Laptop for hot humid climate

I'm looking to move to East Timor for a year and will need my own laptop.
I will need one that will be able to work in hot humid conditions without breaking down.
There will be no air con for most or all of the time.

I'd be looking at using the Windows system not Apple

I'd be buying the laptop whilst in Australia

Any ideas both about
what to buy ?

and

what not to buy?

thank you

I don't think you need to worry about the climate. I've been spending time in The Yucatan for years, and it's an absolute ARMPIT! Lots of 90/90 days, that's 90 degrees and 90% humidity. I've had two different laptops down there and the only thing I've noticed was a little rust inside the USB ports, but the contacts were unaffected. Lots of Internet cafes don't have AC, and they have a mix of laptops and desktops without any apparent issues.

agree with CMBurns.

I've been in SEA and the Sub-Continent for over 18 months now in some pretty hot and humid conditions....no problems with my Laptop

as for what to buy....whats your budget and what do you need it for??

I've been using a laptop in Belize for several years. Daily high temperatures from 28 to 33 degrees C. and average humidity about 75% -- so far no problems.

This is my second attempt to post a reply. Saved the last one when I was almost finished and when I came back on it was nowhere to be found!
thank you all for your replies. it's great to know that the heat and humidity will not be a problem.
This seems to be another good branch of LP to be on.

Chilli pepper - re what I want and my budget:
If I don't sound too clear it's becasue I don't know a lot about computers
I'll be purchasing it in Australia and looking to have it replace my 8 year old PC which is so slow now that tv downlaods are not possible.
Fortunately I do not have to keep to a budget but don't want to waste money:
Robust and reliable brand where the warranty would be valid overseas eg in Timo Leste
large screen, light if ppossible,
CD a DVD drive a CD burner and maybe a DVD burner if that is not too much extra
Ability to link to a separate keyboard when I'm back home and maybe even a separate screen when I'm in Australia.
Windows not Apple operating system
I'd need Excel and Access, powerpoint, word and maybe publisher ( only ever used it once)
Is it possible to get anything other than windows 8 as I'm told it's dreadful and won't talk to some earlier documents?
I'd need skype; wifi
I can't imagine that I'd using it to make movies or fancy audiovisual things
usb ports - don't know enough re how many are possible I think my current one has a few.
I'd have a portable printer.
Ability to updrade its various capacities ( space to put things like extra cards in if that is possible.) ( Maybe it's only PC's that can do this - I'm a novice.)
Watch tv and movies on it.
ability to link to my bigpond external modem when i'm back home
that's all I can think of at the moment

I'm the sort of person who keeps something for a long time so don't want to find that it's capacity is too small too quickly.

will store pictures and a few movies on it

looking forward to your suggestions

I live one hour away from east timor, no air con, insane humidity but no problem for computers. the only exception is if you were running a graphic intensive game, then skinny laptops such as Asus ones don't cope. fine for everything else.

Hi atty2.

I am not a computer expert by any means, plus I am an Apple guy not PC :)

All of your requirements will easily be met by many of the new Laptops available on the market these days. I have heard bad reviews of Windows 8, so I am not sure how you will step around that. CD / DVD drives seem to be slowly disappearing from many laptops....you'll need to specify that you want those features.

take a look here - [http://www.laptopmag.com/best-laptops.aspx] start reading some reviews and visit a number of shops selling what you want, chat to the sales people and start narrowing it down to a 3-5 options.....then shop for the best price which will probably be an online provider :)

Good luck - this shouldn't be too hard if you have the time and do your homework.

Thank you Jennifer
Thank you chilli pepper - particularly for the comment re Cd and DVD drives. I guess usb sticks have overtaken them.
I guess I still need a CD reader.
Am about to check out your link now

chillipetter
ta for that link it's very good.
Particularly found the service reliability section useful. Notice Dell got a low 5. In OZ eight years ago I was totally frustrated with their warranty attention.

I'll have to get a laptop with an international warranty and that is serviced in Dili.

Spoke to someone from Lenovo who said their warranty was international and that in Dili timor they pick up and put down and return within 5-10 working days. I suspect they go overseas for servicing.

My neighbour who works in IT said that an international warranty can be arranged for other brands. ( I live in Australia)

Does anyone know how you go about getting Windows 7 not the 8 version installed?
I think I read on the link you gave that it is possible to arrange.
once gain ta

You're welcome.

I wouldn't get too hung up on the average reviews of Windows 8 - it is there latest and most recent OS, so you should probably go with it....IMHO.

Have a read of this review which could ease your mind a bit - [http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/software/operating-systems/windows-8-1093002/review]

So Chilli pepper do you reckon I'd handle Windows 8 even though I'm currently using XP?
I may not have anyone to help me.
Can all my things on my current computer be transferrered across to the new laptop and be readable/ accessible?
I think I'm using Microsoft Office pro 2003

Dude....I wish I could be more help to you....but I'm an Apple guy, haven't used windows in like 8 years and would not consider myself a computer expert - sorry.

Talk with some professionals and see what they say maybe??

Saw this today and thought you should have a read, Windows 8.1 - [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10894097]

thank you Chilli pepper