BabsB

I have been looking for a universal charger that I can use for my camera, cell phone, and ipod. As it is, each has it's own cumbersome setup and I would like to streamline it. I read about this setup and am wondering if anyone has experience with it? Check out www.igo.com. Thanks Barb

TuscanTweety

I've got one - I bought a set that came with six tips. Would you believe none of their tips powered my husband's off-brand DVD player... the reason I bought the set in the first place? Oy. Anyway, the thing works for the rest of our stuff (two different phones, a laptop, two different cameras, and a PDA), though we had to buy a few other tips outside the included ones. As long as you didn't try to save any money by buying some incredibly obscure brands, it works very well.

BabsB

Thank you TuscanTweety, does it pack down compactly? Do you have to use a converter if traveling in Europe for example? How easy is it to attach a plug adaptor to? Regards Barb

TuscanTweety

Everything fits in a little zipper bag - roughly 9x5x2 inches. That's all the tips, two cables, and the actual doohickey.

I'm afraid I can't answer the question about Europe, as my first trip is this fall. But the plug is an American standard three prong, and it seems to fit easily into the adapter I bought.

BabsB

TuscanTweety, I just set out all the electrical stuff I want to take on my next trip. Yikes!
Digital camera
Extra battery
Extra memory
Recharger
Ipod
head phones
splitter
recharger
cell phone
recharger
mini casette recorder
extra batteries
extra tapes
mini flashlight

Maybe I should just buy postcards and skip taking everything

I'm on my way to Radio Shack to see if they have the i go. Appreciate the feedback. Barb

RufusTFirefly

Babs: For starters I'd definitely leave the iPod and headphones and cassette recorder and tapes home. They are certainly not necessary. Not sure what a splitter is, but it doesn't sound essential.

We've never had a reason to use a cellphone while on vacation--I suppose it could come in handy under certain sets of circumstances, but it's also not essential.

BabsB

Hi RufusTFirefly,
I am mainly taking the ipod because I download books on it instead of taking a bunch with me. A splitter is a handly little device that allows you hook up two headsets to the ipod so my girlfriend can listen to the music/books also while we sit next to each other on planes and trains. I take the audio cassette recorder because I am basically very lazy and on about day two of the trip my good intentions of keeping a diary fly out the window. With the recorder we can talk about our day into it with as many details as we want and it only takes minutes. I simply transcribe it when I get home. I agree about the cell phone and normally don't travel with one but we will have a rental car on this trip and having learned from past experiences that they can and do break down, I'm taking the cell.

We are not leaving until October but being the travel crazy person I am, I already did a packing trial run. With everything I intend to take (less the "i go&quot it weighed in at 20.4 pounds and that included the suitcase. My purse is separate and will probably weight 4 pounds or so. I really like to keep it light so three charges is a bit much.

BabsB

OK, I bought it. Seems really cool, I'm charging my phone and my camera as I type this. I read the instruction booklet and it states "AC input: 100-230VAC". If I understand my adaptor/converter stuff correctly, all I need now is a plug adaptor. The "i go" already converts the electricity. Is this correct? Thanks Barb

TuscanTweety

In THEORY... yes. Again, I haven't been over myself, yet. My better-traveled friend looked at it and declared it fine with a plug adapter. Personally, I have no earthly clue what she was looking at to inform her opinion

Randy

Babs: I was interested about your books on your Ipod. My stepfather is blind and he gets books on tape from the library. Do you know if you can get books downloaded off the computer for your Ipod and is it free? That would really be nice because he could keep an inventory of many books and the Ipod is a lot more portable than the tape machine he is currently using.

BabsB

Hi Randy, so far I have only gotten them from audiobooks.com. I have to admit that I received 6 free books, some when I purchased the ipod and some when my husband purchased some ipod travel speakers. A brief look at audiobooks show they are not cheap. A friend said we can download them form our local library but I have not done any research on that yet.

A question to you - since your stepfather is blind will he be able to operate the ipod or does he have someone to assist him? I know I have to look at it pretty carefully to play what I want to hear.

RufusTFirefly

Babs--that stuff still isn't essential.

rkkwan

Apple's iTunes music store sells a lot of audio books for about $12-20. I don't see why one should think they can be, or should be, free.

luv2cthings

Wow Rufus, Babs asks if anyone has experience with igo product, and you need to make a judgment about what she wants to take with her? I guess it's a good thing she's carrying the stuff and not you!

mkdiebold

Check your local library for the downloadable books. I'm pretty sure there is a fee for this service, but it's minimal compared to buying from a retail sight. My library offers good information for buying the proper ipod if your goal is downloading books. I prefer to read rather than to listen unless I'm driving my car on a long, interstate-type-boring trip. I'd never want to distract myself while driving in Europe.

dorkforcemom

BabsB - I got an igo from Radio Shack so that I could watch movies from my little player on the plane - the battery always runs down so I thought the igo would help. I planned on plugging it into the powerport underneath the seat. The problem has been that I don't always have a seat with the powerport. It has a little bag that it all fits into - it seems heavy to me though so I have to evaluate my luggage/weight question when deciding to take it.

Randy

Babs I agree with you that the Ipod would be difficult for him to operate, but my mother is there and could assist him.

He is currently with books for the blind from the local library. He really appreciates this great service, but the equipment is big and bulky and they mail back and forth the casette tapes. I would think that downloading would be much easier and he could have a considerable inventory on the Ipod.

Since he has always been a big reader, 4 or 5 books a week, this free service for the blind is like a gift from God for him.

I did call him today and he said that the library is working on a new system that should be released in a year or so. The people he talked to did not know exactly the new system is.

Thank you.

BabsB

rkkwan, you have a very good point, except, if the library has them to loan or rent at a small charge then obviously they want folks to check them out and enjoy them. I like to think that it is our tax dollars at work.

RufusTFirefly, you also have good point, except, if these items make MY trip more enjoyable then that is all that counts. If it make YOU happy to travel without them then I think that is fine also.

If I can travel with 20.4 pounds of weight in my suitcase and other 4 or so in my purse, obviously I am not taking too much stuff that is not essential!

Thanks to EVERYONE who responded. It makes for a lively discussion and I enjoyed it. Three months to go and counting....Barb

weber6560

You have been captured by the "be cool technology god". I will pray for you!

rkkwan

Yes, check your library for their policy. I don't know what they are, and what the restrictions are.

But there's a difference between borrowing a book to read or borrowing audiobooks to listen to; and to download it to a different medium. It's basically like photocopying a book, except you don't even need to pay for paper and ink.

So, it may be legal, but to me it's not entirely ethical, in my opinion. But that's just an opinion of mine. I'm not a legal expert or an ethicist to argue the details.