We will be traveling to Ireland in August and wondered if anyone has had experience with taking their laptops to help with researching addresses, destinations, etc. I bought an Acer netbook specifically for the trip but now have some second thoughts on its usefulness. If anyone can help me decide, I will appreciate it very much.

I have a Asus EEE that I take with me. I use it to look up train schedules, weather, email, music, and to watch movies at night. I can also access my bank accounts to transfer money or pay bills. It's small, weighs only 2 lbs. so it's worth it to me.

I LOVE my netbook! I bought it for a trip to Germany last year and used it for checking train schedules, restaurant hours, mapping, etc. It is so much easier to carry than my
laptop. And if I happen to stay somewhere without WiFi I can easily tote it to a coffee shop or other hot spot. It is actually faster than my HP laptop. I have downloaded Google Earth and a couple of games and still have plenty of space and speed.

Since there's usually no CD/DVD drive on a netbook people often think they can't watch a movie or two.... so put movies onto a USB thumb drive.

If you use DivX you can fit several movies per drive and watch them from there. Uses much less power than watching off the netbook's hard drive.

Rob

You can also add Microsoft's AutoRoute program to the computer and now you have mapping and a GPS!

I also have an ASUS EEE mini and took it on two trips this year - Spain and Japan. Most places I stayed had wifi or LAN access. I found it so convenient to keep in touch with friends and family as well as look things up like train schedules, addresses, etc. I also was able to upload some photos to Picasa so people at home could travel along with me. I can't imagine going without it now.

We bought our Acer recently after hauling a "photo wallet" storage device to Africa last year. Our netbook isn't that much bigger. We can download digital photos directly from the memory card to the 160GB hard drive -- and still have all the other computer functions. If you install Skype you can also use it to call home cheaply (or for free if others are also on Skype).

I usually take my laptop with me. I use it for GPS, photo storage and communications. Smaller is certainly better in my opinion and if the netbooks work, then so much the better. I haven't tried one, but I may if I keep reading positive comments.

I also have a Eee and love it. We often travel "space available" (family member is airline pilot) and cannot make hotel reservations before we are assigned confirmed seats at the airport. WiFi is available at most airport--sometimes for free, sometimes a credit card is all it takes. We are really happy with the Eee.

I have the Acer and won't travel without it now!

I bought a Lenovo S10 before my recent trip, and it has totally replaced my previous laptop (I also have a desktop). I had wi-fi in all my hotels (I spent a month in France), and I loved not having to trek around to find an Internet cafe, and being able to check things at night.

However, I travel very light, and even though the Lenovo doesn't weigh much, by the time you add in the weight of the power cord, and of the bigger daypack with padding, I'm not sure I would take it on a more adventurous trip.

Love my Acer, wouldn't leave home without it!

Thank you- your responses have helped- I'm keeping it!! Now I need a tutor to teach me all the functions you speak of getting on this little wonder. Happy and safe travels to all.

I have netbook envy. I saw one of my co-workers this past week now I'm lusting after new electronics.

Am I correct that this would be an easy backup for photos from my digital camera while traveling?

I can put the SD card from my camera into a slot on my netbook, and just copy the contents. Then I upload the photos from the netbook to smugmug, so they're doubly backed up. Dead easy!

I'm reading the specs on some but I don't see electricity mentioned. Am I correct that they are all dual voltage? Do I just need to get an adaptor for where I'm traveling or is it more complicated than that?

I've considered these notebooks, and maybe I'm too frugal, but it's just not worth it to me. And to have yet another piece of electronics to worry about, in terms of theft and carrying-around are other factors. I will admit, however, that I have a blackberry (provided by my employer), and I use it for a lot of the things you mention here - check museum and restaurant times, look up restaurants or restaurant reviews, check the news, weather, and email to friends and family back home. Maybe I would feel differently if I didn't have that. And I guess we don't take enough pictures on trips to have to keep on uploading them, so we don't need that capability.

<i>Am I correct that they are all dual voltage?</i>

That is probably a safe assumption. I have never seen a laptop that isn't dual voltage.

<i>Do I just need to get an adaptor for where I'm traveling or is it more complicated than that?</i>

You will need to get just the plug adaptor, but you won't need a voltage converter. You can also replace the cord that feeds into the power brick, but I wouldn't bother for a vacation, only if moving for an extended period.

Personally, I always take a laptop. I have the Vaio P which is amazingly small and light, but often have to lug along my work laptop, as well.

I've taken my Asus EEE on three trips to Europe in the past year and will continue to do so. The WIFI is great when it works but not always. It did work on the Stena Line ferry from Wales to Ireland and the trains from Edinburgh to London. This idle time is great for catching up on emails. The train also has a power outlet so the battery doesn't run down (UK/US plug adapter required). It came with plenty of software in Linux. I did my expense report on the spreadsheet while flying home. The SD slot allowed me to review photos in Picasa and copy them to a flash drive. The Asus EEE is a great little tool.

As mentioned laptops and netbooks are all dual voltage needing only a plug adapter but don't forget a surge protector!

A travel version is small and takes little space and costs about 30 bucks. You have no idea of the power quality where you're headed so don't take a chance.

Rob