I'm taking my Acer laptop to Italy and France. Do I need to use a power transformer with the charger? The charger says 100-240V 50-60Hz. Thanks for your help, Fodorites.

No, you just need a plus adaptor.

janisj means a "plug" adapter for European outlets.

http://www.110220volts.com/MU5.html?...FVKIfgodqRwA-A

You just need an adapter, ~$1 to $3 a piece at pretty much any travel stores.
Here is a video demonstrating how it is used. The laptop charger uses the same plug. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB7w-YRNjRo (I have nothing to do with this company.)

There are two round pin plugs for "Europe", Schuko with 4.8mm diameter pins and Europlug with 4.0mm diameter pins. For Italy, you should get the 4.0mm diameter pins. 4.0mm would work in any Italian outlets as well as in other European countries, while the 4.8mm diameter plug may not fit in some Italian outlets.

Got it! Thanks everyone for your help!

oops - just noticed the typo

Yes - a plu<B>g</B> adapter

If only we had an edit function...

Schuko plugs are mostly used for major appliances.

Why are you taking a laptop? There are very few actual reasons for someone to NEED a laptop when travelling. Do you really NEED to lug something that heavy around with you?

Some people want to take a laptop. We do on most trips so we can edit photos and type our notes into trip reports to email family. I don't mind carrying it in my backpack. To each their own.

Just to clarify, I don't cart it around during the day...just during transit from place to place...

I take a notebook because keyboards rock, I need to get stuff done, and tablets can't run Photoshop or Lightroom.

We will be in Europe for two months, so I do need my laptop for work I will be doing as well as for staying in touch with family back home.

You don't have to justify yourself, HIroamer.

Dulcie is rude to most people here. I do not know why, except I suspect that he/she travels very little. Maybe jealousy kicks in.

No one needs to justify anything but it does make sense to have an actual GOOD reason for taking one. Some do, some don't.

Sparkchaser, I too am a keyboard fan but you can get them for anything including tablets so that's no reason to take a laptop. Photoshop is also available for the iPad although it does not have all the features of the full version. But unless you are doing very specific and professional work with it, it isn't a reason to take a laptop either.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSGCfq23VTM

So HIroamer, I'd still like to ask what work you need a laptop for? Keeping in touch with family certainly isn't a reason for carting one around. You can do that from far smaller and lighter devices just as easily.

You don't have to actually specify what work, but my point is are you really SURE you NEED a laptop to do what you want to do?

If you can do what you want using an iPad weighing (depending on model) .75-1.5 lbs., why take a laptop weighing say 5 lbs.?

Most of the reasons travellers want to have a computer for when travelling are not reasons that require a laptop as evidenced above.

People take all sorts of things with them when they travel, based on what they think they will use. We are packing for Venice right now, leaving in a couple of weeks. Items that have been chucked into the suitcase include:
Watercolour paints, paper and brushes.
Tripod, serves as an easel.
Bunch of kitchen knives.
Book about Carlo Scarpa, architect.
SLR and a couple of lenses
Iphones
Ipads
Chargers for ditto
Juniper berries
Black pepper and grinder
Fave recipe book, "Polpo"
Gifts for a couple of friends.
Herbs, and some cocoa.
Tacky Australian decorations (think little flags with kangaroos) as we are having a party.
Maps

A laptop computer seems pretty modest to me. And we have 30 kilo baggage limits, and we are not afraid to max out on it.

Ahem. Hlroamer did not ask "should I take my laptop?"; he/she asked about needing a transformer. The actual question was answered in the first two posts. Good gravy!