Mobile Computing

[Hawkmoon]

I have had an Acer Aspire One netbook for a bit over a year and I've been well satisfied with it. For what it is, IMHO it does a good job. Even though it isn't intended for "serious" work, I have the entire Microsoft Office 2003 Professional loaded and it seems to run all the programs. Battery life tends to be about 2-1/2 hours when I'm actually using it.

Therein lies the rub. There are times when I like to take it along if I'm going to be out and about for most of the day, and if I have enough intervals during which I can use it, I run down the battery. The a/c adapter is international (handles 120 and 240 volts, 50 and 60 Hz, but there's no 12-volt adapter for recharging in the car while doing my road warrior imitation. Does anyone know if such an adapter is available -- either from Acer or aftermarket?

FWIW, I believe the input voltage from the a/c adapter is 18 volts.

[lee n. field]

I have had an Acer Aspire One netbook for a bit over a year and I've been well satisfied with it.

Keyboard on mine sucks, worse than that of the emachines netbook I beat to heck the year before.

For what it is, IMHO it does a good job. Even though it isn't intended for "serious" work, I have the entire Microsoft Office 2003 Professional loaded and it seems to run all the programs. Battery life tends to be about 2-1/2 hours when I'm actually using it.

Therein lies the rub. There are times when I like to take it along if I'm going to be out and about for most of the day, and if I have enough intervals during which I can use it, I run down the battery. The a/c adapter is international (handles 120 and 240 volts, 50 and 60 Hz, but there's no 12-volt adapter for recharging in the car while doing my road warrior imitation. Does anyone know if such an adapter is available -- either from Acer or aftermarket?

FWIW, I believe the input voltage from the a/c adapter is 18 volts.

car inverter

or a 6 hour battery

[AmbulanceDriver]

I bought a cheap 90 watt inverter from RadioShack a number of years ago for this exact reason (just was a heavier duty laptop than the acer).  Has given me at least 3 years of trouble free service, and cost $30-40.  THey had a smaller 50 watt for $20, but I figured better a more capable inverter working at half load than a smaller one working at almost full load.

[bedlamite]

I've got a 140W inverter that works great:
http://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-XI14-DC-Power-Inverter/dp/B004EIBXM8

[zxcvbob]

I have inverters in all my vehicles.  A 400W mounted under the dash of the pickup, and little 90W portables that plug into the cigar lighters (oops, "power ports") for the cars.

[Ben]

Easiest thing would be an extended battery. My Asus netbook has an 8 hour battery and it doesn't noticeably stick out at all.

At work, we often have to fly in planes with no scientific power and will either use a little 200watt inverter if a cig adapter or AC plug is available, or if not one of these, which adds a good hour to a Toughbook (more if we turn the screen down when not using it).

[Perd Hapley]

Uh, scientific power?   

[Ben]

Uh, scientific power?   

Clean power separate from other onboard power. Used for computers and sensitive instrumentation.

[lee n. field]

Clean power separate from other onboard power. Used for computers and sensitive instrumentation.

A big tripplite dual conversion UPS (one such as I am resting my feet on at this very moment), set it on the floor of the back seat.  Haul it into the house over night for top off.  (You do have prepaid chiropractic care, right?)   Ignore the beeping.