Don't forget to test the photo CD to make sure the images can be retrieved before you erase the camera memory.

Passwording your BIOS is a good idea. A friend of mine got a bargain on a store model laptop from BestBuy. A year later, when he needed to change something in the CMOS, he found that it had been password protected, probably by some kid who wandered by when it was on display.

Passwording your Windows is an exercise in futility. Numerous unlocking tools exist free on the internet.

If you have critical files, put them on a thumb drive and carry it with your passport.

I recently took an iBook to Europe. Stayed in three different places (Paris, Brugge, Amsterdam) and had wireless access at each (one hotel, one apartment, one houseboat.) I was so happy to have the laptop along, it was not a hindrance in the least.

For anyone contemplating the purchase of a laptop to travel with, you might wish to consider the Fujitsu P1000:

2.2 lbs.
8.9" touch screen
9 hour battery life

Wow, now I'm really perplexed. People have presented some great Pros, and some concerting cons.

These are important points, the power converter issues, the lack of wi-fi. Can't I bring my flash drive and my camera card reader (hooks up to USB) and either upload pics to the USB or directly into flickr? I use a flickr account.

There's also that stress of if it's not safe where I'm staying. Even if it's locked to something. If robbed, and nobody was around, it's never REALLY secure. I mean, I dunno, I hate handwriting memories, but it might be an extra hassel. If I knew I had definite wi-fi, I might feel different.

I would never tote a laptop around Europe. Just not worth the worry to me. And no, I do not consider a laptop "hidden" in your luggage in your room safe. Not to mention the added weight to your bags when you move place to place by train.

That said, I actually DO enjoy using internet cafes in different cities I visit. It's a great way to do a normal every day activity and I appreciate working that into my routine as part of the structure to my day (or every other day). You have to get out and meet people, find cool cafes to use, converse with the staff there... much better than stressing alone in your hotel room IMO.

Heck I found a nice place in A'dam that was both coffee shop with internet access. Now there's an idea.

SUZE: What's the name of the place? I'm so there :) Thanks!

No one who worries about having a laptop in Europe should travel with one. (Or probably without one, either, but I think I'd better leave it there.)

Do this: buy a cheap one on eBay and add its cost to your travel budget. That way, you've already written it off, so if it gets stolen, you're even. If it doesn't, you're ahead.

As I implied, the decision whether or not to take a laptop is a matter of personal preference, as the posts here make clear.

To me, weight is really not an issue, as I deliberately purchased a light-weight ThinkPad that weighs only 5 lbs, barely noticeable in my backpack. Converters are not an issue. Most (if not all) laptops come with built-in converters. You need only an inexpensive european plug-in adapter.

In Spain, I visited two different internet outlets, one in Granada and one in Salamanca, and what amazed and mildly horrified to find that their connection was dialup, hideously slow for uploading photos.

As I implied, the decision whether or not to take a laptop is a matter of personal preference, as the posts here make clear.

To me, weight is really not an issue, as I deliberately purchased a light-weight ThinkPad that weighs only 5 lbs, barely noticeable in my backpack. Converters are not an issue. Most (if not all) laptops come with built-in converters. You need only an inexpensive european plug-in adapter.

In Spain, after my laptop crash, I visited two different internet outlets, one in Granada and one in Salamanca, and was amazed and mildly horrified to find that their connection was dialup, hideously slow for uploading photos, requiring at least two hours to upload all my photos.

I'm a novice about WIFI and haven't learned enough about how to use it securely to be comfortable relying on it while I'm traveling. I suspect that it's safe only if you set up security with encryption.

I just bought a new laptop which isn't really heavy. I was going to keep my old one to take traveling. But I opted to sell it for travel money. VERY tight budget. But a great idea nonetheless.

I've packed laptops around the world since they were "lubables" and I had to rewire hotel room phone plugs to get a connection . . Not sure I can walk a straight line without one on my shoulder. . My current one weighs in at just under 3 lbs, brick and all.

I find I can get a wireless connection almost anywhere these days . . Last year in London, found a open Access Point from one room of the appt. that I was able to use the two weeks we were there.

They used to cost an arm and a leg, but at todays prices, they are one of the less expensive things that I worry about being stolen . . although in 20 or so years of travelling with one, have yet to have one grow legs and walk away.

The number of internet cafes these days sure make it a viable alternative, although I worry about the security aspect of that.

I suppose it just depends on what you get comfortable with and what you want to do with it.

When I travel to France, as I do often, I take my laptop, but that's because once installed in St-Cirq, I'm up and running for business - not pleasure, though I do blog and download photos while there. When I spend a few days in Paris on the return trip, my laptop stays with my luggage in my hotel room - no worries there, really - and I use internet cafés for email and whatever else I need (like checking Fodor's).

I'm toying with the idea of taking the laptop to Italy this summer. I'll be actually on vacation - totally - for the first time in years and think I like the idea of being able to pour a glass of wine and sit down at the laptop at the end of each day and write up my journal entries. I do keep written journals, too, but if I can write them up online, so much the better. Since it will be a private villa, I don't have many worries about theft, except at the airports, on trains, etc., but I figure at this point if I don't have my wits about me when traveling through Europe, I never will, so I think I'm going to bring it.

On wireless security, you're at the mercy of the router you're connecting to. If they give you a password, at least they're using WEP.

But at a public hotspot, there might not be passwords so anyone could intercept your communications.

However, you can use SSL for e-commerce transactions and for logging into web mail sites like Yahoo. Those pages are encrypted so you should be safe there.

Additional precautions would be to disable any kind of file sharing on the chance that someone would try to access your hard drive.

Of course you take the usual precaution with viruses and spyware.

But unless you're emailing passwords or credit card numbers in the clear, you should be okay.

No offense, but WEP is a joke, and should not be relied upon for any kind of wireless security. Even WPA has been hacked. So having a password on a wireless network raises your safety from 5% to 6%.

When you're on a WiFi network, it's no different from anywhere else. <u>Any</u>one can intercept your communications at <u>any</u> time, regardless of what connection you're plugged into. So it's up to you to ensure that the bad guys can't get in.

Making your computer safe to use <u>anywhere</u> (including WiFi hotspots and your living room) requires only a handful of precautions:

Use a firewall like ZoneAlarm that &quot;stealths&quot; all of your computer's IP ports. See grc.com

Install an anti-virus such as AVG, and keep its definitions up to date. free.grisoft.com

Don't send sensitive data unless you are connected to a site that uses SSL encryption. The server name will start with https:// and your browser should display a lock or a key.

<b>Don't EVER use anyone else's computer (such as a cybercafe) for sensitive data. Keystroke loggers can capture every character you type.</b>

If I was going to Europe for a couple months, yes I would take it. But for only two weeks and moving around alot, I would not bother. But I don't see it as a huge problem other than security if you really want to.

Tamara, Keep your eyes open in Amsterdam. You can usually tell what's on offer from the exterior &amp; look for one advertising internet is all. I stumbled on mine by accident on a main street near my hotel ;-)

I posted a similar question months ago before planning our trip to Italy and France last December. For us, a laptop was an absolute necessity because of business constraints. All hotels were chosen because they offered high speed internet access. In all cases it was a wireless situation. We left the laptop in the room during the day and did not have any problems. The laptop turned out to be a wonderful asset and offered several benefits in addition to keeping in touch with the office. We were able to download photos every night and free up memory on the camera. We also installed Skype and were able to make long distance calls for free because Skype was installed on the other end. For us, there was no downside to bringing it with us and I would do so again, even if I didn't need to do it for work reasons.

I'll add my 2kb worth - I would not go leave w/o my laptop. Not only useful for dumping the pics, can also keep log and with open hots spots becoming more and more common can use it to do on road research and send emails. True the open hot spots are not secure - so I treat it like a postcard - don't use it for something you would not want the postman to read

I decided that I just can't bring my brand new baby (Dell XPSM140)with me to Europe.If something happens to it, I could never forgive myself. However, my travel partner has a crappy old laptop that he said he will bring. It doesn't work on batteries it's so crappy :). But, with a power converter, if nothing else, we can upload pics and I can write trip reports and save them to my flash drive.

If I were staying in only one hotel, I think I'd bring it, but as it is, my first hotel in Amsterdam is on the 3rd floor (fourth floor by American standards). Reading the reviews on bookings.be, the trip up to the 4th floor is about 74 steps! I think I'd rather not do this with a small suitcase, a small duffle, AND a laptop :)

I literally cannot function without my laptop. Even for a two night trip to San Francisco I had to have my computer for checking last minute sightseeing options, directions to places, and restaurant reviews. When I go to Europe this spring I am definitely bringing my laptop. What kind of converter will I need in order to plug it into european sockets? Can I just buy a surge protector that accepts US style but plugs in euro style?

You should only need a plug adaptor, which if you do not wish to buy, most hotels will loan you one, Radio Shack caries a nice line of plug adaptors as does WallMart.

Look on your brick ( the block that the plug to the wall connects to that you plug into the laptop) to verify, but these days, all seem to work on 90 to 260 volts so you do not need any transformet or converter.

You can buy surge protectors, but I never use onewith a laptop since the brick works with such a range of voltages.