Lap Top Computer

gmac, if you don't want to spend too much, ( by the time you buy one then get an internet connection..wireless you are looking up around the 2k mark) unless you are using it in conjunction with a gps maybe consider the internet cafe option would be heaps cheaper....just a thought

Depending on what you want, the smaller sizes are perhaps more suited to travellers. You then can also use it for navigation whereas a 15 or 17 in one is too big to mount in the car. However in laptops smaller is dearer.
.
As for internet nothing is really cheap. I have a USB BIGPOND modem and a $34 a month 10 hour subscription.

Dont even think about a TELSTRA plan
Some are on sale for under $900 but be careful what you buy. Best get someone you know and trust about computers to advise you.
Personally I would only buy an ASUS. COMPAQ or perhaps a Toshiba and none of these are cheap.
Now I will get flamed as I wouldnt buy ACER DELL or HP.
I know there are thousands of happy owners of these out here but thats just my opinion after 10 years of fixing the things.
If you arent really into computers I would go with previous poster and say use internet cafes and use the money for your holiday.
Cheers

gmac,
If it's only to "keep in touch on your travels"... and you "wouldn't want to spend to much" (money) then do as suggested above and use Internet Cafés, as the chance of connection in the 'bush' is about nil, even with the best options available from Telstra and using the fastest 'youbeaut' computer from the best available manufacturers.

However if you want it for "other" reasons ....
like graphics or picture storage etc...., then get a wide screen with the highest resolution available, well at least 1680 x 1050 as MINIUM, but be prepared to pay for the quality of these screens as they are the clearest available, just to dabble on the net they are not required.

Mainey . . .

Hiya Gray

It may come as a surprised to you but Compaq is HP they merged awhile back...

HP only paid about 25 Billion for Compaq-A steal don't you reckon !



Still both useless as one another when it comes to Warranty..

Cheers

Big W have Lenovo's on sale for $598 fairly often. You could get a Acer for about the same. I took a Lenovo on our trip and it was/has been 100% reliable. I run Photoshop on it and athlough it's no rocketship, it does the job so it will handle internet browsing, email, spreadsheets and wordprocessing easily.

For reception, you can use your phone or one of the wireless dongles, both can be expensive ($30-$40/month). Both need reception to actually connect.

Alternatively, you can use van park ISPs when available (anywhere from free to a few dollars/hr) and internet hotspots (where available). We relied on this method and did have some troubles getting online at times. I was doing my trip website offline and them uploading when possible.

Nige.

People,

Thank you for your information.It looks like the Cafes are the way to go and perhaps spend the money on fuel and go a bit further.

Regards

Blaze, no need to duck too far, as you don't sell Dell.

I've had my Dell notebook looked at by a technician 3 times, first cause I did not like the look of the 'silvery haze effect' on the top left corner on the desktop in MCE, the Dell techie showed me ALL MCE's have it as an 'effect' and it's not a fault, another time one techie replaced the keyboard because I complained about the 'feel' as they are different to the old Toshiba I was used to, I thought it may be a fault, it was the same as most I later checked at a comp store in town, and third they picked it up and fully reformatted the hard drive on it for me and reloaded ALL the programs again.

Then last week I rang them about a hassle I had with loading some programs from the 'desktop icon' they changed some software settings via the internet and then it worked perfect again.

I believe the major advantage in buying Dell is the ability to order the RAM, CPU, Hard drive size and screen clarity etc.... as the customer wants, for the purpose needed, when you order Dell, unlike an average notebook where you have to accept the notebook as it is on the shelf, unless the retailer is actually prepared to change the notebook screens etc.. which will never happen!

I have never had a breakdown, it's 14 months old now with another 10 months of warranty left.

Mainey . . .

G'day gmac,

I am by no ways or means a computer literate person.

We faced the same issue as you over a year ago, and found a cheap Compaq F500 from a big retailer. Couldn't get some of the GPS software to work, was a hassle to configure at some internet caffee's, so changed operating system back to XP from (problematic)Vista.

Has been the family daily laptop since... I am using on the home network at the moment, seems reliable and took abuse over extended Simpson trip, and played our DVD movies as well!

Regards,

Ross.

I love my Macbook Pro!