Laptops & PDA'S

Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005 at 14:08
ThreadID: 23683 Views:2258 Replies:11 FollowUps:1
This Thread has been Archived
G'Day all,
Not wanting to hijack any previous post .... I am curious to hear the reasoning for using laptops and PDA's in 4bys while on holidays. I'm not trying to be a smarta3se, just curious. After sitting in front of my PC for the greater part of the day .... it would be the last thing I would ever take away with me. I have a GPS, and I can read maps, and I usually know where I am and where I'm going. Although there has been times, after a few nips, I could'nt care where I was.
I also take digital shots and download them when I get home. I not bagging anyone for their choise, each to his own and all that, but IMHO it seems to me that a lot of us rely on these devices too much. How did we ever get about without them? Is it convenience ... or reliance?
Interested to hear your thoughts.
Regards,
Bazza.
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: flappa - Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005 at 14:22

Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005 at 14:22
Sure.

I have a laptop so I can carry all my maps in digital form. Less room then all the paper maps.

Mine isn't currently connected to my GPS , but will be shortly

I can transfer my Photos asap , that way I can take piccies as big as possible , without the worry of storage. I dont have to pay for a huge Memory Card.

I also use it when travelling so the kids can watch a DVD.

Are we there yet , gets quite sickening on a 14 odd hour trip.

I also use it as a TV when I want to.

For me its convienience NOT reliance.

AnswerID: 114895

Reply By: Moggs - Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005 at 14:26

Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005 at 14:26
I use a GPS and a PDA and also carry the paper maps.

I like it as it takes out one more stress out of a trip. If I have a route/track mapped in Oziexplorer I don't need to worry about making a wrong turn or stopping to reference the maps, measure distances between turns on the speedo etc. I casn easily tell where I am and how far I've got to go.

I reckon it just makes life easier if you are in unfamiliar territory.
AnswerID: 114896

Reply By: Member - Crazie (VIC) - Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005 at 15:03

Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005 at 15:03
I use my _Permanent_Painted_Coatings.aspx as my Sat nav, bush maps and city navigation. Also mine when traveling is the phone and a back up camera. Laptop is a back up Sat Nav and a back up dvd player for long trips. I carry papers maps as well.

I like to save my trips and then dowload them from my _Permanent_Painted_Coatings.aspx to my laptop and add them to a trip journal.

crazie
AnswerID: 114901

Reply By: Leroy - Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005 at 15:09

Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005 at 15:09
Where I used to work I'm sure some of the service guys used them for wheel chocks as they use to come back every month for a new screen!!

Leroy
AnswerID: 114903

Reply By: Member - Tim - Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005 at 15:18

Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005 at 15:18
Hi Bazza,

I use it particularly for storing photos and dumping them off to CDs. The last three week trip we did a couple of years ago we took almost 2,000 photos. I had two 128mb cards and a 64mb and at times used them all in a day (about 250 photos). When doing things like walking round Kings Canyon I just could not stop taking photos as it was so awesome. It also gives you the chance to relive the day when you look at the photos at the end of it. Sometimes you do so much that the camera is the only record where things don't get forgotten and mixed together with the previous days.

This trip we are about to go on it will also store the maps since I now have a GPS. Though it is a mapping GPS there is more detail available on the Natmap Raster images and I have always loved maps of every form. The recording of the track will make it much easier to put together the story of the trip for the rest of the family at the end of the year. We will also have paper maps but I have not bothered to get highly detailed paper maps.

On the long hauls it will also keep the kids amused with the DVDs though I expect we will not allow it to be used much for that in camp as we prefer to be social.

So for me it's mostly convenience though I do rely on it for the photo side of things.

Tim.
AnswerID: 114905

Follow Up By: flappa - Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005 at 15:42

Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005 at 15:42
I have also started trying to keep a log/diary of trips we make , along with photos.

Being able to do it at the end of each day is a lot easier to remember things.

I also have a list of Camp sites that I can refer to , and update as I go along.

Also , lists of things. rather then having paper lists for camping gear etc , its on the puter.

I think a Puter/PDA is one of those things that once you get one , you can find a million different ways to use it.

I'm looking forward to one day , out camping with a group (ie gathering somewhere) , to being able to hook up to the Forum by Sat Phone , and brag about what we are up to.
0
FollowupID: 370695

Reply By: Wazza - (Vic) - Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005 at 16:21

Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005 at 16:21
Less time taking wrong turns in unfamiliar country and more time with the feet up, rod in the water and having a coldie.
AnswerID: 114916

Reply By: Melly - Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005 at 16:29

Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005 at 16:29
Hi Bazza

For me it is a bit of reliance and a bit of convenience. I also like to be able to take my photos off my camera or watch some tv. But I also just like having a bit of tech with me in the outdoors...why not have the best of both worlds if they are the things that you love and enjoy eh. Nothing like playing space invaders around the campfire if you ask me!
AnswerID: 114918

Reply By: Utemad - Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005 at 17:35

Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005 at 17:35
I use my _Permanent_Painted_Coatings.aspx for mapping and navigation and I use my laptop for storage of photos and occaisional email. I have 512mb of storage for a 5mp camera which does not equate to many photos. I can use that up in less than a day. So I download them to my laptop and then burn a backup to CD. When I have filled a few CDs I post them home.

Using a _Permanent_Painted_Coatings.aspx for navigation means I can spend more time enjoying my trip and less time taking wrong turns and arguing with my Wife. I can navigate using paper maps also and do bring them along. I did have one trip when I was unable to charge anything and had to rely on paper maps. Never mind the numerous trips I took prior to having any electronic aids.

However just because you use a computer for work doesn't mean it doesn't have a million other uses. If I left all my work tools behind that would mean I'd be walking to that camping destination as I use my 4x4 for work too :-)

I also wouldn't be taking my camera as that is also for work.
AnswerID: 114921

Reply By: Bob of KAOS - Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005 at 20:02

Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005 at 20:02
There is no way we would attempt to go where we do without moving map navigation. Using a GPS and a paper map would be hopelessly slow and inaccurate whereas Oziexplorer gives a continual indication within a few meters of exactly where we are. This was critical to finding our way from Haasts Bluff to Mt Liebig via the direct road to the west on a recent trip.

It has also been critical to the success of several other trips over recent years.

Not to mention that its a great way to take all your music (iTunes), store your photos, identify stars (Starry Night) etc etc
AnswerID: 114944

Reply By: Member - RockyOne - Thursday, Jun 09, 2005 at 09:13

Thursday, Jun 09, 2005 at 09:13
I feel cameras / photos are very much under-rated as "tools" for a healthier,more sociable life-style..Seems to me I can't quite figure out if I go on 4x4 adventures to take pix or I take pix because of the enjoyment of the current adventure..At some point,most of us will have to admit that we actually like using these little tech gadgets we have..If they contribute in any way to us getting out of jail (house) then,we have certainly justified our expendeture..Although,no doubt,a product of a capatilistic society,to which,we ouselves contribute,they have enriched our lives a little.Surely,we can't be selfish,as by default (a term I had never used before I had a computor),we are keeping someone in a job in one of those "developing" countries..The point of this message?..None really!..Seen the latest Dick Smith catalog? :-)!MPG:3!
AnswerID: 115015

Reply By: Member -Dodger - Thursday, Jun 09, 2005 at 17:59

Thursday, Jun 09, 2005 at 17:59
Our Laptop becomes the amusemant centre when required and lets me download the camera and burn them to disc for posting to the family.
And it runs the moving map when required, IE finding something really interesting that someone has told us about with ngiven co-ordinates.
I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

Cheers Dodg.

Lifetime Member
My Profile  Send Message

AnswerID: 115100

Sponsored Links