Topic: Who has done long rides with a Notebook/Netbook?

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

I'm heading out Wednesday on my ride for 18 days and 5500+ miles. I'm thinking about taking my 13" notebook along for the ride. I'd appreciate hearing of tales, stories, experiences anyone has had about the feasibility of taking their's along. Of course I don't want to destroy my computer but it's just the right size to have along and it's VERY tempting. I can use it for gmail phone calls, emails, posting, uploading, downloading pixs and videos from my camera and camcorder, etc. I only have a neoprene case for it. It would be stashed inside a ziploc, etc for weather protection. The good side is it does have a 3 year warranty.

Advise please. 

[GammaFlat]

Don't forget the power cord.  Please don't ask.... 

[haggeo]

i can do with my android phone most of what a netbook can do as far as posting ride reports is concerned plus take pictures and video, and i don't need an internet connection as long as i have a cell tower signal. the insurance is cheap, if i break it or lose it i can get a replacement. a warranty does not cover damage or loss as far as i know it covers manufacturer's defects, i could be wrong though. having said that i have taken a notebook on a trip to the san juan islands but i did have a BMW R100 GSPD with hard cases. it's worth doing if you really want to document your trip and post to the internet as you go.

[madmtnmotors]

I ride 35 miles each way (70 miles total) to work with my 15" Laptop stowed in the hard trunk. No issues. Over the past 4 years I've logged several thousand miles while toting my laptop.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Good info so far. Keep it coming. I love testimonials. That's what I'm after.

I don't have a fancy phone (don't want one) and the fancy bill that comes with it but my riding partner just got a i4 or whatever so we have that covered. He seems to think he can see better than the whole damned AAA map on that one miniscule screen?! WTF?! I've put up with the attitude for 40 years so I reminded him if the battery dies or it gets lost/stolen we're hosed without backup. Friends!! They are definitely handy but not the best solution IMO.

My main concern is destroying my laptop. I can leave the world behind for 2.5 weeks without a problem but I have never traveled on the bike with a computer.

[haggeo]

it may be hard to imagine but a modern smartphone can replace paper maps and your gps. i always carry paper maps and my garmin regardless, they back each other up.  my phone has 10 gb of storage so i can store a thousands of photos and 720p video. my friends and family can follow my progress on google maps if i turn on that free feature. i don't see my phone replacing my common sense but it is as very useful tool that i'm very glad to have.

[mick7504]

A friend rode his 1100 Yamaha around Australia last year with a laptop on the rear luggage rack.
He had it set up to keep it and his mobile phone on charge in a vented weatherproof bag while he was riding without any problems at all.
We had to replace the rings and valve stem seals in the motor when he got to Darwin and he was able to get all of the parts organised and paid for via EFT along the way so everything was here waiting when he arrived.

[Brown Bomber]

I took my laptop on an 1,100 mi trip last year. I carried it in a duffel behind me and a large plastic bag kept it dry. It came in handy for keeping an eye on the weather, and re plotting our route for the ride home.