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General discussion

laptop for outdoors use

by glennbraden Jul 4, 2009 5:31AM PDT

I am retired and travel around the US with my travel trailer. I usually connect to the internet via campground wifi. I ask for your suggestions as to what new laptop I should get. Here is some additional info:
I use the laptop for pretty basic stuff:
a. surfing the internet
b. doing email
c. looking at my digital camera photos(.jpg) and video clips(.avi) (I usually use the windows screensaver function for looking at these)
d. doing correspondence & keeping track of expenses via word & excel
e. playing simple games (solitare, sudoku, etc)
I often use the laptop outside the trailer thus I would like a computer screen that cuts down on reflections.(matte rather than glossy)
I assume I should look for a laptop with 802.11 (ABGN)
My existing laptop is a 12" Dell XPS which works out OK, but the 12" screen and the keyboard are just too small to suit me. I suppose I need to go to about a 15 or 16" laptop. I have no preference as to brand. I would like to keep the price down to, say, $1,300 or less.
Any suggestions from you folks as to features, brands, models, dealers?
Thanks,
Glenn