There are interesting times ahead for RV travellers who like to read, and who need to cut down on weight.
Already in the marketplace are the Kindle [from Amazon]. shown right, and Sony’s nice, but expensive, ebook reader.
The Kindle has been a winner for Amazon, and next month they are releasing version II, which should go a long way toward given it a cleaner look. On an ugly scale of 10 I currently give it an 8.
Also due next month, according to the rumour mills, is the Mac Tablet, which could give all competitors a big headache judging by previous launches of new products [think iMac, iPod, iPhone … ] by Apple.
However, another ebook reader has snuck under everybody’s radar — Plastic Logic’s as yet-unnamed electronic reader, shown top, and in use below, which was announced today.
According to the company, their reader supports a full range of business document formats, such as Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint, and Adobe PDFs, as well as newspapers, periodicals and books.
It has an easy gesture-based user interface and powerful software tools that will help business users to organize and manage their information. Users can connect to their information either wired or wirelessly and store thousands of documents on the device.
Watch it in action here:
The reader incorporates E Ink technology for great readability and features low power consumption and long battery life. The Plastic Logic reader is scheduled to ship in the first half of 2009
Most of the mechanicals on Madam Plush are now completed, including, new brakes, new steering balljoints, full service, Aussie-sized seatbelts, new drive belts [including alternator belts, air-conitioning belts, and power steering belts], and I’m just waiting on comparatively minor repairs to the awning and dunny.
No, I can’t tell you how much it has cost to date. I’m too scared to add it all up.
I was looking forward to a highway trip and a basic overnighter sometime this week as a shakeup cruise, but looking at the seven-day forecast I’ve had a sudden change of heart.
I’ve been working towards official Road Warrior status for some time, but, to be honest, the cost of doing business online was a bit of a worry.
As a web site designer and marketer I need virtually 24/7 access. I have clients in the US, Canada, Hong Kong, mainland Australia and throughout Tasmania.
As an ‘early adopter’ of technology I wasn’t fazed by the ‘how’ but more by the ‘how much?’
It takes me back to the early days when I used to run Desktop magazine from my ‘electronic cottage’ in the wilds of the Tasman Peninsula near Port Arthur.
As Editor I liaised with freelance staff in every capital city, head office in Sydney, and product developers worldwide.
Initially most of of the material was collected by snailmail [and Express Post near deadline], communication was mainly by fax and landline, and emails were just beginning to make inroads — initially via a 2.4Bd modem and gradually creeping up … 9.6Bd …14.4Bd … and a big leap to 56Bd.
They were all painfully slow, and expensive. From my country base it worked out to $12 an hour [thanks Telstra] and sending big image files was simply a no-no.
Then came the move to the city and the gradual embrace of broadband.
When I first started contemplating getting on the road it looked like the only way to go was with a satellite dish — and I was not that impressed with the speed, cost and process of setting it up at each stop.
But, thanks to Moore’s Law [as loosely interpreted by the 'press'] which postulates that computers double in speed every 18 months or so [and roughly halve in cost] I finally have a little electronic dongle — half the size of my mobile phone which allows me to access the Internet from anywhere that I can get 3G reception.
And it works. I get good upload and download speeds; enough to justify the expense and enable me to continue to work on the road.
The nomad’s mantra is ‘save weight’. Rinse and repeat. Rinse and repeat.
But sometimes a small sacrifice has to be made. Last week I spent half a day cruising the local camping shops for some outdoor furniture to fit under the awning.
In the end I simply gave up. Sure a lot of it is lightweight and compact when folded, but the look got to me. It was aluminum tubing, gaudy Hawaiian cushions, springs and bits that like biting your thumbs. The final straw happened while I was trying to fold up an outdoor lounge chair and squashed my index finger.
Bugger.
I have a new mantra. Comfort first. And as part of it I am taking my original Queen Elizabeth First Class deckchair with me. Made of teak and brass it is wonderfully comfortable [and I just saw one for sale on eBay for $US800 and there's still five days left in the auction].
And something else, it is not all that heavy.
It is getting a fresh coat of linseed oil this week, as is the folding wooden table that came everywhere with me while I travelled with Bluey [my red Kombi].
I’m not even on the the road yet, but already the weather has me grounded.
Tasmania had a typical equinoctial storm early in the month. It was wild enough to wake me, inside my solid sandstone walled bedroom.
In the morning I looked out from the back deck and something about Plush’s roofline bothered me. When I inspected the penthouse later I found that the hatch’s top had been cracked wide open.
There’s an interesting experiment underway currently which will impact everyone with a RV who is intimidated with the cost of fuel.
One of Australia’s largest motorhome manufacturers, Winnebago, is conducting an RV Fuel Consumption Run from the Gold Coast to Winton Raceway in Victoria to prove that motorhome travel can be almost as economical as driving an average family car.
Led by the NRMA, who also will supervise fuelling of the test RVs, a convoy of four motorhomes of various sizes, a fifth wheeler and a caravan.
At each town along the way, the convoy is inviting the local people to come along and look at the RVs and meet the team including legendary Australian swimming champion, Dawn Fraser, left, a long-time RV fan.
“Rural Australia stands to suffer the consequences of higher fuel costs because if less people travel, less will be spent in those areas,” said Max Mayo, of Winnebago.
“At any given time 75,000 RVs are on extended travel and spend on average $600 per week each on fuel, accommodation, food and entertainment. That’s $45 million per week given to mainly rural centres. It is this that is at risk. [click to continue…]
Already in the marketplace are the Kindle [from Amazon]. shown right, and Sony’s nice, but expensive, ebook reader. 
I’ve been working towards official Road Warrior status for some time, but, to be honest, the cost of doing business online was a bit of a worry.
Where would we all be without checklists. 