I saved up my sims funds to get that 'portable' laptop, as I'd love my sim to have it on her when she gets out of work, so she can go to parks and beaches and just chill out, yet still use her computer. However, I can't seem to figure out how she takes it out of the house and uses it. I've tried putting it in her family inventory, but that only stores it. I can't access it when not at home like all the NPC sims I meet, who use their computers. Drives me batty to see them using theirs at a grill-a-thon or other event, when I can't use mine.

Does anyone know how I make the laptop truly portable?

You have to put it in your sim inventory, not the family inventory

It has to be in your personal inventory which is in a different tab. Search through the menus and you will find it. Its where you see the cell phone. Be careful with those though... Sims are often wasteful enough to leave the computer and go home at parks. Mine does it all the time, and no they don't have forgetfulness trait.

I've tried that, but the inventory won't take the computer when I try to drag and drop it in. How do I get it into the personal inventory?

Sometimes when that happens, you have to make them get on it then cancel whatever action like "play games". They automatically put it back in their inventory. Go figure.

When I first tried to put the computer in my personal inventory that happened to me, too. But then I tried again and put the item over another item and it worked. You can also take the portable radio with you and use it when in the town.

I hate to be a nudge, but how do you get the hand tool when not in buy or build mode? I can't pick up the thing to put it in inventory.

You don't need the hand tool. Just click and drag.

Yep, if it can be put in inventory, you will get an arrow icon that has a hand attached to it.

I am having a similar problem - on certain lots (Gazebo in Riverview), my Sim can use the laptop directly from her inventory. At home, I have to manually take it out and place it on the table before she can use it. And on several community lots (Bistro in Riverview, some of the smaller parks), she can't use it at all!

heh, you can buy the portable PC OR you can befriend your boss, invite him over, let him start playing a game on it at your desk then kick him out before he puts it away poof, free laptop for Pacer!