Usefulness: Most likely, you'll want to extend computer use beyond just
staying in touch. You can equip a laptop or PDA with a host of software
and components, ranging from voice recognition to GPS. Do you want to
watch DVDs? With a DVD drive, a large, wide-aspect-ratio LCD screen,
and a set of external speakers, your laptop becomes a home theater. Or
maybe you want to play games or catch up on your bills. Your computer
is a useful tool, but with some imagination, it can be a whole lot more.
Convenience: It's entirely possible to get excited about a product that
may not be as convenient as one would hope. A good example of this
might be an outdoor mounted directional antenna. (I tell you more about
antennas in a later section, "Extending Your Range.") While the perfor-
mance of one of these antennas might be outstanding, consider whether
you'll really want to set it up after a long day of driving.
Memory and storage capacity: More is better, especially when it comes
to laptops. It's possible to get by with minimum requirements, but most
people quickly outgrow a laptop system that's configured with only 128
MB of RAM (Random-Access Memory) and a hard drive holding no more
than 20 GB. Look for at least 64 MB of RAM in a PDA. (I talk about PDA
memory and storage in the section headed "Keeping Life Compact with a
PDA," later in this chapter.)
The speed and capacity of your laptop's RAM (Random-Access Memory) will
have a greater impact on its overall performance than any other factor. If
you're considering the purchase of a laptop and you're going to splurge on
any one item, choose to buy more RAM.
You may have noticed that I haven't mentioned desktop computers for use
in a truck or RV. There's a good reason for this. Aside from the room they
take up, desktop PCs are designed for use in a stationary home environment.
Unless you live on the San Andreas Fault, they're not likely to move around
much, let alone be subjected to the jolts and vibrations of highway travel. A
few diehard folks have tried using a desktop in a truck or RV -- you can too,
if you really insist -- but by and large, resist the urge.
Living Large with a Laptop
If you find yourself interested in purchasing a laptop, you're not alone. Laptop
sales have skyrocketed, surpassing those of desktops, as more and more
people are finding themselves attracted to the convenience of a truly portable
computer. After seeing an ever-increasing number of people in truck stops
toting laptops or PDAs, I made the decision to purchase a laptop of my own.
Initially, my anticipated computer use didn't extend far beyond maintaining
e-mail communication with my family and friends. Even though I was really
Chapter 3: Gearing Up
Page 31
