Computer question...need help!

[SuperSport]

Okay...here is the deal...maybe some of you computer brainiacs can help me out.
My work season is getting ready to jam.....I will be in my truck and on jobsites from 6am until 8pm M-F...maybe some saturdays too. My work is weather dependant...so I look up the radar on the computer as much as possible, and I want to check my email throughout the day-I am instructing customers to contact me via email as opposed to cell phone.
Taking this into consideration....I am thinking of buying either a laptop or pocket PC and subscribing to wireless internet service.
Trust me when I say I don't know a damn thing about any of this.

I am almost ashamed to admit that I didn't even know any of this existed until I sat next to a 15 year old kid on my flight back from Russia and he was using a pocket PC to look up his email and such while we were over the Atlantic!

Any info pertaining to what kind of set up I should buy and service available would be very much appreciated.
Thanks, SS

[mark mcgwire]

Sorry SS, I'm not much help to you, but maybe somebody else can help.

Maybe you could call Dell or Gateway and tell them what you want to do. Here in CNY we have Gateway stores you can go to. You could let them tell you what you need and then shop online to find it cheaper.

Up to the top for SS!

[SuperSport]

Thanks for the advice Marky Mark.....before I contact anyone in sales I am trying to find an actual consumer to give me the lowdown on some of this...ya know how sales people are!!! lol. No offense to any sales people.

[slide]

Now heres a wrinkle...arent there cellphones that have the option of checking your email on it as well? Kinda like killing two birds with one stone and there wouldnt be the need of buying a laptop, etc...just maybe a new phone/plan?

I used to have Suncom when I was down there because of the $50 a month "Free" feature, where I could call anywhere in the country and it was unlimited minutes. (I guess thats a little off track)

Not much help I guess, but just throwing something else out there for you...

-slide

[Syn]

Yes.....I just got a new cell phone that I can access the internet with. Ask Marky, I emailed him from my phone - pics I took with my phone - of KR with some of the pro's at the Arnold.

Unless you will be receiving a lot of emails.....then you'll want to ck out the pocket PCs, laptops, etc. Some personal organizers are now email capible too.

I'm thinking a laptop may be out for you........in order to go online you'd need a plug-in. If you're at a construction site, that might not be available.

[Kidrok (Hop)]

Originally posted by KidRok's Lady
I'm thinking a laptop may be out for you........in order to go online you'd need a plug-in. If you're at a construction site, that might not be available.

1 word:
wireless

[SuperSport]

Yeah, I stopped in Best Buy today just to look around....talked to some people.
I will probably be using whatever wireless setup I go with alot..2-4 hours per day really.
Some of the laptops looked pretty good...and suprisingly weren't as expensive as I had anticipated.
Supposedly if I use the Sprint wireless card it is about 80 bucks a month for unlimited use....I am paying right around 50 now for RoadRunner. I am thinking of canceling the RR and just using wireless. From April thru December I am never home except tp sleep...and I plan on traveling internationally alot this year too.

I am curious about the speed of the cell phones, pocket PC, and mid level laptops. Is there much difference with these products??

[da_Fonz]

Yeah, bro get a laptop. U leave yourself with more options and you dont need to plug into anything u can def go wireless. Esp the way computer prices nowadoys your be stupid not to buy one. I am a CIS major (Computer Info Systems). NO i am not a dork just someone who enjoys money and what you can do with it. And if I am a dork at least Im a BIG dork, LOL.

[homonunculus]

SS,

Another consideration.

You can get a PDA (palm, etc.) that will be both a cell, for email, and for internet access.

I've got a palm with as phone module and a keyboard (folds up to a bit larger than wallet size).

There are plans for home phone and internet that also give you unlimited dial-up when travelling. I know cox.net does phone and cable modem and I think you could get a dial-up number that would cost you less than getting an entirely new ISP for when you're out and about.

You could also get a cell phone plan that lets you call one number for unlimited minutes (the # you dial up with) and then just get one of those super cheap (or free) ISP's.

So, this way, you've got a phone, email and internet hook-up to check the weather and post in intensemuscle.com all wrapped up in one.

-R

[SuperSport]

A big thanks to everybody for all the advice...I am going to chew on all this info and make a decision in a week or so.....if anyone else has any ideas please feel free to post....any and all info is much appreciated.

I am truly a dinosaur, lol. Don't know a damn thing about all this stuff. I am tying to cure cancer and now I gotta learn all of this stuff too. Damn. Not enough hours in the day.