Using a computer in the car (never while driving!) is all about compromise.  Chances are smaller is better.  In fact, vehicle use is one of only a few places, like airplanes, where having a really small footprint makes a huge difference.  Space is at a premium. Chances are the type of work you will be doing doesn’t demand a big screen.  I go for small, even 9″ models work really well in a car.  I also find that a matte finish screen is easier to see in bright light conditions.  Being less reflective means glare is less of a problem.  Also, think about power.  For some, access to a power inverted may be OK, but it’s more stuff to take along and set up.  Some Netbooks actually operate on 12 volts. Others have 12v adaptors available. 

What about hard drives?  Well, if you are traveling on rough roads or expect to be tossing the computer around, that hard drive could fail.  Consider SSD.  While Solid State Drives are more expensive and way smaller than a typical hard drive, they are much less prone to shock related failure.  It’s difficult to know how vulnerable a given Netbook is to hard drive failure.  The MINIMOUNT Hardshell Netbook Case comes with internal foam padding that is designed to absorb vibrations and impact shock to a lesser extent.  Nonetheless, if hard drive failure (loss of data) is a real concern consider the SSD alternative and use a USB drive or network connection to manage bulky files like music, photos and video.  Since many Netbook brands do not offer SSD alternative, you may need to make other compromises if this is an important feature.  For example, Dell offers a wide selection of SSD alternatives, but does not offer matte finish screens at this time.  Personally, I don’t keep data on the Netbook anyway.

Connectivity? Hands down, go for a 3G / Wi-Fi device.  Most major cell phone carriers are offering these small hub devices for prices very similar to a 3G / USB adaptor.  No dongle, no wires.  You can keep it stashed and use the computer anywhere within range, use it with multiple computers.  I love it!

Bottom line?  Go for small.  Go for 3G.  Think about data loss in the event of a crash.

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 11th, 2009 at 6:31 PM and is filed under Netbooks, Vehicles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.