2sweets

We recently bought a laptop, primarily for use in a small business, but we had thought it would be nice to take on vacation. It seemed a cheaper option to keep in touch with family (rather than cell phones) and to download digital pictures (though I know there are other options). We are traveling from Maine to Hawaii for 2 weeks and are beginning to question whether or not to take it along-we're starting to be concerned about it getting damaged with all the travel(and do we really want to lug the thing around..) and theft(though we do have a cable lock. Would be interested to hear others opinions/experiences. Thanks!

Statia

My personal experience has been that it's more of a pain than it's worth. I hated having to unpack it, open and turn it on at every security check point. Then, the worries of it getting damaged or stolen were another problem. I finally decided that it wasn't worth the hassle, and prefer to pop into an internet cafe once in awhile, instead.

FlyFish

I wouldn't worry about damage - I travel extensively (every week) on business and have carried a laptop with me for as long as they've been in existence. I've never had any damage of any kind. As for the rest of it - when I'm on vacation the last thing I want to see is my laptop. But that's me.

rb_travelerxATyahoo

I have an aunt who bought a "Mailstation" -- CompUSA & others keep having them for "free" after rebates, but you have to use THEIR ISP service. The machine is much smaller than a notebook - maybe 1/2, but with a similar sized keyboard, and only does text email. She swears by it.

I had purchased a similar device at Staples for $25 - the VTech Express (I think) that could fit in a jacket pocket and used my yahoo account ... but you still had to use their ISP, and I couldn't deal with the little keys ... but it was a good way to receive email while traveling. I stopped using it as I couldn't see paying two different ISPs.

Keith

I always carry along my laptop when travleing in the US or Canada. Aside from keeping in touch, it is handy for checking on details of the trip or making reservations at the lowest fare.

My current laptop has exterior drives for CD and floppy and I leave them at home so there is less to carry. All I take is the laptop, power cord, camera interface and telephone cord. It takes little space in my suitcase.

Don't forget to get the local access numbers for your ISP before you go. And see if they have an 800 number if you end up somewhere too small for them to have local access.

Keith

gail

My husband hauls his laptop everywhere, and it has never broken. It may be convenient for uses you mention - as long as you promise not to do work on it while you are relaxing on vacation, - that is the tempting part for some if their laptop accompanies them.

ellen_griswold

Hey, rb_travelerxATyahoo,
can you tell me how much the ISP fee is per month for either unit? I have a hand held NEC for work, but big-bro NOW frowns on us using it for anything but the biz

Also, how tough is it to access or do they work with an 800 number?

TIA!

jor

In my opinion, bringing a laptop on a vacation is like taking your boss, co-workers, (clients in your case), mother-in-law, father-in-law, and a business plan with you. I think a vacation is for getting away from all that. Forget the laptop.

FainaAgain

I stare at a computer screen all day at work. Vacation for me is to get away from it. To keep in touch with the family get a phone card - either pre-paid or from your phone company, and the charge will appear on your monthly bill. To make tour reservations there are always 800 numbers, and also the hotels charge you even for 800 calls made from your room, there are always coin phones in the lobby where the call is free. I wouldn't carry a lap-top unless it's a business trip.

Seamus

IF it's not too bulky and you won't be tempted to do work, go ahed and take it. I use mine to look up local info, check flights, etc. as well as the functions you mentioned. Be careful packing and it shouldn't get damaged. Do NOT check it, but carry it with you. You will have to take it out of its case to go through security, but I haven't seen anyone asked by airport security to power on their machine in a long tme. If you leave it in your room while out enjoying, be sure to either lock it up or at least stash it somewhere out of sight. And, as mentioned, make sure you know how to connect to your ISP from wherever you will be, as well as the cost. (Be careful! Some of the 1-800 ISP numbers charge by the minute).

rb_travelerxATyahoo

The Mailstation (http://www.earthlink.net/home/mailstation/) was a division of Cidco, but appears to be part of Earthlink now, and monthly service is $12.95/month. You must pay for a year of service to get the 100% rebate on the device.

For the Vtech Postbox Express, The billing plan had two options, either a quarterly payment of $39.99, or a yearly payment of $99.99 See http://www.shopvtechconnect.com/vciui/howItWorks.cfm -- this device only for USA & Canada. It appears they no longer make the very small device that I have, but they do have devices similar to the Mailstation.

EastEileen

Another laptop question...
Can we use one of the AOL free disks to download AOL for the time we'll be on the road? We thought that way we could check our email (other than AOL) by doing a search for local connections when we stop for the night. We'll be traveling for several weeks by car.

Chele60

I had to travel on business and took a laptop with me. Couldn't imagine having to do that for something that is supposed to be fun. Hated lugging it around and wished I could have left it. I would say leave it at home if at all possible.

JSRX2

We usually take my laptop - use it for the pictures, etc. when we are going to be fairly stationary on a trip.

If we are going to be moving about a lot, I bring my digital wallet to download the pictures.

I've never had a problem with breakage, etc.

As for AOL, I set up a dummy account when I visited some relatives out of town. I am not sure how well that would work for continuously moving though. I imagine you'd just need to look up the # in the next area you'd be going to before you log out from your existing area. It was hard to cancel though - they argued with me about it for a few minutes before they closed the account.

Cali

We always travel with our laptop. We own a business and have to keep up with that - as well as e-mail from friends and family. We usually just call the local number for our ISP but have also used our cell phone (free calls and roaming) and have just called our number back home. Works great and also allows us to make changes in travel plans and the like. We couldn't live without it.

Connie

I'm interested in how you use your cell phone as your connection. I'd like to learn more about how to do that.

Connie

Another question....

What are some good companies that would have local numbers all over the country?

TxTravelPro

I travel every week... (at the Hyatt Austin at the moment) and take advantage of free high speed internet at many hotels. You just boot up, launch your browser and off you go! Freakin' awesome. Just in case, I have a dial up and rarely have issues with the phone lines.
I also belong to NetFlix and load up on DVD's before I leave. I can watch movies on the plane, in the airport, connected to hotel TV's, etc... I also carry Bose headphones which are incredible. I NEVER, EVER travel without my laptop (currently a Toshiba Tecra 9100) It's a tool and entertainment center.
BTW, I have the security drill down to an art and have never had any damage... and I am pretty brutal.

Cali

We bought an adapter for our computer to cell phone from Eerizon Wireless and have always traveled with it in recent years because we sometimes are in small towns and remote areas where they do not have free access to our ISP. We use both AOL and Earthlink and have rarely had a problem. We also do use high speed access at many hotels.

Cali

Ooops., sorry, I meant Verizon Wireless.