Laptops and Phones

why dont you just go with a mid line dell laptop, can be had for under $500 easy, get whatever is on sale.... they will all do what you are wanting. I would get a smart phone as it gives you constant access to email, maps, internet, whatever you want pretty much, you can even get movies on your phones streamed directly to you. iphone is OK from ATT but their service is not that great. My iphone dumped on me about a month ago and I was fed up with it from the bad service and constant freezing it would have..... I went to verizon and got one of the motorola droids, replaced mine, my wifes and sons iphones with them, and we love them. Service with verizon is faster, no dropped calls yet, internet is smooth, phone doesnt freeze and if the phone craps out you have all your info on a SD card that slides out of the phone and can be plugged into a computer and info extracted easily..... My iphone dumped all of my info, phone numbers, notes, emails, everything...... I will probably never own another iphone again.....

if you truely want just to make calls from it, just get whatever is being given away for free at the time.... any phone will do just for standard calling....

I completely agree with Argo. If your not that experienced with computers a Dell should do just fine. You maybe able to go to Walmart or Target and find a good deal on laptops. A cellphone with maps, good coverage and a suitable about of minutes per month. Choose enough minutes so that you won't have overage fees.

I also bought my Dell laptop on QVC. They had special pricing and also offer "flex-pay" which is the price broken up into monthly payments if you're tight with money.

And remember, if you purchase these items for use when on the road as a traveler, they are tax deductible.

One of the first things that I bought on my first longterm assignment was a laptop. SO necessary! I got a Compaq notebook with good graphics 2mb RAM and more hard drive memory than I'll probably never fill. It was $417 from Amazon with shipping added in. I have netflix and the streaming video has never had a problem. Only issue is crappy battery life. It says 4 hrs but it's more like 2. Also it's kinda heavy for a laptop so if you want a light one don't buy it b/c you have to bring the power cord. Also keep in mind that you'll need to buy the Office suite b/c they give you a trial version. I got home and student for $149 downloaded. If you can wait for snail mail I saw it for $100 on Amazon (yes I like Amazon).

I've been with AT&T for 6 yrs and the customer service is so good that it trumps out any negatives, not that I've had any issues. My phone was stolen and before I realized it someone had racked up $100 calling Mexico. I also had a massive bill d/t the fact that I bought a bar phone and everytime I sat down w/ it in my pocket I butt downloaded something from Media net. They were really cool about that and took the calls and games off of my bill. If the phone breaks they'll usually have a new one to you within 24hrs- same with lost or stolen (get ins). I hear they are on the expensive end but on the road good service is a necessity. I recommend a flip phone or slider so you don't butt dial or download by accident. I'm having my old Motorola Razr turned back on b/c of that issue.

I personally have an acer 5100, have had for several years. If you aren't going to watch movies, just really want email and don't need big screen, get a small compact laptop from Walmart, Circut City or someplace that has sales. Christmas time is great time to buy new one but can get good sales pretty much anywhere. I personally had nothing but problems with my first dell laptop but I have heard nothing but good things about them. I have an iPhone, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. I have aps on it for lab values, medical dictionary and even drug book. There is great thing called epocretes but very expensive. Does everything but diagnose the patients though. I also have a medical calculator on it but haven't had to use it yet. I love being able to phone, play music, use the internet etc from my phone instead of having to use the laptop all the time. I also put my internet onto my att bill, it is a little card that plugs into my computer and lets me play online, anywhere, anytime. I don't have to wait for the cable guy to get to my house for me to get internet. I like that the best of all, I truly am mobile.

Good luck on your choices and welcome to travel nursing!