SharonA,

Whenever I take the laptop someplace I also take a small Lafuma camp chair. If I don't raise the chairback it makes a perfect, highly portable, tiny computer stand. I can see the screen because I normally sit while I am playing.

Also, the laptop doesn't go everywhere. It does not work well in the great outdoors. In daylight the display on the screen is essentially invisible. After dark battery life becomes an issue since very few campsites at old time music festivals in the US have electrical outlets. Since the laptop is far from being current state of the art, I cannot rely on batteries for any length of time. Also there is more chance of accidents outside.

Power is not an issue if you are playing indoors. There's usually a conveniently located outlet.

Basically, a laptop is great in certain situations but because of current technological limitations it doesn't work everywhere. I am not so completely dependent upon it that I cannot function without it.