Personal computer?
 

Hi All,

Another query for my fellow fodorites.

I have never been overseas before, nevermind Ireland. I am wondering if there are plenty of places available to send emails back home, or if I should take my personal computer. I don't really want to have to worry about bringing it or converters, but it will cost an arm and a leg to call home to assure the folks that I'm okay/arrived safely/have not eloped with a gorgeous man with a beautiful Irish lilt/been abducted by a herd of wandering sheep.

Advice??
Thanks :)

There are many Internet cafes all over Europe. You could also buy a prepaid calling card for a decent price.

Have a great trip!

Don't take your computer. There are heaps of internet cafes all over Europe - I even found on in a tiny village in Italy. Also most hotels will have some access you can use. Taking your computer will just be a hassle.

Many hotels have a computer in the lobby for checking/sending emails. or when staying in smaller places there are often internet places/cafes in town.

Also, calling is very reasonable.
You can buy an AT&T prepaid card at Sam's , Walmart and others. There is an 800 number to call, then another number, then the number you are calling. Each unit (within the U.S. is about 3 cents, and from overseas it usually takes aboaut 6 or 7 units...(but 20 or 30 cents a minute is very reasonable).
Be sure, in a hotel, that you first get an outside, LOCAL line...and go from there with the access given you on your card.....
Also....you can buy phone cards when you get to Ireland....usually at newstands, tobacco shops etc and they are very reasonable. (I couldn't get mine to work the one time I tried, but most people do:) !

You will find internet availability in some interesting places so just ask the locals. You will not find public access to the internet in rural Co. Cork. I have no idea why not and no one I asked had an explination. Have a great trip!

I returned a few months ago from a trip around Bavaria (Oberbayern and Franken), and I found that, in small towns, Internet cafes are few and far between. I think they are disappearing because Germans are getting their own connections. You might find a "public" Internet computer in a Marriot, but at Frau Schmidt's Zimmer, probably not. In two weeks, I only stayed at one place with a guest accessible Internet computer. However, half the places had wireless to their networks.

I find my laptop to be "priceless". It's a used Toshiba Portege that I got on Ebay. Weighs only 2.9# and in its case, doesn't look big enough to be a laptop. I use it not just for Internet, but also for keeping rail schedules, an expense report in Excel, and a journal of my trip in Word.

JRKite-How long will you be gone and how heavy is your laptop? Yes, internet cafes are everywhere for the most part, but I really like having my lightweight laptop with me.

Larryincolorado-I also have a used Toshiba Portege (the r100) and I love it!

In Ireland, internet cafes, libraries, your B&B and all sorts of other places will have internet access - mostly very cheap. And phoning home is VERY inexpensive too - in fact, it usually costs less than internet access. You can buy a calling card in any news agent, book shop, mini mart and you end up paying 3 to 10 cents a minute.

Hi JR,

>..it will cost an arm and a leg to call home...

A. Buy an international phone card.

B. Buy a cheap cell phone and a SIM card.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

"You will not find public access to the internet in rural Co. Cork."

Oh yes you will just like janisj
says, you might not see B&B's advertise it but ask. How do you think they manage email bookings.

I know from experience as friends that lived that way used internet cafes and libraries, to email people when they first got there.

This is very easy. :-)

I've bought an Asus EEE PC for 250€ ($399 in the US) and it does all I want. Brilliant small PC that comes pre-installed with linux but also runs Windows XP quite nicely. WLAN is included and you could hook up your cellphone for internet access. It weighs about 900 grams and comes with a dual voltage power supply. The german version has a detachable plug adapter included.

All I EVER need for travelling! Ans soooo inexpensive.

logos where did you find it at that price? Here in NL it is at least €300, and usually not in stock :(

Got it for 250€ including 15000 Lufthansa "miles and more" miles from the german t-mobile shop. I preordered last year. It's out of stock now until march. Check the forum at www.telefon-treff.de
There's a thread about buying the EEE PC.
It's just such a brillant piece of technology. I'll buy a white one too, once they become available again.

p.s. it's doubtful a computer requires a 'converter'... just an adaptor plug.

The Asus EEE is being sold by Amazon.com for $400. In stock and it has many 5 star reviews.

Thanks everyone for the input. Looks like I'll be leaving the puter at home, and getting the international calling card, or looking for the internet/email avails.