I wanted to "crowd-source" you all as I am working on a little tech project that I feel like there is too much data for me to completely go through all the options on my own, and I have very little experience when it comes to some of this, so I am going to lay out my project goals, and some of the things I would like to get as "optional benefits" and see what ideas you techy, or non-techy, folks might come up with:
The Lightweight / Remote Computer project
Goal:
To replace my current workhorse laptop (13" Macbook Pro 2.53ghz w/ 8gb RAM and a 500gb 7200 HD) with a tablet and remote access to a small machine hooked to my TV at home for personal files, music, misc server functions, etc.
Note on usage:
Most of what I do is browsing the internet currently. I do do the blog entries and write emails but that is a fairly small portion of my "work" day. I don't have too many issues with getting out a bue tooth/ USB keyboard for those times I need to type a lot. (And the keyboard could be shared between small computer and "tablet")
Requirements:
Tablet:
- Long Battery Life (more than 3 hours of use without having to plug it in again)
- Wifi and 3/4G
- Remote access ability (built in or app) to other machines/ OSs
- Remote access that doesn't need to be maintained. (No manually setting a new IP address every time Comcast changes it.)
- Lighter than a laptop, but still have a nice screen size. 7"-11" (IE: No 4" phones need apply here)
- Needs to function apart from small computer. (IE: Access to Google Docs, web, email, etc)
Mini Computer:
- Small computer should have a full OS (Apple TV/ Roku not an option)
- At least 500gb HD space
- HDMI output (with audio)
- Quiet!
- CD/DVD
- 4 USB ports
- Good solid (100/1000 Wired connection), no need for wireless as it will be sitting right by the router.
Options:
- Tablet that has a USB port on it
- Reliable wimax (3g/4g) connection in Downtown Houston. (Unlike T-Mobile)
- Small machine had blueray built into it
- small machine had bluetooth built in for shared keyboard/ mouse technology with tablet
- Access to tablet OS "apps" (Android / iPhone / Win7mo apps)
The general thing that got me thinking about all this is that I just spent ten days in the hospital and it wasn't the first time, nor will it be the last, and my laptop stayed at home, unused, for that time because it weighs too much and is too costly to bring into an environment like that where it could "disappear" while I am sleeping. So I was thinking that while I tried to use my phone the connection (the hospital has BAD wifi and T-Mobile's data connection only works between 11pm and 7am at the hospital (overuse during the other times?)) was spotty and I couldn't control my hands well enough on the 3.5" screen to not be frustrated a lot of the time. So I am looking for a kind of lightweight "head" device I can do things with and enjoy the use of, while still having a machine at home to quietly sit there and have a little more horsepower if I feel like I need to go outside the bounds of a tablet OS. I also enjoy some of the "apps" I have seen coming out of the Android/ iPhone revolution so those would be nice to have access to as well.
I know I could go completely Mac on this without much effort, and with a little more effort I could probably also go Windows, but I wasn't sure what all was out there and what you all had seen, or touched, or what other tech I might be missing entirely. So I put this project before you as something I am working on I am eager to hear what you might think. Feel free to ask questions and / or put fourth your ideas either here in the comments, on facebook, or by emailing me at ben d0t m0rrell at gmail d0t c0m. (all o's in that email address have been replaced by 0's for difficulty in computer reading, so I don't get spam)
I look forward to hearing from you!
~B.