyboard smaller than a 'subnotebook' would be hard to use if entering large amounts of text over a long period. I have a Treo 600 pda/phone with a full qwerty keyboard, but entering anything longer than a text message becomes a pain as the keys are very small. Just a point worth considdering.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 9 Nov 2005
Wheelie's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Oslo, Norway
Posts: 658
HTC, or in some places also marketed under the brand qtek, have really advanced smartphones/pda/pocket pcs like the one below



It has a small querty keyboard built in, but you could add a larger foldable pocket size wireless one if you find it too small. You've got pretty much EVERYTHING in a pocket size gadget here, and I mean everything. With this you could leave your phone, pc, digital camera, cam corder, gps and mp3 player at home if you really wanted to travel light. It is a compromise of all, but it could do the trick if you really had to travel light.

It has quad band gsm, meaning you can pretty much place a phone call from any country, even China. It has the latest 3g technology, meaning you in some places have broad band internet access. It also has wireless WLAN technology, meaning you can use any "hot spot" for broad band internet access (often found in airports, hotel lobbies, etc). Where there is no regular internet connection, you can always use the built in gsm. It has a decent camera and a also second web camera (the last one enabeling you to send live images of your self over the internet or phone network). Add a gps receiver and you can even use it for navigation. With this you can surf the internet, snap photos and upload them, write your diary, navigate, check your e-mail, use it as a regular cellular phone, use it as a calculator to when trading currencies, use it as a mediaplayer to play your music and even movies, and so much more. The great thing is that they don't run on a rotating harddisk, meaning there are no movable parts that will break due to vibrations. Also, no rotating harddisk also means long battery hours. Further, they have a transflective screen, meaning it is viewable in broad daylight. They even have software so you can use it as a mirror!

Now how about that?

[This message has been edited by Wheelie (edited 09 November 2005).]
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 21 Dec 2005
richardb's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: guildford, surrey, UK
Posts: 138
I came across this site recently www.handtops.com - very nerdy but info on the latest generation of ultra small but fully functional handheld computers - rather than PDAs.

I don't think you need to carry a CD drive these days - I would go for a USB memory stick and either burn CDs in a cafe, or upload those irreplaceable photos to a storage site - and it really is those pictures that are the most valuable things you will be carrying.

------------------
Richb
http://www.postmaster.co.uk/~richardbeaumont/60684/
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 23 Dec 2005
DaveSmith's Avatar
Slacker supreme
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Sacramento, California
Posts: 410
I used, and plan on keep using, a Psion 5MX PDA. It runs off AA batteries and the batteries last a long time. It's got a keyboard that's small, but works.

Here's a site that sells them after they make them more reliable. If you get one, please tell him I pointed you that way.

http://www.psionflexi.co.uk/

------------------
Random attempts have
been made at RTW on
a '65 Ducati 250cc
__________________
Not Ted Simon since 1970!
http://nokilli.com/rtw
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 23 Dec 2005
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: London England
Posts: 62
Check dis out dude!


http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/article/1803

Not cheap, but oh so sexy!

Maverick Bubble

[This message has been edited by Maverick Bubble (edited 23 December 2005).]

[This message has been edited by Maverick Bubble (edited 23 December 2005).]
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 23 Dec 2005
Ekke's Avatar
HU CanWest Meeting Organiser
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Redwood Meadows, AB, Canada
Posts: 358
A Palm IIIxe and a folding keyboard work great for me. A bit cheaper than the other (higher tech and oh so cool) alternatives. You can get a used IIIxe on e-Bay for $20 and since it uses standard AAA batteries you'll never be stranded.
__________________
Ekke Kok

'84 R100RT 141,000 km (Dad's!)
'89 R100GS 250,000 km (and ready for another continent)
'07 R1200GS Adventure 100,000 km (just finished Circumnavigating Asia)
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

www.ekke-audrey.ca
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 20 Feb 2006
Fritz's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 224
A palm with USB lead and card export software has worked for me for 4 months brilliantly. Old model Tungsten T3 with folding keyboard - give the infa red or wi fi or whatever alternative a miss. You can get cheap on eBay, but two - incase one plays up. Save everything to cards, and use card backup. Its small, very easy to use, cheap, and has taken plenty of hammer so far, and lots of words, see here
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/davies
Also has scans of all ours docs on, Adobe versions of camera manuals and loads of others, no end of stuff. Wasn´t sure originally, am now.
Of curse there are better things on market now, but how much ? and how big ?
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 6 Apr 2006
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Stamford, CT. USA
Posts: 4
You can get a bluetooth keyboard as well. I have one that I use with a HTC Wizard (GSM Windows mobile smartphone). The keys are about as good as a thinkpad, and it folds up to the size of a pocket calculator. You can use with all manner of PocketPC's, smartphones, PDAs, etc. You can buy on Amazon, etc.

I bring this and my WM smartphone along on trips in the US. I can get email, make journal updates, and upload everything in "real time."

http://www.thinkoutside.com/products...t_product.html

Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 26 May 2006
MikeS's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,187
Looks like a palmtop may be more practical to use than a laptop. Sorry but I'm not too familiar with palmtops but here goes:

Is it possible to use a palmtop to transfer digital photos from a camera to a hard disc such as an mp3 player via USB cable?

What is the disc space on palmtops? Can you have say Mapsource GPS software with map data on it and use it with your GPS device?

Thanks
__________________
Mike


www.singapore-scotland.blogspot.com
www.argentina-alaska.blogspot.com
My little Vid: India/Pakistan

BMW R1150GS
Suzuki DR650 SE: Ride it like ya stole it. Oh, somebody just did...
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 31 May 2006
Fritz's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 224
Blimey, few questions there. I know you can use say a T3 with GPS (if you get a receiver of course). The 'hard drive' if you like varies by model. T3 56Mb, but cards up to 1Gb I think. Not sure of photos. Have a search on google and try
http://euro.palm.com/uk/
and
http://forum.brighthand.com/index.php
for more.
Be aware Palm use their own operating system - windows it ain't.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 31 May 2006
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Montreal
Posts: 250
Toshiba Pocket PC

I can recommend you the Toshiba pocket pc e400!

After a year and a half of travelling. It never let me down. It has windows as operating systems. That means you have Word, Excel, Internet explorer, Windows Media Player. You can listen MP3, videos. A USB port, It accepts SD memory cards like my camera.


Patrick
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 20 Jul 2006
MikeS's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,187
Quote:
Originally Posted by PatOnTrip
I can recommend you the Toshiba pocket pc e400!

After a year and a half of travelling. It never let me down. It has windows as operating systems. That means you have Word, Excel, Internet explorer, Windows Media Player. You can listen MP3, videos. A USB port, It accepts SD memory cards like my camera.


Patrick
Are you also able to use these small PDA'a for running say 'Frontpage' or 'NVU' etc to update a website or is it only possible to do text and photos for a 'Blogger' type webpage? Sorry, not much of an HTML programmer...

Trying to decide which way to go, thought the small PDA's sound pretty good and would save lugging a laptop about.
__________________
Mike


www.singapore-scotland.blogspot.com
www.argentina-alaska.blogspot.com
My little Vid: India/Pakistan

BMW R1150GS
Suzuki DR650 SE: Ride it like ya stole it. Oh, somebody just did...
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 20 Jul 2006
Wheelie's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Oslo, Norway
Posts: 658
I don't think MS has come out with a Frontpage version for the PocketPC PDA platform. There might however be other eteting software made by other developers. Check sites like Tucows http://www.tucows.com

Never the less, if I was to do a lot of editing on the road, wether video, pictures, or web pages, I would certainly go for a laptop.

For basic HTML editing, sending e-mails, writing notes, checking a few web sites, etc, the PDA's are great. But anything serious of anything, the laptop PC is the way to go. But this is your vacation, right?

I am however a big fan of compact and simple living...
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 21:18.