Some Computer Tech Help Please

[Bigwolf]

I am planning to purchase some new equipment and have only minimum knowledge of what might work best.  I know some of you have a great deal of computer tech savvy and I hope you will shed some light on what I might find to do what I want.

For the last several years I have been using an old IPad for everything internet or email.  It is slowing down and the battery is losing it’s charge a lot faster these days so I believe it is time to replace it.

What I want is :
Internet, email, word processing, and photos.
Something that can connect with my old Hero 4 camera.
something compact that travels well in a saddlebag.
Something that has WiFi......it doesn’t have to have it’s own internet.
Something that I can connect directly to a printer (I will not be using the cloud to print).
Something that can be made compatible with a “My Passport” external drive.


What I am currently thinking but not set on:
Refurbished MacBook gen 5.
A software to enable the Mac to use a NTFS so that I will be able to use the MyPassport without reformatting it.  I would like to be able to connect that external drive to a Microsoft system too.

OK, that is pretty much what I would like to have some help with.

Thank you all for all the help I am sure that you are going to share.


Bigwolf

[carolinarider09]

I have been using a MacBook Air for the last five or six years (maybe longer).  I am on my second one, its a 13.1" MacBook Air

I purchased them refurished from Apple.  

https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/mac/macbook-air

It interacts with anything I need it to interface with using Wifi (my printer for instance).  The only issue with the newer Macbook Air's are there are no longer "normal" USB jacks on the side.  They are Apple specific jacks (don't know the right term) so you have to buy a specific interface device to connect a USB cable.  But you can also connect a HDMI cable.  

I also run a piece of software on my MacBook Air called VMware Fusion.  It allows me to run Microsoft programs if I wish (in my case I run Windows 7 so I have access to some specific software I use for mapping)

The only real issue with this arrangement is that when you setup VMWare software you have to establish a "specific" size for the Microsoft OS drive.  I used 60GB I should have use 70GB or maybe 80GB.  The only issue with this is that this disk space is no longer available for use by the Apple OS.

Currently my Mac Drive is 250GB with 102GB free.

I use Safari, the Apple mail program and well Notes, Contacts, ect.

I use a My Passport for Backups.  Never an Issue with connecting.  I have three or so drives full of archives.  

I did have one issue when I tried to upgrade my  MacBook Air to Big Sur.  It failed and I had to restore from my backup.  That was not fun although it did work.  

I also have a NAS onsite storage system that I use to store stuff.  And while some stuff is also stored on an iCloud Drive, it is no longer the "real" storage location.  Its just easier to access on the road.

The MacBook Air travels well.  No issues and, for me, packs in my bag.  

I also acquired, last year, one of these

https://www.gl-inet.com/products/microuter-n300/

Its a micro-router that allows me to more easily connect to the Wifi in hotel rooms since my MacBook and iPhone will automatically connect once its on the Wifi system.  However, it does require some playing around to get to connect in some motel environments.  

Oh,  battery life is about 10 hours, depending on if I am or not using the VMWare app.  In that case it drops to maybe 6 to 8 hours.

[Serk]

I used 60GB I should have use 70GB or maybe 80GB.  The only issue with this is that this disk space is no longer available for use by the Apple OS.

https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/1020778

[Bigwolf]

Carolinarider,
Thanks for the reply.  That is exactly what I wanted to know.

Serk,
I am making a note of that info also.  Very helpful!  Thanks.

Bigwolf

[Serk]

Carolinarider,
Thanks for the reply.  That is exactly what I wanted to know.

Serk,
I am making a note of that info also.  Very helpful!  Thanks.

Bigwolf

And sorry, beyond what I added for Carolinarider I don't have much to add, I don't do Apple, just know about Fusion 'since VMWare is a large part of what I do for a living...

(I.E. Not ignoring your main query, just outta my area of expertise.)

[carolinarider09]

Serk,

Thanks for the info.  I sort of knew about that but was "afraid" that I might lose the data.  But, I will give it a look and give it a try, after a full backup 

The VMWare software is pretty cool for doing the old windows stuff. 

[carolinarider09]

Also,  I amended my post to discuss battery life. 

Battery life is about 10 hours, depending on if I am or not using the VMWare app.  In that case it drops to maybe 6 to 8 hours and of course how many other "apps" are running. 

Facebook is a real energy hog.  Its the only website I go to that I routinely get warnings on Safari about energy usage.

And one other thing.  I use Bitdefender Shield also.  I may reconsider that when it expires this year.  Not because I have issues but I wonder where it is made/developed, etc.

[Bigwolf]

Serk,
No problem!  I don’t expect anybody knows everything about all computers.  Different people have different areas of experience and knowledge.

I have had several Microsoft OS computers and did fairly well with them but got tired of the constant updates and obsolescence.  I was pretty much done with Microsoft and then Mr Gates began to show his true personality.  Now I hate to spend so much as a dime with Microsoft!  That is why I got into the Apple IPad. ....... well it helped that my daughter had an old IPad that she gave to me.  It has served me well for several years now.  However it never could help much with photos/videos while on long trips.

Now I am looking for a setup that can manage large photo/video files from motel rooms or restaurants while on long rides.  The 5T My Passport should help with that.  I just recently acquired one of those.


Carolinarider,
Thanks for the input on battery life.  That should not be a problem for my purposes since I will be able to be plugged in almost all the time that I would be using this stuff.


Bigwolf

[carolinarider09]

Regarding managing video files and photos while on rides.  You used the word "long", could refer to each day or the whole ride.  So, I use a Contour HD mounted to the windscreen on rides.  I record videos during my rides and then review them when I get to the motel room

I keep the files on my MacBook Air and then move them to the SAS storage when I get home for archive purposes.

I use a program called Quick Time Player to edit the files.  It allows you to cut/crop and add and then save.  I then post the videos on Facebook (and YouTube because I forgot I have a Rumble account) to share.

I also have a program called Total Vidoe Converter Pro that I use to convert videos to various formats.  Don't remember which one but one of them allows me to add a audio track to the video.  I used that at work, a few years back, and the MacBook's screen capture to record a video of how to use a program.  Then went back and added the sound as I watched the video.  Pretty cool tool

Some Examples from our recent 1,933 miles eight day trip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z242OhsgWpM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sCLspsRL-c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVASaXwxvNI&t=8s

The folder used for the last trip contains all the raw videos and the final ones.  Its 22GB.

The reason I mentioned the little internet box thingy is that it is somewhat "safe" from intrusion since it will be between your computer and the motels network.   It only costs $30.

[Bigwolf]

Carolinarider,
Thanks for all of your comments here!  It seems that you have already pioneered almost exactly what I want to do. 
I like the idea of the little internet box!  I am not familiar with NAS but I will be checking that out too.
When at a motel, I have preferred to use my phone as a hot spot since the motel WiFi is so “open”.  Using a VPN might overcome some of that motel WiFi risk.  However, VPN is another piece that I am looking at that I have never before used.

Thanks again.


Bigwolf

[Kidd]

Consider  a chromebook , been using one for 3 years and  will never use  Microsoft again
https://www.cnet.com/news/laptop-vs-chromebook-whats-the-difference-and-which-is-best-in-2021/

[carolinarider09]

I used 60GB I should have use 70GB or maybe 80GB.  The only issue with this is that this disk space is no longer available for use by the Apple OS.

https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/1020778

Just for the record, I just expanded the virtual disk by 10GB so it is now 70GB.  Worked as described.  And I still have Windows 7 and my data. 

Thanks for the information. 

Still have 60 GB free on my 250 GB MacBook Air disk.  So....   worked and I have some extra space on the Windows side.