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Laptops are intended for travel. Not all of them, however, are ideally suited for travel in a truck. In this section of the CyberTruckStop.com you'll find information concerning laptops and laptop accessories especially suited for trucking.
A Trucker's Laptop Buying Guide
Personally, I love laptops. Given the choice between owning and using a desktop or a laptop; I'll choose the laptop almost every time. Why? Primarily because I like the freedom of mobility offered by a laptop. Of course, mobility makes laptops ideal for travel, whether by truck, train, car or plane, but I like to use a laptop at home, as well, just because I don't like feeling tethered to the desk in my den.
Finding just the right laptop, however, can be a daunting task. Some folks find it difficult to choose a laptop because, once the shopping begins, they become confused by the wide array of choices. Or they're perplexed by the possibility of purchasing technology which will soon become obsolete. Well, Laptops For Dummies, by Dan Gookin, is one resource that can definitely help you avoid analysis paralysis and I'll try to provide some basic information here, as well.
Keep one thing in mind; the nature of technology dictates that progress, like time, marches on. What's cutting-edge today is old-hat tomorrow. That may seem depressing when you're planning on spending anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars but, in reality, a laptop, or any techno-wonder for that matter, is only obsolete when it no longer does what you need it to do.
Laptop Buying Basics
Laptops, in general, can be broken down into three basic categories:
Value Laptops: Less than $1000
As you might expect, a "Value Laptop" (also referred to as a "Budget Laptop") will come equipped with fewer features and, quite likely, somewhat less than cutting-edge components. In other words, the bells will be silver-plated and the whistles...well, there might not be any whistles. But, guess what, if surfin' the net, playing music & watching movies are the primary reasons you're in the market for a laptop then a "Value Laptop" will definitely do the job. Beyond that, manufacturers often offer these bare-bones laptops in hopes that you'll be tempted to add price-boosting options; so if you want to add a few features or upgrade some components you'll probably have the opportunity. The primary problem with taking a low-cost laptop on the road, though, will be the likely lack of trucker-tough enhancements, like hard drive or LCD screen protections, that won't be offered as an option.
Mainstream Laptops: Less than $2000
Like the category name implies, mainstream laptops are designed with an eye toward providing features and components that'll meet the needs of most users. How do the manufacturers do this? Well, they design a feature-rich laptop, using quality components, and then they offer the opportunity to order it with user-specified options. For example, you'll probably be able to choose from a range of processors, various hard disk drive and RAM capacities, different optical drive types, and, possibly, one or two other items. Its kind of like starting out with crystal bells and tin whistles, both good, with the option to upgrade some of them to silver and copper. Most laptops in this category will, assuming the manufacturer offers them, include trucker-tough enhancements.
Premium Laptops: The Sky's the Limit
Just what you'd expect; a premium laptop will include the newest and most powerful technology available. Lots of silver bells and copper whistles. If you're into serious gaming, or you're doing some power-intensive work, like video editing or complex Computer Assisted Design (CAD), you might want to look at a high-end laptop. Also included in the "Premium" category is a class of laptops known collectively as "Ultra-Portable". Why any self-respecting trucker would want to spend a whole bunch of money on a tiny little laptop is, however, beyond my understanding. If you spend half your life flying business-class then, yes, you might want an Ultra-Portable; otherwise, why bother?
If you want a laptop with lots of features and high-end components, but you're wallet is screaming "buy a budget laptop", you might want to consider shopping for a refurbished or reconditioned laptop. It won't be a Burger King Computer, you won't get it "you're way", but if you shop around you'll probably be able to find a laptop loaded with lots of RAM, a big hard drive, a fast processor, a plethora of ports, or a host of other useful features and at least a few high-end components. All at a bargain-basement price. As one of Phil's closest and most trusted advisors I, Fritz the Frog, have lobbied hard for the inclusion of a "Refurbished Laptop" page or section within theCyberTruckStop. Look for it soon.
| Get Started | Plan Your Purchase | Choose Components | Specify Features | Time to Buy |
