Hello,
I would like to buy a laptop or a netbook so that I can watch educational videos in a park with sunshine and fresh air around me since I think I spend far too much time in my computer room. I would also like to type in some notes in a Word document if the need arose in between watching videos which will be downloaded on my laptop or netbook hard drive. I have the ASUS 1005HA netbook in mind at the moment.

My general experience of sunlight coming into my room indicates that it would not be practical to buy a laptop for the purpose I intend even if I buy it with a matte screen instead of a glossy one.

But there may be an alternative or I can be wrong.

1.    If you use a laptop or know someone who uses a laptop outdoors, can you tell me what your experience or theirs has been please with regard watching videos especially ?

2. Another possible problem is outdoor humidity after it has rained. If I use my laptop or netbook outdoors in high humidity, for a couple of hours, will it stop it from working or reduce its performance short term or long term ?

3. Also I would like to know what your or other people’s experience has been when laptops or netbooks are accidentally dropped from a table. Are they tough enough to withstand being dropped from the height of a table ?

4. I am also concerned about using my laptop or netbook indoors and leaving it plugged into a mains electricity power point so as to save battery power. What is the maximum number of hours that I can leave the laptop or netbook switched on without it overheating to a level that will damage it ?

I am asking these questions to various experts since I think the more information that can be put forward on this topic, the better. I think people would be healthier if they can step ouside their office and use their laptops or netbooks in fresh air and sunshine.

Thank you for your time and experience.

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Answer from Richard:

Like you, I enjoy taking my laptop outside to work in the summer. However, if you have direct, bright sunlight, even the BEST laptops will look faded. Whenever I go work outside, I make sure I sit on my deck with an umbrella so I'm at least partially in the shade.

Humidity? I wouldn't worry about it. You'd have to be in a REAL humid environment (like a steam room) for that to be an issue with a computer.

Dropped from a table? Ew. That's not good. Most laptops aren't that rugged. They're not really designed to be… especially since physical damage like that is NOT covered by manufacturer warranties. You drop it, they get you to buy a new PC. Be careful.

Battery power? I get about 4 hours with my laptop in Eco mode (and it's brand new). If you're connected to the Web and your wireless is running, you might get even less. You don't have to worry about it overheating - that's what fans are for. You can keep it running 24/7 as long as your fans are in good shape. If you need more battery power, I would suggest investing in a 2nd abtter that you can keep charged.

Now, personally, I'm partial to TOSHIBA laptops. No, I don't get paid to endorse them, but I've been using them myself for years. In the past year I've bought 3 of them for personal use (myself, my wife, and my daughter) and they're just great.