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writereva
Newbie
Posts: 4
Registered: 11-1-2009
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Laptop fried - Is taking a desktop impossible?
My hubby and I planned for everything except a fried laptop.
We are going with a truck and cab-over camper and a boat. We need a computer for emails and more. Would there be a huge hassle at the border if we
take our old desktop (talking Windows XP here)?
Thanks.
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BajaNuts
Super Nomad
Posts: 1085
Registered: 5-11-2008
Location: eastern WA, the DRY side
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Mood: no worry, no hurry....it's all good!
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depending on where you are headed and how often you need to check in.... can you use an internet cafe or other public computer?
Checking emails should be pretty safe, but I would definitely think twice, 3 times or more...about doing anything financial on a public computer.
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writereva
Newbie
Posts: 4
Registered: 11-1-2009
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We'll be travelling from November through May. We'll be in La Paz for the holidays and will stay at other casitas and campgrouds later on both the Sea
of Cortez and the Pacific - we hope anyway!
Using public computers would be a problem. We would need to do banking and bill pays.
Also writing, of course 
[Edited on 11-10-2009 by writereva]
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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Spend $400 and buy a new laptop; quick !
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
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Nah...
| Quote: | Originally posted by writereva
Would there be a huge hassle at the border if we take our old desktop?
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Old is old.
They'll know.
Then, instead of bringing it back give it to a family who can use it.
It'll make you feel good.
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writereva
Newbie
Posts: 4
Registered: 11-1-2009
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Wish I could - not possible right now.
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BajaNuts
Super Nomad
Posts: 1085
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Location: eastern WA, the DRY side
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Mood: no worry, no hurry....it's all good!
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yea, sounds like you need your own.
I think I saw a mini-IBM for about $200.
But still keep in mind, even if you have you're own notebook and are sitting at the internet cafe, I would be very cautious of doing financial matters
on a public network.
If you are at a casita or elsewhere that has a secure, password protected link, better for financial things.
Bring an extra 6'-8' ethernet patch cord with you. Then you have the option of plugging in directly to the internet jack and not having to rely on
wireless.
Sounds like a fun trip, Have A Ball!
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landyacht318
Nomad
Posts: 247
Registered: 7-28-2007
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You don't say if you plan to use it in you truck camper, but computers are pretty hungry devices.
My Laptop draws between 3.4 and 7.7 amps depending on it's task. I assume a desktop can draw even more.
You batteries might protest.
Any chance of un frying your current laptop?
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
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Hmmmm,
Keyboard......$20.....1 lb.
Monitor.....$200.....8 lbs
Computer tower.....$600....15 lbs
Cords.....too many
Power surge protector.....priceless
Pretty bulky to lug around
Get a netbook for a few hundred $$$ (Acer Aspire One)
Don't believe everything you think....
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k-rico
Super Nomad
Posts: 2079
Registered: 7-10-2008
Location: Playas de Tijuana
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I'd be worried about damage to the disk drive. Aren't desktop disk drives less sturdy than laptop drives? Different head parking mechanisms?
Regardless, you're going to need to protect the computer from all the bouncing around. Washboard will kill it.
I bought a Dell Mini netbook to travel with because it doesn't have a hard disk, plus a fully charged battery lasts for 4 or more hours.
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
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is it possible? well, yeah. but is it legal? no.
your decision.
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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CortezBlue
Super Nomad
Posts: 2213
Registered: 11-14-2006
Location: Fenix/San Phelipe
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buy a netbook for 299.00
Make sure that you upgrade the memory to 2gb from the 1gb that will come with it.
Also, make sure that it has a 160gb hard drive in it.
The easiest best way to go.
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k-rico
Super Nomad
Posts: 2079
Registered: 7-10-2008
Location: Playas de Tijuana
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| Quote: | Originally posted by CortezBlue
buy a netbook for 299.00
Make sure that you upgrade the memory to 2gb from the 1gb that will come with it.
Also, make sure that it has a 160gb hard drive in it.
The easiest best way to go. |
I elected to stay away from a hard drive for durability and battery life reasons. I have 16 gigs of solid state mass storage, 1 gig of RAM. Windows
XP. 1.6 Ghz Intel Atom processor. That's enough if you don't load it up with software.
[Edited on 11-10-2009 by k-rico]
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BajaNuts
Super Nomad
Posts: 1085
Registered: 5-11-2008
Location: eastern WA, the DRY side
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Mood: no worry, no hurry....it's all good!
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I've seen on 60 Minutes (or some other news show) about people who put something like a flash drive in the USB port on the back of computers in hotels
and such. It then copies every key stroke, including account numbers, pin numbers, etc. They sneak back in later, retrieve the flash drive thingy
and all the data, too.
I do not know first hand of the same thing happening on a public computer. I'm thinking of the internet cafe type thing. Where there are one or more
computers available for public use and also the wireless using the cafe system.
Just being cautious. In a secured network which is password protected, and you know who has access to the password, it's not such a worry. But even
though the coffee shop has a password, 500 people could have that password.
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
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Mood: Gettin' Better
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I agree w/ K-Rico....I have a desktop at home and office, a good laptop for business travel, and an Acer Aspire One for adventure travel as it is less
susceptible to hard drive failure because it does not have one....the memmory is what K-Rico said, a solid state 16 gig memory that allows a caard or
zip-drive via USB to enlarge working memory... The operating system is Linux which is all one needs for e-mail, web-browsing, and word
processing.....storing digital pics and video on zip drives....don't need no stinkin' Windows for simple travel computing....
| Quote: | Originally posted by k-rico
| Quote: | Originally posted by CortezBlue
buy a netbook for 299.00
Make sure that you upgrade the memory to 2gb from the 1gb that will come with it.
Also, make sure that it has a 160gb hard drive in it.
The easiest best way to go. |
I elected to stay away from a hard drive for durability and battery life reasons. I have 16 gigs of solid state mass storage, 1 gig of RAM. Windows
XP. 1.6 Ghz Intel Atom processor. That's enough if you don't load it up with software.
[Edited on 11-10-2009 by k-rico] |
Don't believe everything you think....
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64837
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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I read that tourists are allowed a laptop... but NOT a desktop. It would be assumed you are bringing that in to sell in Mexico... FORBIDDEN!
How did you intend to connect to the Internet? WiFi is not a common thing in the outback of Baja... Internet cafes are all over in small towns, plan
on using them... very cheap. I have posted here on Nomad from L.A. Bay a few times at one.
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k-rico
Super Nomad
Posts: 2079
Registered: 7-10-2008
Location: Playas de Tijuana
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
I read that tourists are allowed a laptop... but NOT a desktop. It would be assumed you are bringing that in to sell in Mexico... FORBIDDEN!
How did you intend to connect to the Internet? WiFi is not a common thing in the outback of Baja... Internet cafes are all over in small towns, plan
on using them... very cheap. I have posted here on Nomad from L.A. Bay a few times at one. |
I brought a brand new desktop system into Mexico. Got nabbed by the random red light at San Ysidro. I had to pay 15% import fee. No discussion
whatsoever about visas. Tourists can bring boats and all sorts of stuff into Baja. Even tow cars behind motorhomes. What makes desktop computers any
different?
I've also used a broadband cell phone network to connect to the Internet in the middle of nowhere on the mainland. A fellow camper loaned me his USB
cell phone device. Can that be done in outback Baja?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64837
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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All this would be good to know for sure... Official word (in print)... as things may have changed over the years.
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
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Hard Drive Paranoia
After a Long and Varied Professional life dealing with Computers, I'd say that ANY Hard Bump that would damage said drives when Powered OFF is far
more likely to damage other components of the Laptop first, especially the display.
That said, anyone who doesn't carry their Laptop in a padded case is asking for trouble. Dirt being as likely as bumps to be a problem.
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postholedigger
Nomad
Posts: 189
Registered: 1-6-2008
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I don't think an old XP desktop is going to raise any flags. I really would consider a netbook though. Those things are cheap as hell these days.
You're probably considering replacing your laptop eventually anyway, right? I think a netbook would probably be a good candidate to replace the fried
laptop at a cheaper price.
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