I'd nearly agree with Hypothesis on this one - surely ya can't be expecting to lug about a laptop in the conditions.
If you do need to record data, why not get either
a. A PDA with voice recognition software - most of them have some form of Windows software that can be then t/ferred to the main PC/laptop back at base
b. A good digital dictaphone - the one I have at present is ace and simple to use
If you use either in conjunction with some formalised means of recording the data, I'd reckon you'd be sorted. I also think that regardless of location, a laptop would would be too cumbersome, especially if doing interview.
If you still need a laptop out in the field, the supervisor has a tiny Asus which utilises OS software and seems robust enough (I think, and I could be corrected here, it runs using the Linux Op. System, which has become more user friendly). It is extremely small but seems to do the job. You may want to get protective covering regardless of what one you choose.

Pum - don't lose the cool ... most senior academics have the social graces of a stone, so just get on with the "Yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir". I am not saying that you become a total brown-nose but seriously, pick your fights - in the grander scheme of things, getting help for EndNote may actually be beneficial and worst case is you are doing something unreal important - feeding her ego! The people who have good supervisors are now probably saying "Oh ya cynic!" but its fact that for every good supervisor there are at least two bad ones (for one reason or another). There is plenty of evidence in this forum to substantiate this (if anyone thinks I am being harsh or just cynical I will respond to any private posts rather than fill this post).
Pum - as you are starting your PhD there are several steps which you can do in order to keep on the good side of the supervisor and still maintain some sense of dignity (this is coming from someone two years in who didn't do these until very recently)
1. Keep a written record of any substantial agreed actions from meetings and so forth and have them close to hand
2. As for meetings, force the issue of regular meetings - they won't so you have to. Aligned with point 1, follow minutes
3. As for EndNote, take the help graciously - keeping the refs in good order is paramount and there is
4. Remember, at the end of the day, it is your project but you will need their guidance from time to time

Its a good thing to vent any anger and use these devices (such as the forum) and others to get that frustration out. You will have to deal with these people for the next few years of your life, but if you get the attitude right (not saying you have a prob) you'll get thro'. Its hard to do, but just treat them for what they are - someone who is "assisting" you with your job for that period.
It could be a lot worse - you could be sharing a gaff with them - YIKES!!!!! :-(

I assume it is Friday when you will read this, so have a few pints over the weekend and switch off - another invaluable skill.
Good luck and keep posting.

Pineapple,
Forget about Sept. - if you keep worrying about it and it will distract you from the job at hand. Without sounding defeatist, just get rid of the whole idea of finishing in three years - you and particularly your supervisor will not hand up rushed work. That said, you will be amazed if you did focus on the completion (or at least initiation) of the smaller tasks, which form the some of the parts.
If you are finished your actual research in Dec., there's no reason to see why, if your supervisor is on board and is available to help, why you can't be significantly finished by Sept. though. As for the rewrites, thats taken for granted (I know someone who had to rewrite the whole thing 7 times) - just have to factor it in.
You have done a good load of work and will get your PhD - it just means continuing the effort for another while

At least you are meeting your supervisor and there seems to be some positive feedback from it, alhtough it takes a bit to get there. I think there does come a point where ya have to fight for your way of doing things (provided you have good reason). Believe me, its better to be meeting the supervisor even if the meetings are a pain (take minutes and bring them with you every meeting - at least then you have got a record of what was meant to be done and if it was or not).

I would suggest some cheap beer, a bottle of rum and a sing-along with Opeth and then hit the town - a good blowing off of steam always is good to do.

KaterinH - As stated in the previous replies, if she has no role in your research, rise above it. There are people who get their kicks from pushing the vulnerable down and academia is rife with it (anybody who has a notion that research is noble and everybody gets on with everybody is in cloud cuckoo land). Chances are that she actually does recognise that your work is good and may see you as a threat to her position in her crumbling ivory tower. In 2-3 years time, she will only be a distant memory - for now, treat her as the anti-thesis of what you aspire to be.
I would honestly call her bluff next time i.e. if you are doing it all wrong and reading the wrong stuff, what would she recommend doing - then just take note of all the inconsistencies and at the end point out where she is wrong. Actually, ask for constructive criticism (telling her any chimp can pick out faults - its recommending how to rectify these is the hard bit).
End of the day, keep your cool - you are not alone in your experience. But remember this bi**hes role in your work i.e. SWEET F.A.! You have your friends there as well - ask them what do they think of the situation.

Dunno if its the norm, but you should have at least a first draft of the literature review and a detailed outline of the subsquent chapters (subject to change). The lit review section should be written to a publishable quality i.e. if you were finishing right there and then, you would have no troubles with the level of quality.

To be quite honest, going to use an OS simulation tool and hopefully front end it, possibly using Java (an inkling of using Simpy as the simulation engine but only an inkling). Long road ahead. Trying to answer the requirements firstly and then start off small. Been putting it off but gotta do it now. Not an OO coder (more C/assembly) but sure how hard can it be :p

A116 - any update on the scenario?

H - totally agree. It is to the point and easily understandable, which would give A116 results quicker. If it is the case that he/she needs to work extensively with Excel, I'd agree that VBA would have to be looked into for the future.

Sorry for the digression lads and ladies, but do you do much coding yourself H? Looking at the prospect of using OS code to implement some DSS functionality for small companies and to be honest, scared of learning a new language at this stage. Might front-end a prototype with VB. Do you know of any good forums for coding?

Maybe ... but I would reckon that whatever solution A116 needs we would have to provide some means of getting the Excel file to them, rather than confuse him/her (no offense, but it would take us a few minutes to do). If there was a means of file t/f (yeah, I know the security implications) it might facilitate this.
Main thing is that the solution to the problem is easy enough and if needed, several can be provided.

Taking the tip from Tricky (don’t mean to be treading on toes here but see next paragraph down for solution to allow you to select whichever interval you wanted e.g. every third/fifth or whatever row), ya could extend this further. But first just to go thro' the steps of a Tricky-esque solution
a. Type some content into the first cell of the first row e.g. A
b. Then the next row blank
c. Type A into the third row cell
d. Leave the next row blank again
e. Now select these four cells and by using the AutoFill handle, drag these values all the way down the table (will take only a few seconds)
f. Once the last step is complete, go to the top of your table and select Filter Data, AutoFilter from the Data menu
g. Now select Blank Cells or Non-Blank cells as your needs be and hey presto!
h. Select that sheet and copy, paste special, values to a blank sheet and you have your data.

Extending this a bit further, there is actually a safer way of doing this by having two more columns, one with the number of the row (again generated by using the Autofill handle) the second column with the Mod function i.e. if looking for every 5th value, you would set 5 as being the divisor and then filter all 0 values (the Mod function is the Modulus function which basically finds if there is a remainder when you divide a specific number by a divisor e.g. =Mod(23,5) would equal to 3 (God bless those C programming tutorials)

Sorry if that seems over elaborate but it really isn't. If there could be a way to t/f files, I could have a solution sent to ya by 10.00 tomorrow morning. If ya want to use it, feel free to contact me. Can set up a dummy email account quickly and t/f the file if you wish to remain anon.

Long story short is that it is very simple to do and I'm sure either of the proposed solutions will work fine. This one does not involve VBA code though which might be safer.

Yikes - sorry to hear of thar Mira. Take it easy for a while.
Hope the sleep is getting back to normal and the exercise helping - after another hectic weekend so looking forward to the game of indoor soccer tonight. If still having problems sleeping, another remedy is tea & honey, with a slice of toast or two. I know tea is a stimulant, but with honey it relaxes the head and the toast fills the empty stomach. Have a bit of light reading also. Surely there is a change of your sleep pattern by now.

Term has started and to be honest letting the teaching take over for a bit (well, waiting on a bit of a major decision from the supervisor). Am enjoying the teaching and if anything, it is giving me a reason to carry on - that and after speaking to a few people, getting a bit of shape to the PhD. Using the forum to get much needed advice and encouragement.
How is the new term affecting others? Are ye busier/happier with the undergrads about and the extra teaching?

Aussiegirl - as you can see from the posts, the prospect of doing a PhD is daunting ... my head would say NO but if you think you are up to it -go for it!
Sorry for the philosiphy (sic) but if you just realise a few things, you will be fine
1. There will be rough times, so don't be afraid to admit to yourself and to others if having a rough time and get help if needed. What I am saying in short, is that if you do go, make friends and live down there - don't just go for your PhD. It is a common trap i.e. you immerse yourself in the work and become blinkered.
2. Make sure any assumptions are cleared up (promises of funding are no good - make sure the cash is there ... also, is the project and your role and the role of any supervisor clear?)
3. Keep in touch - there are practical cheap means to do so. If heading, no doubt people will want to get you a few pressies - let it be known a Skype handset (and similar stuff) is got

If you feel that you can do it, go for it! I was very keen to travel and do the PhD at the same time, but didn't ... I do hope to make up for that when I get out on parol ... er ... graduate:p

Forgive and forget the rambling - it is 5.15 after all.

Shani
You pose two questions here ...
1. Are you up to the PhD - thats for you to decide, but why don't you just jot down EVERYTHING (thoughts, leads, contacts) on an A3 from memory/looking thro' files/emails from the second year - you will be surprised at your progress despite what you think
2. The role of your supervisor - Sorry but I might have missed it if someone else stated it, but it is the duty of your supervisor to maintain contact. They are being compensated well enough for it and in a world of economic turmoil, should have to work as hard as any of us (considering they are in one of the more secure and well paid jobs). Forget any personal feelings and any inferiority complex - make sure an adequate solution is got. You don't need to make an enemy of your supervisor - just clarify any assumptions and organise something of a formal arrangement.
You may think you are behind and even if you are, if you realise a good bit of work needs to be done, you need REGULAR feedback. Sorry for the crudeness, but had to grow a set myself as it nearly came to a point where my super told me to leave and I was taken back but have a new attitude and will have to become more proactive in getting feedback.
Sorry if I seem rude, but for f**ks sake, we are giving the most important commodity (our time) so there should be professionalism from both sides. These sentiments are probably echoed elsewhere so plz forgive the rambling.
In short - if you have to pull up the socks, do that, but make sure others do too!
Peace out,
Bonzo

Ta Sylvester - will look into using MindManager once the money situation is better (a bit broke this month)

Eternal: Just started using this software myself. I would assume that there is some means of integrating both, but I don't think it would be as automatic as you would like. Worst case scenario is that you just refer to the Endnote (or whatever Reference software you are using) by means of the record #. That way, you won't have to type out the full title. Will let you know more when I use it a bit over the weekend (giving myself a day or two just to get accustomed to it)

I commend the spirit of getting things sorted initially but remeber that it is a long process of continous learning so don't put yourself under the kosh at the start.