Posted by HisHughness on 4/23/12 1:03am
Msg #418590

This is probably going to make me appear clueless.

If so, it is only because I am.

My fears are beginning to be realized. It appears that e-signings will loom much larger in the future than I wished, and I'm steeling myself to accomodate them. I need to update my equipment. My laptop is so old, AARP is soliciting it for membership. So...my question is: Will one of the netbook or notebook computers have the muscle to do the job?

Two years ago, I bought a netbook when I was headed out on a cruise. The idea was to use it for Skype phone calls. That was a total bust, and I finally gave the damned thing away. Are they more reliable now, and can they handle e-signings? If not, what is the minimum I need to look for?

On another but technologically related subject, I finally bought a smart phone. Thanks for everybody's recommendations. It boiled down to a choice of a Blackberry or a Samsung which are supported by Boost. I went with the Samsung Replenish because it offers a touchscreen. If history is any judge, though, I'm going to be glued to the flipphone for a while yet. It took me four weeks to work up enough willpower to plug in the new Garmin.

I really miss my 8-track.

Reply by Karla/OR on 4/23/12 1:16am
Msg #418591

<<My laptop is so old, AARP is soliciting it for membership.>> LOL!!!!!

Good choice with the Samsung Hugh. My husband has a Blackberry and hates it! It came from his job so fortunately we didn't put any of our own money out for it.

I, personally, have a Verizon flip phone. For now it does a good job for me.

Have a good week.

Karla

Reply by Beverly Brady on 4/23/12 6:57am
Msg #418594

I'm with you Hugh...but I prefer the cassettes...the 8 tracks would 'click' to the next track right in the middle of my favorite songs! HATED THAT.
I do like the CD's though, easy to find songs on there. One day I might catch up.

Reply by Lee/AR on 4/23/12 6:58am
Msg #418595

I kinda thought that e-signings were sort of a niche business. Couple years ago, I was asked to do them a lot more frequently, but requests seem to be dwindling--at least in this area.
Possibly/probably due to connectivity issues...lot of dead zones in these hills. I don't do them so can't help you but do wish you good luck, Hugh.

Reply by VT_Syrup on 4/23/12 8:04am
Msg #418597

I never bought a netbook myself, but I've considered them. I updated my knowledge by going to the Best Buy site and looking at the specs for a Acer - 10.1" Aspire One Netbook. I note that this model has wired Ethernet port, which you want in case there is no wireless data coverage and your client only has wired Ethernet, not WiFi.

This model does not have an optical drive, so you would not be able to supply your client with documents on CD, which might become a more popular way of doing business in the future. But you could buy an external optical drive and plug it into a USB port.

Since you like to keep technology for a long time, the fact this computer comes with Windows 7 Starter could be a problem. Right now virtually all software is available in a 32 bit edition, but by the time you wear this one out, you might start to see 64-bit only software, which Windows 7 Starter can't handle.

Some older netbooks came with the Linux operating system, which had much greater compatibility issues than the newer netbooks.

I just disposed of a laptop that the local amateur radio club owned. It was a Packard-Bell, had 640 kB of memory, and 2 floppy drives.

Some older netbooks came with the Linux operating system, which had much greater compatibility issues than the newer netbooks.

Reply by Jessica Ward on 4/23/12 2:29pm
Msg #418624

I found the learning curve on linux pretty steep

I tried to move one of my laptops to Linux, and I couldn't stand it.

Also, I'll second you, not having a CD/DVD drive is a pain in a netbook.

Reply by Clem/CA on 4/23/12 9:39am
Msg #418604

Now you will have to learn how to set up your phone up as a WiFi spot so you can connect you computer to it.

Reply by jba/fl on 4/23/12 10:07am
Msg #418605

Clem: how do you do that? n/m

Reply by Clem/CA on 4/23/12 10:23am
Msg #418607

Re: Clem: how do you do that?

Here this might help

https://www.google.com/#hl=en&sa=X&ei=1GiVT7CLKOPu2gXOwpjpAw&ved=0CEoQvwUoAQ&q=setting+phone+up+as+wifi+spot&spell=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=a366a72422fd9740

Reply by BrendaTx on 4/23/12 3:18pm
Msg #418632

jba...hotspot service can be purchased

For the most part, telcos are shutting down tethering and phone hot spots without adding the additional service.

Reply by OR on 4/23/12 10:13am
Msg #418606

I have a BB and love love it. Husband has the Samsung. You can use you phone as a modem using your phone desk top softwear. My Husband WiFi to his phone. He has never been charged to do that it just worked when he tried it. Good luck on the laptop. Love my Dell

Reply by Jessica Ward on 4/23/12 2:27pm
Msg #418623

I would avoid netbook at all costs

I've used netbooks and really, really didn't like them, they are too difficult to manipulate and the small screen is cumbersome for signings.

I have two old HP Pavillion laptops that have really big screens. I love these for e-signings because so often I'm assigned to do an e-close and my signer is elderly and unfamiliar with computers or can't see the screen well.

The laptops run off the wifi on my smart phone, and I add a mouse, and voila, I'm ready to go (most signers are not comfortable with laptop pointers or trackpads, and everyone's laptop is configured differently, so I've found that packing a mouse works great, even a little one.).

I don't do enough of these e-closings to warrant a new machine yet, but if I do, I'll upgrade to one with a touch-screen.

Hope that helps. I'm an early-adopter on most technology, happy to be a resource if you ever get stumped on something.

Reply by HisHughness on 4/23/12 5:36pm
Msg #418654

What a wonderful offer

***I'm an early-adopter on most technology, happy to be a resource if you ever get stumped on something.***

That's great. And yes, I can use some help. Any suggestions on how to get used to those new-fangled transmissions where you don't have to shift? I apparently drove all the way to Dallas in low gear (I didn't think those supposedly "automatic" transmissions <had> gears.

And the ice I put in my refrigerator keeps melting and running out the door. I think it's defective; I never could find a melt-pan when I bought it. Don't see how a melt-pan would fit in that little compartment at the top anyway.

Reply by MikeC/TX on 4/23/12 5:40pm
Msg #418655

This does not make you appear clueless...

There are plenty of other things vying for that honor

Seriously, a netbook will probably not cut it, but a notebook computer certainly would. I have an Asus netbook that I use when I'm traveling, but it doesn't have the muscle to do more than email, web surfing, and the occasional Powerpoint presentation (when I was still in real estate). I seriously doubt I could use it for an e-signing, because it's slow and the screen is really small.

I think you made the right decision on the smartphone, however, especially since the Blackberry folks recently announced that a) they're getting out of the consumer market, and b) they've hired a law firm to help them "restructure", which I think means they are stumbling towards bankruptcy.

Reply by jba/fl on 4/23/12 6:08pm
Msg #418660

Well, that's ok. I'm going by memory here and not search

but if I remember correctly, and I think I do, when people talked about laptops Toshiba was the most admired muscle on several counts. Comments have been made that netbooks and notebooks while light, chic, sexy just didn't have the experience for the job.

You can do your own search though. Or wait a while - someone will be along to add their 2 cents, prove me wrong (or right) and be much more knowledgeable than I. (ooo - there's that pesky e again) There is no rush when it's a considered decision.

On another note: i just got my first smart phone - a Samsung that I am learning to love. I got it on a Fri. afternoon and sat down and played with it. It is much more intuitive than I expected. Later I went out and took a lot of pictures of my garden, learning how to sort my stuff, email to my sister and friends for an hour or so, using the camera functions to learn those features and stay in touch with my family; then I played with my contacts lists, made adjustments, added things, took away. The point I am making is that by setting a block of time to explore and learn sections, I am coming to love it. I think you will as well once you give yourself that block of time, preferably on a day you are pressured to do nothing else.

Touchscreens are great!