Computers For Reference at the Workbench?

My workbench doubles as the kitchen table... or is it the other way around?? Space is at a premium. I sometimes pull the laptop out to check references as I'm working on some details, but I'm more likely to transfer those photos onto my iPod due to the smaller space required.

I use my phone, good for pictures and doubles as a stereo.  Nice to throw an Ottawa based blues station on and work away.

I use my tablet for quick reference look-ups.  

We have a computer, in our bedroom but, I seem to get more reference material, using my Kindle Fire. It has a bigger screen than a smart phone and is portable.

If I need to save pics, I do all that from the computer.

Not only do I have a computer at my workbench but I find it indispensable. Great for reference photos, drawings, diagrams, YouTube etc.

There is also the entertainment side of it while you work, Internet radio, Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, et al, DVD's.

It can most definitely be distracting and I frequently have to turn it off.

Personally I would not be comfortable with a tablet, just to small for my aging eyes.

You don't need much of a computer for doing any of the above. An older PC running XP with 2 gig and basic on board video would work great. Just about any LCD TV made in the last 6-7 years can do double duty as a monitor.

Well, initially it appeared a photo frame might fulfill my needs.

Unfortunately, few stores now sell units in a useful size and resolution / file size is smaller than the majority of the armor reference photos I have taken using my digital camera.

It appears the best solution will be the purchase of a larger monitor for my primary desk top computer and use the older monitor with my laptop.

A tablet would be nice, but they are currently just too expensive to warrant a purchase for primarily hobby use and modern cell phones are a bit too small.

So long as I shield the monitor and mount laptop in an area away from the action, I should be able to reference my photos and drawings while at the bench.

Thanks to all those who generously posted information and experiences using technology as aides in your model building. 

I use my iPad and Dropbox. Dropbox is a cloud storage app that runs on all PC's, tablets and smartphones. I set up a folder for models in progress and as I browse the web I drop or save into the Dropbox folder the pictures or diagrams of the model I'm working on. I can quickly access the information on my iPad at the workbench. The pinch to zoom comes in handy to look at detail in photos. The iPad also comes in handy to place orders for supplies right from your workbench.

I use my Iphone or Ipad to display reference pics at the bench. It is quick and easy.

i stream music when i work, sometimes play a dvd. also have a radio and cd player in the bunker and a tv but no cable in the bunker, just in the living room and study. i will work in the study doing sanding and small stuff if i want to watch cable.

In the past, my build area has always been the same as my computer desk. Now that I have a dedicated space seperate from the apartment, I always bring my laptop with me. I am fortunate enough right now that my outside storage unit is close enough to the apartment that my wireless internet works.

If I am not using google to search for photos, I am listening or watching movies while building. Either that or listening to the ball game on the radio.

Those of you who have a computer located at the bench:

 do you position the computer in such a way so as to prevent  damage from splashes, over-spray, etc.? 

I have my bench and desk  set up in a way so that the distance between my bench and the computer is great enough to prevent over-spray and splashes to reach it.

I'm spraying my models at the very left part of one of the desks and my computer stands at the very right part of the 2nd one.

Cheers, Clemens

My work laptop double as a tool for my workbench. Specially when you have to scratch build.

Before cutting the styrene board, I do the pattern first in my choice of software. Then print it on a sheet sticker. And stick the sticker with the printed pattern on the styrene board and then I cut. I also have a tablet, and I use it for viewing reference picture only. www.junaustriamodel.blogspot.com/.../wip.html this is just one of my work that my laptop really helps a lot.