Traveling with a lap top computer
 

If you have traveled with a lap top could you give me your opinions? Is it worth it? What do you do with it when you leave the hotel?

I wouldn't be without one when traveling in the US, but what about Europe?

Appreciate any help you can give.

Dragged it once, never again. You have to consider the value of lugging it over and all about versus how much (and for what) you really need/want to have it along.

It's basically a pain. You leave it in the room and you fret about it still being there. You carry it along and you hate yourself for doing it. Can't win.

Plenty of internet shops everywhere, cheap - do the minimum email and trip research, blow off the rest til you get home, and be happy.

Where on earth do you think you're travelling to?

If you wouldn't be without your laptop in your country, why would you want to be without it somewhere else? Is it going to get miraculously heavier, or more valuable, when it crosses the Atlantic?

Some of us like having our laptops: we can't imagine being without them, even in the depths of Vietnam. For us, internet cafes have millions of obvious disadvantages, and we chose our laptops to make them easy to carry anyway.

Others don't like lugging them around - and that, presumably, applies just as much in a strip mall in Poughkeepsie as in Vienna.

Your prefernces won't change. So why inflict on yourself the horror of internet cafes if you don't have to? Who wants the pain of weird keyboards, inability to up- and download, lack of confidentiality and the sheer frustration of not being able to go online when you wake up in the middle of the night?

I usually always bring my laptop to EU because i need to be writing or doing research. It's very convenient to be able to use it for my travel related needs and I really like having it with me.

My laptops are small and light (Inspiron 700 and Latitude c400) -- 12 in screens and less than 5lbs, anything larger is too cumbersome and i wouldn't consider carrying it. As for value, many cameras are more valuable than my laptop and I don't hesitate to leave it in the hotel. I worry more about cash, ipods, and jewelry. I think my shoes would fetch a higher price on ebay than my computer.

I also like using skype for free calls home.

This largely depends on your needs. If you are bringing the laptop to check email or do some quick search on the internet, i.e. for addresses, tourist information, then I'll leave it home. Internet cafes are pretty common, some hotels might even provide computer access (some free, some for nominal fee).

Our next vacation, my husband (an attorney) has no plans of bringing his laptop--he barely takes time off, and when he's off from work, he's off from work. Me on the other hand, although I don't have the hyper career he has, will be bringing my laptop--I teach college classes on line, and although I only need to check in 3 to 4x a week, I usually work at nights and send large files online so having my own laptop will be far more convenient. I have no plans of spending 2 hours in a public computer during the day when I can be sight seeing.

So unless you need regular, lengthy access to your computer--leave it. Its a vacation. Relax and forget about it.

But if you bring it and are worried about theft, contact your homeowners or renters insurance--they should cover your laptop.

As an avid photographer, I found that it really came in handy bringing my laptop along on my trip last October. I could download my photos at the end of each day, back them up on a cd then erase my memory card. All from the comfort of my hotel room. No need to hunt down a photo store do it for me.

As for worrying about it's safety, I had it put in the hotels safe at the main desk when I took off to explore whatever city I was in.

Tom

PS You can see my photographs of my last trip at www.pbase.com/trsw

Wonderful photos, Tom!

Tom your photos are amazing!!:)
If everyone took holiday pics like that there wouldn't be anyone cringing at the thought of a slide show...it could go on for hours!
Congratulations...are you a professional?
What sort of camera do you have?
We are going to Europe in April for about 3 months and I hope some of my pics are as good as yours!
Thankyou for sharing them
Rosie :)

Toupary and Rosie - I am glad you both liked my work.

Rosie - To answer your questions. No I am not a proffessional. But I have been very interested in photography since I was in high school, some 20 plus years ago. It wasn't until about a year and a half ago I caved and went digital. Too 'old school' I guess LOL!!

As for what sort of camera I use, my first trip in 2005, I used a Nikon CoolPix 5900, a point and shoot. But I upgraded to a Nikon D50, a digital SLR for my trip in 2006. I find it so more comfortable shooting in the 35mm format.

How I envy you with a 3 month trip Europe. Where are you going? Have a great time and please share your photos when you get back.

Tom

Hi T,

Is this something that you need for business?

Why should it be any different shlepping a computer around Europe from shlepping it around the US?

((I))

Hi TR,

>... I could download my photos at the end of each day, back them up on a cd then erase my memory card. <

You can buy a SanDisk 2 GB SD Memory Card for $39.99 at www.amazon.com.

A 4 GB card is about $55.

((I))

Well my husband takes his with him to the US (an nearly everywhere else) so why not the other way round? The only holiday he didn't take it on was to Tanzania. We use it for internet and photos, but also have a small Vosonics image tank for the photos so the laptop isn't really necessary then. He leaves it in the hotel room. If you are worried about it you can but a device which will chain your laptop down. Make sure your charger is multi voltage so you don't blow it up on European 220 volts! I try to limit is internet time or he will keep worling while we're away!

I carried my laptop 3 continents and 9 cities in 4weeks...worth it. Every locale did not have a convenient internet, security would be questionable if you need to perform transactions, I left mine in the hotel and the apartments I rented and did not worry about it, and it saved me quite a bit of money.

I got last minute deals on accommodations, airfares, and items to buy as well as info from around the globe that was priceless, all when I am sitting quietly late at night, checking my emails anyway.

To be sure, one should carry a lighter version than my 17" widescreen build muscle special, (thats all I have) and its bulk of 12lbs and growing is a bit much, so next time I am toting a 12" screen or smaller with 6lbs or under the goal. It can double as tutor for language on your flight over, which is why I always carry mine.

Bon chance y buon viaggio!

I always bring the laptop for several reasons.

1) I use it to download pictures from the digital still camera and then to burn them to CD.

2) I use it as a comm system (if the hotel or B&B has free internet). I use Skype In/Out so I have a local U.S. phone number, whereever I go. I also bring the little USB phone to use with it.

3) I use it for GPS. I have the ProGin GPS receiver and Route 66 maps for all of Europe. It is great.

4) We use it as a diary, to keep track of what we did and where we went.

I leave it in the hotel, unless driving.

I keep a copy of everything that's in my PPC. See: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34474486

I think more people would be comfortable with the idea (except those who somehow feel that carrying one pollutes a sacrosanct vacation experience) if they had a lightweight, manageable model. I have a Compaq Presario V2000 that weighs in at 5.4 lbs. - which is so light I often carry it with me all day. It's easier to take notes than on the PPC, and I can connect via WiFi all over the capitals I travel.

Thank you all for your comments! It has helped me make my choice.

My concerns were about security of it being stolen from our hotel room and whether the pros outweighed the cons. I am delighted to know that so many have left there computers in their rooms without consequences and to learn that someone has left theirs in the hotels safe at the front desk. I had wondered if this was a possibility--Thanks TR and I am so impressed with your photos!!! Glad someone already asked what camera you used!

I have already experience having to spend valuable time trying to find internet cafes etc not to mention time spent learning the keyboard, how to operate or get on to the internet, slowness of some internet cafes computers, dealing with internet cafes weird hours! Also reading postings about internet cafes closing in Italy due to government regs. I have had friends that tell me they couldn't imagine why I would want to take a lap top. For me the benefits are so much greater than the negatives and knowing that so many of you had no problems leaving them in hotel rooms is comforting, but if possible I will try to leave mine in the hotel safe.

Ira: The trip we just came back from I did not have a computer and the frustrations of NOT having a computer; Having to find one, did not add to the enjoyment of our trip. When the hotels had an accessable computer, businessmen or someone else, were using them so I could not get on the computer. I know I want one for any domestic trips, and after hearing from all of you I will be able to use it in Europe also.

Oh by the way, the one I will get will be 5.4lbs or lighter.

You all have been so helpful!! Thank you

Hi T2,

Well, if you insist..... :)

Follow Robe's link to his very good discussion on Pocket PC's, etc.

((I))

I lugged my laptop all over the world for the past 10 years because I had to (when you run your own business you're never really truly on vacation)....and hated it.

I also had one cell phone for the US and one for Europe, and was constantly changing SIM cards and searching for unlocked phones on E-bay....PITA.

I finally bought a pocket PC last summer that solves all my needs when traveling. I can use it to make phone calls anywhere in the world (and my family and clients don't need to learn a new number for me - it's the same cell phone number I've had in the USA for 5 years), I can get and send emails, TMs, and IMs, I can download files, I can access Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox, I can use Word and Excel, and PowerPoint - everything I could do on the laptop, and it's the size of a large candybar. Best $300 I ever spent.

Oh, and it has a decent digital camera/video recorder too (though I do still bring my digital camera as well).

StCirq - What pocket PC did you end up buying? Sounds like just what I have been wanting.
thanks
1jan1