Low operating temperature PC/PDA

[Monkey]

Hey all - just looking for opinions here. Am about to head off to somewhere below -45 degrees C and would like to be able to potentially connect to a GPS phone and email in these temps.

I'll be on the move everyday. Would anyone have any good advice?

Thanks

[King_Fisher]

DONT GO! }:O{...KF Just kidding have a good trip and stay warm.

[edited by: King_Fisher at 1:54 am (utc) on Mar. 15, 2008]

[vincevincevince]

Monkey... I am so jealous. Sweltering out here in Malaysia and all I can think about is booking a holiday somewhere really cold.

Cold kills batteries. That's going to be a major problem. Even when they aren't connected to a device, most batteries have very little charge when it's really cold.

Concentrate therefore upon a device which has a very low power requirement, and pick up multiple battery packs (and a charger?) If you are going by vehicle, then ensure you have a 'car charger' setup.

Take care to consider how you'll use a stylus or similar. Big thick gloves don't help that, and at -45 you can't take off your gloves.

[phranque]

you will definitely have problems with devices not designed for that operating temperature.
not many lcd displays will work at that temp, for example.

[Monkey]

Am assuming that it would be warmer in the tent or i work burried in my sleeping bag for 1/2 an hour. Have some solar chargers and panels. Hopefully they will work.

Am looking at the Tough Book as it supposedly can operate to -20 degrees? Any folks like Minesoteans, Canadians, Norwegians around who have equipment that operates well with as V3 says low power requirements.

Hey v3 come on out. No car only sea ice, polar bears, nuclear subs to keep us company

[lammert]

Most electronics do fine when they are cool, you could do some serious over clocking of your PDA out there :) The main problem is the display and condensating water inside the box causing corrosion on contacts.

I use electronics in freezing cells at -25C without problems, even electronics that weren't designed for those temperatures. The most important thing is to keep your equipment warmer than the environment to prevent condensation, but don't keep it on a wet place like under your clothes.