Is anyone using one?

I'm looking at one with an 8.9" screen that looks pretty nice. The keyboard is 92% of a full-size one. The specs are not great but plenty to run word and whatever inspection softward you have.

The prices really coming down and are very reasonable. You can pick up a decent one for around $500.

I have a larger laptop and find I just don't bring it or use it between jobs because it's just too large.

I haven't actually seen one of the minis in person and will before buying one. I'm just curious if any of you have one.

Matt,

My son has a small computer that is about the size of a regular lap-top.

The thing is so small though that I can't use the keyboard because of the smaller keys. The screen is difficult to read. I'd be completely blind in a year if I had to rely on it all the time.

What I've been looking into is one of the Panasonic Toughbooks. The one with the touch screen that has the reversible screen that makes into a notepad is awesome, but comes at a price of around 3400.+ just for a basic model.

I've seen one of the city inspectors using one and it looked nice. It had a very small printer attachment for it that they printed out the inspection "failed" comments on. It was about the size of a small portable credit card terminal.

rick

Sounds like it is only slightly larger than my old Compaq Aero 425 notebook computer from 15 years ago.

The only thing wrong with the Compaq Aero 425 was ... 87 MB hard drive and that it was only 25 MHz speed.

I was waiting for them to package new technology in that old size (not that I need it now). Easy to carry, easy to use, and easy to read (you can enlarge the font, which, of course, would mean less on the screen and more scrolling, still better than trying to read a PDA - MUCH BETTER than that).

With modern technology hard drive sizes, speed, etc., I'd recommend checking it out in person.

Most computer inspection programs are point and click with customized comments (you customize them - I wrote my own program back then) which reduces typing, however, the keys and keyboard were large enough to allow my big fingers to type on it for a year or two before I went with a larger and faster one with a larger hard drive. Now I have a 17" monster notebook, which is really a bit too large to carry around (but I don't carry it around anymore either, I do 'bring it with me' but don't have to lug it around inspections).

__________________
Jerry Peck, Construction / Litigation Consultant
Construction Litigation Consultants, LLC ( www.ConstructionLitigationConsultants.com )

I use an HP mini note daily, sounds like that may be the one you are talking about. Mine is 1.6 ghz with a 160 gb hard drive, it was more lke $700. I don't think I would buy the $500 model.
I love it. It was frustratingly slow with vista business but HP will send you an XP pro disk at no charge. XP runs pretty fast.
It can run any of my software including 3D. Battery life is about 3-4 hours but batteries are readily available at about $100. It has all the features I need. wi-fi, card reader, but no CD drive. I bought a cheapie to load XP and have never used it since. I load all my software through my network or from an SD card.
The screen seems big enough to me but I need reading glasses anyway.
Only drawback I found is the max 2GB of ram, hence the problems with vista.