Using a comp. for WTSHTF.

The other day my power went out so that I started one of my small generators (2,000 W) and intead of uning my 50" monitor and big power hungry comp I started to use my lap top.

Even if the power goes out and if you are connected by phone, land line, then you will still have the WWW.

For only $9.98 you should get NetZero.com as a back up.

Thanks, but no. If my IP goes away, then a third party system is probably not going to be much use. I think one of the last things I will worry about is logging on. If I really gotta get on it, then I will just grab the dingleberry and do what I gotta do.

My primary computer is a laptop. It's a high-end Dell that's been a real workhorse. Power outage hit a while back and while roomie's desktop powered down, mine shifted to battery power and only lost the DSL connection. I closed the lid putting it in standby and waited for the power to be restored. Nothing lost.

Yep, laptops seem to be all I ever use anymore. Unfortunately, when the power pops, so does my phone line, my dsl, my cable. If I wanna hookup, usually the cell phone is about all I have left anymore.

This applies to Bugging-Out from work and heading home:

If EMP doesn't kill my computer (laptop), then I put in the air card and if the 'putor is fully charged, I will have comms capability for 3 hrs of air time. Providing the cell towers still work.

If my cell phone still works, then I have voice and/or text capability for approx 3hrs of air time. Providing that the cell towers still work.

Any electronics that have been killed by EMP is that much less weight I have to carry in my "Messenger Bag", which leaves room & weight capacity for more water. I will need as much water as I can carry just to get through some small metropolitan areas before I can get to the woods.

I have ditched my laptop for a pocket PC, with wifi. I have all of my ICE information on a SD card so all I or anybody else has to do is put the card in the pocket PC and all of my information that I want them to see is there. Other information on the SD card is password protected. a 12 Volt addapter and I am set. And Music and games to pass all the extra time I will have while trying to survive

If you are worried about stuff that isn't on hard copy, it's either not that bad outside or you really screwed up on your planning. Your internet connection should be the last concern you've got.

The casualty of all pre-wartime planning is: all of the plans. That's because situations rarely develope as the planners had planned for.

When all possibilities and probables have been accounted for, look at the impossibles and improbables for the likely culprits.

So I plan different comms capabilities and possibilities. As far as reality goes, I tend to agree with IronRaven!

HughesNet and a generator

When I say bad planning, I'm talking about people who have all thier information ONLY in computer data. Your insurance information, your medical record, that copy of your passport and drivers lisence, they aren't as useful if they aren't on paper. Ditto your inventories and your maps. The CD with stuff like your insurance information and tax records is great once things have stabilized, but when you need it RIGHT NOW, paper is what you need.

The only reason why someone who is in a actual emergency would need a computer unless they are part of the response is failure to prepare, bad planning, abject stupidity, whatever you want to call it. But it isn't a good sign.

And if they "need" a computer becuase they are bored, again, poor planning, combined with what I'll politely call "issues". If you don't think you can survive without a computer, unless it is a medical implant you need serious help. And I say this as professional computer geek.