Laptop for Iraq . . . need your advice

Hello!

Our Pastor is a Navy chaplain who will soon be
deploying to Iraq with his USMC unit.

I've been tasked with getting him a laptop for e-mail,
photo, etc. purposes.

If you have "been-there-and-done-that" please give me your
suggestions on a machine.

He will be in a base camp most of the time.

Please let me know what worked for you and/or what
you wish that you would have had.

Feel free to either post or e-mail me.

Thank you for your assistance and thank you for your service!


"Lux" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

When I was there I seen a lot of laptops (I work for communications, which means I pretty much can help the data specialist people/network people, wire/telephone people, and my primary job of messing with all sorts of radios.) If he will be on base all the time and just checking up on those daily tasks, a laptop from $800-$1200 can work. I've seen and handled Dell's, Gateway's, Averatecs, and Toshiba's. The USMC went with dells and I used a Dell 600m pretty often. I've seen a Gateway take a dump. Two laptops got their screen crushed while in transit.

SO, a basic mobile laptop will work. I am partial to Dell because I am going to get one soon for college (specifically I'm gonna get a 700m.) A Pelican laptop case is a must! Protects the laptop in sotrage and from the sand.

Good luck out there, hopefully I won't be going back out but maybe I will.

PM sent...

I haven't been there or done that but I think I can add one helpful bit...

I bought a refurb laptop from a local family owned shop that specializes in servicing laptops. He sold all the usual brands both new and used but when I told him that the number one factor for me was reliability he recommended only IBM. He said he has sold many and has never seen one come back, which was not true of any other brand.

I haven't had it very long so I can't tell you from my own experience other than that I have had no problems.

Best of luck!

THe best advice I was going to give was already covered by Jason /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif get a good case!

there some some laptops that are marketed as tougher like the panasonic (I think it's panasonic) tough book and there is one other. My friend is using these during a testing period on his ambulance, and they have managed to trash every model tested. And yet he's had an ancient apple powerbook that he's been carrying for 3 years that is only just now starting to get a crack in the plastics which he's replacing himself even as I write this. The secret being that he keeps the powerbook in a really good case.

So do some reading and make sure that the model you're buying isn't obviously problematic. Some models are /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

A refurbished machine is a great idea. Less to loose if it does go south, but also you're less likely to get a lemon out of the box because someone has physically done the work to fix it and bring it up to spec.

Lastly I'd get it as soon as possible so you can have some burn in time before you leave. I'd have to say that 75 or 80% of hardware issues happen to the machines I'm responsible for in the first few weeks. Once they live past that they tend to run forever.

Good Luck!

Not to contradict Drizzle's post, but my company went with IBM laptops and I've been underwhelmed. It may be due to the particular model or components used at the time, though. Mine (a T23) is on it's third hard disk in three years, and numerous co-workers have also had the hard drive replaced - some, like me, more than once. For this model, the HD seems to be the weak link. Batteries would be the next thing, but since this has been my only laptop I can't say for sure. I have had one battery go bad, and the replacement is lucky to keep the PC running for 30 minutes now. When new, the batteries were good for about 2 hours of continuous use.

I have no personal experience with this brand but if money is no object (or at least of secondary concern), maybe a Panasonic Toughbook would be a good choice. Seems like the specs are up to that kind of environment - if not the base camp, at least for during transit! I still second the idea of a Pelican case for it, though.

- Dwayne

While I don't have experience in Iraq, I was in the market for a computer suitable for fire ops. Take these comments as you will.

I suppose the Dell with a Pelican case is the most cost effective solution. If money is no object I would take a look at the Panasonic Toughbook. This link is for government purchase only.

I looked into this for our fire department. We wanted a sturdy notebook to take out into the field. The Panasonic was the best I could come up with, but it was a tough sell at three times the cost. The chief ended up getting a HP desktop replacement, totally agianst my advice. Actually, if you don't mind spending a little more than you would on the Dell, I'd look at the IBM T42. I really like the sturdy construction and great keyboard.

Greg

I have no experience with laptops in Icrack but I was also in the market for one for college and am still waiting for a good deal. From all the forums on notebooks I have read, I have gotten this out of them. If you want the cheapest laptop but with a lot of stuff in it(lots of HD, RAM, etc.) go with Dell(I hear their Latitudes series are good (ex. D610). If you want quality and built, go for IBM thinkpads such as the T42 as nethiker mentioned. Their keyboards are lit and cases are made of magnesium alloy like the Apples. But take this for what's it worth, I have not tried the either of those laptops. I just want to put it out there. I hope you find what your looking for.

"Ruggedized" laptops are out there, but they're expensive and hard to find.

I'll second the suggestion about getting a conventional laptop and a Pelican laptop case.
1470 case(15-3/4" x 10-9/16" x 3-3/4" internal)
1490 case(17-7/8" x 11-1/2" x 4-1/8" internal)

I've yet to hear anything bad about Pelican cases.

I have had a Pelican case for quite a few years now and I stopped carrying my laptop in it because I wasn't banging around much and the Pelican case adds some significant weight to the equation! I bought a Panasonic Tough Book over a year ago and it has survived in some less than optimal conditions but I am not dropping it in the dirt or such abuse. I got a semi rugged model. What I liked most about this LapTop was the fact that it came with the bare essentials in terms of loaded software and so I haven't screwed it up by trying to remove frivolus "crap" that seems to be bundled in most consumer based machines. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon3.gif

The Panasonic Toughbooks are built to MilSpec standards! One of the requirements is to re-boot after a 36" drop onto concrete! They are also weather resistant (dust, water, etc). My older Toughbooks have a metal case and I would assume that the new ones are metalcased also. They ARE expensive, but are designed to operate in a rough enviroment...cab of a pickup in the summer!

Check e-bay for used prices.

Hey, thanks for the info on IBM T23's, Dwayne. That's what I have. I'll be a bit more diligent about backing up my laptop data from now on. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Bob, hope your IBM is better than mine! The original 30 GB drive was replaced with a 40GB (service guy says "Oh, there's a problem with the 30's.") Well, when the 40GB died, guess what the same guy puts in - another 30GB. Apparently the 40's weren't too hot, either. I never opened it up to find out the brand(s) of the HD, though.

Other than that & the battery, though, it's been a really good PC. Some folks don't like the pointer stick, though. Hey, Lux - does your Pastor have a preference on what input device the laptop has (pointer stick, trackpad, trackball, etc.) or will a mouse be attached while in use? That may narrow down your choices a bit.

- Dwayne

Stay away from the consumer lines (dell inspiron, compaq presario, hp pavilion, gateway, etc) and stick with the business line designed for the "road warrier". You want something the network tech or traveling salesman or businessman uses. Those have a better warranty (usually transferable and serviceable outside the country of the original sale) and are built a bit sturdier. I have an old Dell Latitude C400, has dents in the case from being dropped a couple times but still works great. My wife went with a consumer model (inspiron) and less than a year had a worn out keyboard, worn touchpad, and worn out screen hinges due to being made cheaper.