Laptops, Motels And The Transient Life

chuckiepoo · 2005-08-06, 10:29 AM

Let's take a hypothetical situation:

Suppose one were to live a transient life - going from town to town living in motels. And one wanted to do adult webmasteriing form various everchanging motel rooms.

It seems the best (or possibly only) way to do this would be to use a laptop.

I know nothing about laptops - never had one. How do you facilitate internet access with a laptop? About how much would it cost per month? could webmasting be done in such a fashion?

Thanks

Cleo · 2005-08-06, 10:37 AM

I pretty much do this already with my 17" laptop often working from friend's places since all my friends have wifi in their homes.

My laptop supports two screens so I could carry a LCD flat screen too if I wanted but most of my friends have an extra monitor that I plug into when I'm over at their place since I prefer to work with two screens.

As far as getting internet access at hotels you have lots of choices plus many coffee shops have internet access.

T-mobile is the largest wifi provider. They are in many coffee shops and some hotels. Their service costs $30 per month unless you also use their cell service and then it is $20 per month. Best Western hotels have free wifi access as do some other hotels. The thing to do is settle on one wifi provider and then stay in hotels that offer that provider otherwise you end up paying for many providers.

chuckiepoo · 2005-08-06, 11:15 AM

Cleo
Forgive my naive-ness, but what's wifi?
Is that one of those cards you use to get internet access?

cd34 · 2005-08-06, 12:23 PM

All Courtyard by Marriott are supposed to have WIFI (Wireless Fidelity, 802.11 wireless, 11mb/sec wireless, however, their upstream link may only be a 1mb/sec) or hardline access to the net. Bass Hotels and Holiday Inn/Holiday Inn Express are also supposed to have internet access. Wyndham has done most of their facilities with HotelNet.

Problems you might run into:

Email will need to go via a port OTHER than 25/SMTP if you want to use your own mailserver
Sometimes SSH will not work outbound because of their proxy-nat. FTP & Web Surfing usually works with no issues. FTP will probably require passive mode.

If you're going to depend on hotels, check to make sure that the Hotel chain works in one city -- then it is most likely to work in their other cities.

There's always T-mobile and their WIFI network at McDonalds, Starbucks, etc

http://tmobile.com/hotspot/default.a...&WT.mc_t=Other

As for using a laptop as a machine, you might consider what they call a DTR - Desktop Replacement. You might find some of the ones with longer battery life to be too slow or too compact for what you need it for. I've used a laptop as my primary machine since '93 or so and I would NEVER use a desktop again. Generally, I'll get about 3 years of life out of them and I don't really treat my laptops gently.

If you are going to be in 'civilized' areas, Cingular has their Edge service which offers up to 200kb/sec on their network. If you're going to be on Sprint/Nextel's network, you can use their phones for a 19.2 digital dialup. Sprint has mentioned an Edge service as well, but, I haven't read much on it. GPRS3 was being deployed by AT&T/GSM prior to them getting purchased by Cingular. Some areas have it in beta where it offers 300kb/sec. GPRS3 has the ability to support multi-megabits per second.

Verizon offers VZAccess which has reasonably good coverage and 300kb/sec down with 64-300kb/sec up depending on facilities.

Basically, the closer you are to civilization, the more likely you are to get higher speed connections. If you're going to stay in resort towns, I doubt you would have much problem finding connections.

You might check with some of the motorhome/motorcoach clubs like 'Good Sams'. Since people live on the road, they have probably run into the same issue and might have recommendations, discounts, etc.

Cleo · 2005-08-06, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cd34

I've used a laptop as my primary machine since '93 or so and I would NEVER use a desktop again. Generally, I'll get about 3 years of life out of them and I don't really treat my laptops gently.

No desktop here either. Been that way for about 3 years now. I'll never go back to a desktop, just no reason.

It has been 3 years since I bought this one and I will probably replace it with whatever Apple is selling in the 17" size to replace the current 17" one that I'm using. All Apple Powerbooks (their pro laptops) have built in wifi plus support for 2 monitors for lots of desktop space while working. I get about 2 to 3 hours on a battery plus I carry a second battery plus the power charger if I'm lucky enough to be within reach of a wall plug. I edit video, run Photoshop, plus all my other stuff like html editors, ICQ, mail, browsers, etc. Everything is plenty fast enough and I have absolutely no need of a desktop machine.

As far as sending e-mail I have Comcast cable as my home service and they also provide an authenticated smtp server (this is what you send mail from) on port 465 for when I'm using another ISP.

The T-mobile wifi service also comes with an authenticated smtp server.

There are also other places that will provide an authenticated smtp server for a small yearly fee like www.mac.com .

chuckiepoo · 2005-08-06, 12:39 PM

cd34
Thank you for that very informative answer.
This whole question came up when I considered the possibility of getting kicked out of where I'm currently living. What would I do; how would I get things going again, and keep things going, on a small
income grabbing lodging wherever I could and working part time at some McJob - you know, the worst case scenario thing. I would like to be somewhat prepared should a situation like that occur.
Thanks again!

juggernaut · 2005-08-06, 10:11 PM

In all seriousness, if you dont know what wifi is then I think you would have issues. Cause if your connection drops you would not even know how to get it back or surf for a new one. I'm not bashing you here. I'm just saying in a "hypothetical situation" the last thing you need to be buying is a laptop. I mean dude anything worth while is going to cost you a grand at a minium and you mentioned paying for the connection. Well with WIFI it's not really an issue. I know people who have driven all over the country picking up internet connections all over the place. IE stop at star bucks and buy a $5 cup of coffee an sit there all day using their connection. But if i was ever placed in a situation like that. I would do what most illegals do. I would go find a landscaper or lawn cutting service and work for them. In fact if you are working at MD I would leave that and work in the lawn care business anyway. The work is harder but the money is better and you are outside. But thats just me. Not everyone is cut out for that work. You can always join Uncle Sam. Honstly best move I ever did in my life. Turned me from a boy to a man, very fast. You give us the perception you would have no money anyway. So I think if you were kicked out of someplace the last thing you need to be looking to do is spend money on something that will most likly only bring a few hundred a month at most ebing you would surly not have the time or resources to keep this up on a constant like it should be.

2005-08-06, 10:29 AM	#1
chuckiepoo WHO IS FONZY!?! Don't they teach you anything at school? Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Central Florida, USA Posts: 49	Laptops, Motels And The Transient Life Let's take a hypothetical situation: Suppose one were to live a transient life - going from town to town living in motels. And one wanted to do adult webmasteriing form various everchanging motel rooms. It seems the best (or possibly only) way to do this would be to use a laptop. I know nothing about laptops - never had one. How do you facilitate internet access with a laptop? About how much would it cost per month? could webmasting be done in such a fashion? Thanks __________________ chuckiepoo

2005-08-06, 10:37 AM	#2
Cleo Subversive filth of the hedonistic decadent West Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Southeast Florida Posts: 27,936	I pretty much do this already with my 17" laptop often working from friend's places since all my friends have wifi in their homes. My laptop supports two screens so I could carry a LCD flat screen too if I wanted but most of my friends have an extra monitor that I plug into when I'm over at their place since I prefer to work with two screens. As far as getting internet access at hotels you have lots of choices plus many coffee shops have internet access. T-mobile is the largest wifi provider. They are in many coffee shops and some hotels. Their service costs $30 per month unless you also use their cell service and then it is $20 per month. Best Western hotels have free wifi access as do some other hotels. The thing to do is settle on one wifi provider and then stay in hotels that offer that provider otherwise you end up paying for many providers. __________________ Free Rides on Uber and Lyft Uber Car: uberTzTerri Lyft Car: TZ896289

2005-08-06, 11:15 AM	#3
chuckiepoo WHO IS FONZY!?! Don't they teach you anything at school? Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Central Florida, USA Posts: 49	Cleo Forgive my naive-ness, but what's wifi? Is that one of those cards you use to get internet access? __________________ chuckiepoo

2005-08-06, 12:23 PM	#4
cd34 a.k.a. Sparky Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: West Palm Beach, FL, USA Posts: 2,396	All Courtyard by Marriott are supposed to have WIFI (Wireless Fidelity, 802.11 wireless, 11mb/sec wireless, however, their upstream link may only be a 1mb/sec) or hardline access to the net. Bass Hotels and Holiday Inn/Holiday Inn Express are also supposed to have internet access. Wyndham has done most of their facilities with HotelNet. Problems you might run into: Email will need to go via a port OTHER than 25/SMTP if you want to use your own mailserver Sometimes SSH will not work outbound because of their proxy-nat. FTP & Web Surfing usually works with no issues. FTP will probably require passive mode. If you're going to depend on hotels, check to make sure that the Hotel chain works in one city -- then it is most likely to work in their other cities. There's always T-mobile and their WIFI network at McDonalds, Starbucks, etc http://tmobile.com/hotspot/default.a...&WT.mc_t=Other As for using a laptop as a machine, you might consider what they call a DTR - Desktop Replacement. You might find some of the ones with longer battery life to be too slow or too compact for what you need it for. I've used a laptop as my primary machine since '93 or so and I would NEVER use a desktop again. Generally, I'll get about 3 years of life out of them and I don't really treat my laptops gently. If you are going to be in 'civilized' areas, Cingular has their Edge service which offers up to 200kb/sec on their network. If you're going to be on Sprint/Nextel's network, you can use their phones for a 19.2 digital dialup. Sprint has mentioned an Edge service as well, but, I haven't read much on it. GPRS3 was being deployed by AT&T/GSM prior to them getting purchased by Cingular. Some areas have it in beta where it offers 300kb/sec. GPRS3 has the ability to support multi-megabits per second. Verizon offers VZAccess which has reasonably good coverage and 300kb/sec down with 64-300kb/sec up depending on facilities. Basically, the closer you are to civilization, the more likely you are to get higher speed connections. If you're going to stay in resort towns, I doubt you would have much problem finding connections. You might check with some of the motorhome/motorcoach clubs like 'Good Sams'. Since people live on the road, they have probably run into the same issue and might have recommendations, discounts, etc. __________________ SnapReplay.com a different way to share photos - iPhone & Android

2005-08-06, 12:39 PM	#6
chuckiepoo WHO IS FONZY!?! Don't they teach you anything at school? Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Central Florida, USA Posts: 49	cd34 Thank you for that very informative answer. This whole question came up when I considered the possibility of getting kicked out of where I'm currently living. What would I do; how would I get things going again, and keep things going, on a small income grabbing lodging wherever I could and working part time at some McJob - you know, the worst case scenario thing. I would like to be somewhat prepared should a situation like that occur. Thanks again! __________________ chuckiepoo

2005-08-06, 10:11 PM	#7
juggernaut Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Central Jersey! If I was rich and powerful I would dress as my avatar does. Posts: 1,448	In all seriousness, if you dont know what wifi is then I think you would have issues. Cause if your connection drops you would not even know how to get it back or surf for a new one. I'm not bashing you here. I'm just saying in a "hypothetical situation" the last thing you need to be buying is a laptop. I mean dude anything worth while is going to cost you a grand at a minium and you mentioned paying for the connection. Well with WIFI it's not really an issue. I know people who have driven all over the country picking up internet connections all over the place. IE stop at star bucks and buy a $5 cup of coffee an sit there all day using their connection. But if i was ever placed in a situation like that. I would do what most illegals do. I would go find a landscaper or lawn cutting service and work for them. In fact if you are working at MD I would leave that and work in the lawn care business anyway. The work is harder but the money is better and you are outside. But thats just me. Not everyone is cut out for that work. You can always join Uncle Sam. Honstly best move I ever did in my life. Turned me from a boy to a man, very fast. You give us the perception you would have no money anyway. So I think if you were kicked out of someplace the last thing you need to be looking to do is spend money on something that will most likly only bring a few hundred a month at most ebing you would surly not have the time or resources to keep this up on a constant like it should be.