Judith Broadhurst wrote: <<<For a Mac-user friend who's leaving for the Peace Corps in Namibia, Africa, in 3 weeks, I'm trying to find out ASAP:
<<<1) Which Powerbook .... She'll be lucky to have electricity and a connection, .... so it must be RELIABLE. <<<* iBooks, current or original models, are too likely to get stolen and more than she can afford, even used.>>> Back in my Peace Corps days I had the most computing power in my half of the country with a slide rule. <g> I would begin by a real assessment of the electrical power. Sporadic and spiky power could fry the power adapter. Out in the bush there might not be any power, and a solar charger might work well. Or an auto adapter. It all depends on where your friend is stationed. Could be great electricity and phone, just like home, or nothing at all. I was unprepared for how different it was when I arrived. I adapted, but I could not have forseen what it would be like. I had a very different experience from the PC schoolteachers in the capital. I was in the bush, which was great, but it was no place for a portable computer. A Mac Powerbook is built like a tank, generally speaking, and I would select a model based on physical toughness and battery longevity. The iBook would win for this, even at a higher price, and I'd add a surge suppressor, car power adaptor, or solar device depending on where the station is. Things get stolen. Any portable computer would be a great candidate for being lifted. The best thing there would be to physically carry the PB on the flight. (My radio was stolen AT KENNEDY IN NY) Further, there are security cables available. Lastly, if your friend is staying with a family, they tend to protect their volunteers very well. Good luck, Richard -- PowerBooks is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Enter To Win A | -- Canon PowerShot Digital Cameras start at $299 | Free iBook! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> PowerBooks list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/powerbooks.shtml> Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/powerbooks%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Macintosh? Get free email and more at Applelinks! <http://www.applelinks.com>
