[BC] Re: Laptop thoughts? (k7qa at aol.com)

[ChuxGarage at aol.com]

On a whim, I bought an Acer "Aspire 1" miniature laptop computer.  It comes 
with XP Home, an Intel processor and a 120 Gig hard drive. The Wi-Fi works 
well.  It has a variety of standard card reader ports, three USB ports, an 
Ethernet jack and a VGA port.  There is also a mic input and headphone output, but no 
phone modem, nor is there a CD drive.  I solved the CD drive problem by 
buying an external USB version, made by TEAC on Amazon for $18.95.  It works fine.  
Most of the time I don't need the CD drive, but it is a necessity for adding 
most software.  

This thing is tiny.  It measures about 10" x 7" x1.25" and weighs something 
like 1.5 pounds. It easily fits in my overcoat pocket.  It also was cheap.  I 
haggled at my local Best Buy and bought it for $299.  Walmart is selling them 
as a kid's "first computer," for $349.  Despite the very low price, it is not a 
toy. It is actually well built and works quite well.  

Because of its small size, I've found that it is extremely useful as a tool 
when you just need to reset a menu item on a piece of equipment. Of course, you 
can also get your email, listen to music, and even do some word processing.  
I have an audio editing program in it (Sound Forge) and with a USB mic, I can 
record things and email them back to the station.  

It comes with a demo version of MS Office, but I removed that and added Open 
Office.  It works fine for an occasional use computer.  I've also found this 
is quite handy for travel.  It will actually fit on the tray table if you are 
on an airplane in coach. My HP laptop has a hard time with that.

Amazingly, the keyboard does not feel particularly cramped and the 8.5 inch 
color monitor is just big enough.  It is actually fairly easy to read.  You 
probably would not want this as your primary computer, but for something to carry 
around in your tool box, I think it is pretty neat.  The price is right.

Chuck Conrad
KZQX Radio
www.kzqx.com 

In a message dated 2/1/2009 11:13:47 PM Central Standard Time, 
broadcast-request at radiolists.net writes:

> Laptop thoughts? (k7qa at aol.com)
> 

ntent/products/features.aspx/laptops_great_deals&
#63;c=us%26cs=19%26l=en%26s=dhs%26~ck=anavml)