Question:
Hi all,
I have been lurking on this site for a while and trying to learn and research trucking as a career change for me from Software Project Management. I have learnt a lot from all of you by reading the posts here, thank you all.
Question: I see that many of you use laptop computers in the truck on the road, either for internet access and/or for mileage calculators, mapping softare specific to trucking, fuel-tax calculators etc. Do all of you use Windows or are there people who use Macintosh laptops such as Powerbooks or iBooks? If you use a Mac, how do you find trucking specific software for the Mac? Everything I have come across seems to be written specifically for Windows.
BTW, the above question holds true for Linux users too, so if anyone uses Linux, please do respond
Thanks again and cheers.

Answer:
I was an early adopter, of the Verizon Wireless Internet Access.
At the time, their software was not available for Apple products.
I expect Apple is gearing up, to take on WinTel.Government Ain't YO' Friend. Nor your Servant.
A Tax Reduces Incentive & Capacity. A Regulation is also a TAX.


Answer:
I would go with a PC and get PC Miler Co-Pilot Truck... Its a nice program with a USB GPS especially for trucks. Macs cannot run many programs. They are good for graphics editing, but not much else. They are slower than PC counterparts. Go with a nice Vaio 10" laptop, with a Jotto desk.

Answer:
Thank you both for your responses
Cheers

Answer:

Oh R-E-A-L-L-Y!!?????
In my 21 some years in the computer industry, I have never hear that. Even in the PC magazines, they rarely compare the Windows based PC to their Mac counter parts. Mac's have thousands of programs that can not only do almost everything a Windows based PC can do, the Mac can do it better. And you can buy Windows emulators for the Mac, if you desire.
Mac's were doing Multimedia (sound and video), while uttering the word, "multimedia" to a Windows based PC brought out the "blue screen of death."
I will admit that there are two areas that Windows PC's excel. 1) they crash more frequently than any other Operating System, 2) they have more security holes than anything known to mankind.
And don't forget, if you want to use your computer for anything, you will need to buy software. In order to activate the Operating System, and any software you purchase, you need an internet connection. Unfortunately, in order to avoid having your computer taken over by a hacker, you need to purchase and install firewall software. Want to use email? Need to purchase and install anti-virus software.
I had a Sony VAIO. It spent so much time in the service department that the seller replaced it. A friend bought a Sony VAIO, it had to go to the shop within 2 weeks of her purchase. No more Sony for me.
Best computer out of the box is a Mac. Best Operating System is *nix. All with a big HOWEVER!!!, one needs to determine what they want to do with the computer, then buy the computer. Software first.
If your reason to purchase a PC is for mapping, as much as it pains me, you will need to go with a Windows based PC. I have seen some improvement in Linux based mapping software, but I would not use it for mapping on a truck.
There a lot of websites that offer maps, but I am not sure that is a good idea. You need to have an internet connection coast to coast for that to work. Also, before you rely on any computer for mapping, purchase and know how to use a Rand McNally truck map.
My solution was to purchase a Windows based laptop, FDISK (20 gig for Windows) FORMAT SETUP and install Windows, run the Service Pack updates, install the mapping programs, games and then disable the network ports. Then install Linux on the remaining harddisk space. Everything else is done under Linux.
If you want to install Linux on a laptop, do a thorough check of the HCL's to make sure you laptop has components that are supported on Linux.
Skip the Jotto desk. Way too much money, and one should not be looking at a computer while they're drivng, anyway. A TV Dinner tray will work the same and you do not have to bolt it in. Always securely store your computer before moving the truck.
-JHappy Dwellers Society
Company Driver Division

Answer:
DriverJ, your sentiments mirror mine so much that it is eerie! I dumped Windows 5 years ago, switched to BeOS, then Linux (I am a distro junkie), now I am settled on FreeBSD on my PC and Panther on my Mac Mini.
Yes, I need a leptop only for truck mapping and other trucking software that I can find, so it is either an iBook with VirtualPC or a Windows laptop partitioned the way you said, as little as possible for Windows and the rest either for FreeBSD or Linux.
FInally I meet another geek and one who has the same opinions as me on things Microsoft
Cheers

Answer:
I got Slack and SuSE running on a Laptop. SuSE was an easier install, minor tweaking. Slack a lot of fine tuning and compiling and compiling and compiling... etc. I finally got it stable and lost it with a windows crash. Somehow Windows corrupted my partition table, never figured out why, lost the whole drive.
If you like the Gnome desktop check out Ubuntu. Sweet!!! I cut my teeth on Gnome and RedHat. But found favor the KDE environment. Downside of Ubuntu is the security is weird, no root by default and amost everything beyound normal user stuff is sudo, password. About drove me crazy. I do too much in a terminal window with su to have to sudo password everything.
I tried FreeBSD but it chokes on Compaq'a ACPI. Dumps the core. It's in the bug tracker but no fix in the changelogs, and the work around wouldn't work.
I'm not sure if VirtualPC would work with mapping software. Plus if you use a GPS I'm not sure how if would work with VirtualPC as well. On the Linux side with Wine and the other emulators, most of the mapping programs were a no go, low rating, mostly no interest.
-JHappy Dwellers Society
Company Driver Division

Answer:
I don't care for Gnome, I prefer Windowmaker or XFCE on a regular basis but when my wife wants to use the machine she prefers KDE. I like KDE too.
As for distros, I decided to go with Debian based ones and have found Libranet to be amazing. Everything just works and is extremely stable, even on laptops. I tried Ubuntu, I even sent away for the 10 CDs and I have them. Using them as coasters though since I did not quite like Gnome. Otherwise the distro is actually quite good, though as I said, I prefer Libranet.
Thanks re the heads up re Wine! That was my alternative, but now I guess I shall just have to plonk down for a Windows laptop! Bummer.
As for root on Ubuntu, it is possible to have it. You do not have to sudo every time. All you have to do is:
sudo passwd root
and enter a password. Voila, you can su to your heart's content.
Cheers

Answer:
thats funny. Mac has the fastest computers in the world.
But for practical purpose a PC would be more beneficial as a driver. more program options and less exspensive.

Answer:
I have used Macs for years and perfer them over a winbloze box, which I am typing on. As far as trucking software for the Mac, forget it. If you are leased on to a company that takes care of all your stuff, a Mac is fine. If you are running an OTR, got my own authority, on my own type business, you need winbloze. If you need a map, buy an atlas and call the shipper/receiver for directions.
I have been driving for a few years, and love the geek toys, but I found a computer doesn't really help much on the road unless you are running that full blown on your own business. If you just want to get on the net and check load boards or just relax, the Mac is the way to go in my book. No viruses, hooks right up to the internet and incredibly stable. If you are trying to figure your IFTA, mileage, logs, trip sheets etc... winbloze is it as far as I know. That is the only reason I own one, full blown and on my own.
Mike

Answer:
I have been using the mac computers since 1984 and in my opinion., YOU CANT BEAT THEM!! Mac was doing in 1984 well what windows still sucks at... I am a very pro Mac person.. i absolutely LOVE my mac i have now.. it is an 800 mhz G4 12 inch ibook. I feel sorry for all the windows loosers i mean users..http://dieselducy.com
my trucknet blog
the LOVE of MONEY is the ROOT of ALL EVIL!