I took a short trip this fall without a computer. Its always good to get away from everything, but most of us find it more and more necessary to at least check emails to stay in touch with family or business. In my case I was later than I would have liked to reply to some business messages. Its like they know you’re trying to have fun and want you to feel guilty about it.
Anyway, when I got back I decided I needed to find a small laptop that wasn’t a lot of trouble for trips but powerful enough for business. The new smart cell phones are impressive but don’t always give you the capacity you want. Plus if you want to do a little work while traveling, they don’t provide the resources you need.
Laptop and notebook computers have really made amazing advances recently. They now have so much power and memory that a number of my friends use them as their primary work computer. In fact the next time I need to upgrade my desktop computer, I will probably choose a laptop that can accept all the accessories I need.
Although these laptops are great for ease of use and flexibility, many are not the best choice for travel, unless you are one of the business gurus that needs a traveling office.
Unfortunately I’m not that rich or famous (I don’t give a flip about the fame but rich would be a nice change). I do need to check messages and do some reports when I travel but I don’t need or want a trunk full of equipment.
I heard about mini laptops and after some research, I found one that offered all the options I need at a lower price than I expected. These minis have become so popular that most of the major companies are coming out with a version now. Prices vary quite a lot so be sure to do some research if you need one.
These minis are ideal for travel because they are much smaller than standard laptops and are very easy to pack or carry. They weigh around 3 pounds and are less than a foot wide. Mine is about 10×7 inches. Plus if they should get stolen or damaged on your trip, they are much less expensive to replace. The only caution I have for us seniors is that the screens vary around 9 to 10 inches and if you have bad eyesight, this could be a problem.
The mini that I liked the best was the Acer Aspire One, if you would like further details on that laptop simply click on that link. As small as they are, they are still very powerful and versatile computers. Its nice to be able to stay in touch while traveling without dragging a trunk of equipment with you.
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