Taking a computer

Bigdomino · 05-15-2017, 02:20 PM

I do a lot of photography. I use an IMac for all of my processing. I do not have a laptop or iPad capable of doing the work.

I am wondering if you you take your IMac's with you? We will be going away with the camper (Whitehawk) for three or four months this winter and I am not wanting to buy a new laptop.

How do you guys do your computer work on the road?

Thanks.

Steve

soperman3 · 05-15-2017, 02:43 PM

We take our laptop BG and a tablet for small tasks. LOL, and, of course, two smart phones. Not always in use of course although I use my tablet for Kindle.

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Bookemdanno · 05-15-2017, 03:08 PM

The DW and I always bring our laptops with us, just in case we have to handle something for work that our phones wouldn't be capable of doing. The DW brings her MacBook Pro and I have a HP laptop.

Marcm157 · 05-15-2017, 03:15 PM

I am the Operations Director for a large transportation company - I always take my laptop with me as I never know when I will have to put out another fire and some things just can't be done from a cell phone or tablet..

Subaru297 · 05-15-2017, 03:17 PM

I think you will find most people rely on a laptop or tablet for computer use but there is no reason not to take your desktop computer with you. Just make sure it is secure for travelling and I would also recommend a good UPS as campground power is not always healthy power.
The only downside would be having to set it up and take it down while you are moving places.

ttavasc · 05-15-2017, 03:21 PM

Being on the road 3-4 months it might not be too big of a deal to bring the iMac for that trip provided you have sufficient room for it. Another option - if you have a TV in the Whitehawk check it for an HDMI input. If it has one you could consider getting a Mac-Mini (starts at $499) for a fair amount less than a new Macbook (starts at $1299) and just use the TV as the monitor. I have a MacBook Pro I carry with me but it's a work-issued device, though I still use it to upload my pictures so they are someplace other than the camera while on the road.

Subaru297 · 05-15-2017, 03:26 PM

I'm guessing he needs the processing power of the iMac more than he needs something portable. Laptops with that processing power get expensive very quickly. Not sure a mini would meet his demands.

ttavasc · 05-15-2017, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subaru297

I'm guessing he needs the processing power of the iMac more than he needs something portable. Laptops with that processing power get expensive very quickly. Not sure a mini would meet his demands.

True enough though the newer generations of Mini's - especially when equipped with a solid state drive packs a lot of horsepower. Of course, as with a laptop, you are going to pay more for extra memory and a higher end processor to maximize that performance.

RoyBraddy · 05-15-2017, 03:45 PM

Taking the computers along with you is only half the question. The next question will be how do I get on the Internet using my laptop when on travel...

Depending on using the camp ground WIFI network is almost zero to none...

Since i have an older account/cell phone etc I subscribe to a PASS WORD Protected SECURED Verizon MIFI package which gives me Internet access anywhere Verizon works with a data plan of 3GB's per month allowance... This is only good for lower speed Internet and does not work with any down streaming of things... Great for checking in with the kids, paying some bills on-line and some surfing of the internet...

My MIFI unit becomes a WIFI HOT SPOT for up to five of my devices...

You can also have your newer smart phones become a secure WIFI HOT SPOT for you as well...

Roy Ken

Bigdomino · 05-15-2017, 03:45 PM

I will be in one park all of November and then another park for December and January. Not much moving around. The IMac is pretty thin and does not have a large computer frame that sits on the floor.

I use Photoshop and Lightroom to process my images. I also have a friend that I help when he needs an image cleaned up to produce a wooden puzzle.

I am thinking about putting it on the back edge of the dinette table and pulling it out when I need it. Would need to secure it well when traveling.

Short trips, I just use my phone and iPad and process all the photos from my camera system when I get home.

The Apple laptop prices are crazy and I am not sure I want to mix a PC based system with all of Apple devices.

Steve

ttavasc · 05-15-2017, 03:56 PM

Since you are not moving much as long as you have it stored in a safe and secure way when going between parks it will probably be fine. If it has a mechanical disk instead of a solid state disk I'd see about some extra cushioning for the drive just to be safe. Regardless - make sure you have good backups to either an external cloud-based backup service or a good quality portable device of anything you can't afford to lose.

EDIT - by extra cushioning for the drive I mean some extra cushioning for the iMac as a whole while you are driving to/from and between the parks.

**norty1** · 05-15-2017, 05:05 PM

I would not be without it.

We use wifi and a hotspot feature on our iPhone.

RAurand · 05-15-2017, 05:13 PM

Being in the computer field I use my laptop and a Hotspot from my Android phone to connect to the internet. I need to remote into my customers PC's to fix them or do research. Most campground wi-fi's only work around the office or some use ten go internet which you have to buy time if you can reach the signal.

Bigdomino · 05-15-2017, 06:04 PM

I wil use my verizon midi hot spot for communications.

**Mustang65** · 05-15-2017, 06:53 PM

I'm not a MAC fan, the iPhone was forced upon me by the kids, but is the iMac the one that has the processor in the HDMI display. If that is the case can you mount the display on the wall and use a wire less keyboard/mouse to interact with it. It would be a lot easier that pulling it out and putting it away each time.

Just a thought

Don

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