What it would take to get me to carry a computer when I travel
Feb 21st, 2007, 03:49 PM
#41
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Technophobe here, big time. I only have dial-up & my worst nightmare is to lug a laptop to London & not be able to figure out how to get on the Net because I've never used WIFI or high-speed. The flat I normally rent has a way to hook up a laptop through cable (I think.)
How long does a laptop's battery run before needing to be charged again?
How long does a laptop's battery run before needing to be charged again?
Feb 21st, 2007, 03:53 PM
#42
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It depends on
o the laptop
o the battery (model and age)
o what applications are run (CD/DVD are hogs)
Typical is 2-3 hours. Last year, there was one laptop with a 9-hour runtime, but I haven't seen any lately.
o the laptop
o the battery (model and age)
o what applications are run (CD/DVD are hogs)
Typical is 2-3 hours. Last year, there was one laptop with a 9-hour runtime, but I haven't seen any lately.
Feb 21st, 2007, 04:24 PM
#43
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Unless I'm on a business trip, I don't ever carry a laptop or organiser. I do take my mobile phone but that's only for emergancies, certainly not everyday use. I still like to write to people, or send postcards - old fashioned as it may seem - and (maybe I'm mistaken in my belief!) but I like to think people still enjoy getting non-'electrical' correspondance occasionally.
I also think, if you are travelling with friends/family it can be quite rude to have your nose stuck in a laptop for half the trip. Likewise if I'm on a plane, or on Eurostar, one of the worst things when trying to relax is having someone bashing away on the keyboard, or playing games or music right next to me for hours.
I do think the occasionally trip to a cyber cafe, or using your laptop in the privacy of your own hotel room is fine, but I don't believe anyone is so important that they need to be contactable/hard at work 24/7. Sorry!
I also think, if you are travelling with friends/family it can be quite rude to have your nose stuck in a laptop for half the trip. Likewise if I'm on a plane, or on Eurostar, one of the worst things when trying to relax is having someone bashing away on the keyboard, or playing games or music right next to me for hours.
I do think the occasionally trip to a cyber cafe, or using your laptop in the privacy of your own hotel room is fine, but I don't believe anyone is so important that they need to be contactable/hard at work 24/7. Sorry!
Feb 21st, 2007, 04:40 PM
#44
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Maitaitom,
Whatever you do, don't order online without at least checking out the thing in person since you mentioned issues with size of screen and keyboard.
Try the thing out.
These days, there are a lot of Windows Vista laptops and reports of it being a resource hog so compare the deals for how much RAM they're offering. People are saying 1 GB of RAM minimum for Vista, 2 GB necessary.
One thing about HP and Compaq computers is that they load a lot of junk, typically software from people who cut deals with them to be installed on every computer. Mostly useless stuff.
And they don't give you the Windows install discs either. My dad had problems with viruses and spyware and in the end, I had to get XP discs and do a clean install.
Maybe ask about whether you can get the actual Windows discs since you're paying for the Windows license.
Oh and the MacBooks are 5.2 pounds:
http://www.apple.com/macbook/specs.html
Whatever you do, don't order online without at least checking out the thing in person since you mentioned issues with size of screen and keyboard.
Try the thing out.
These days, there are a lot of Windows Vista laptops and reports of it being a resource hog so compare the deals for how much RAM they're offering. People are saying 1 GB of RAM minimum for Vista, 2 GB necessary.
One thing about HP and Compaq computers is that they load a lot of junk, typically software from people who cut deals with them to be installed on every computer. Mostly useless stuff.
And they don't give you the Windows install discs either. My dad had problems with viruses and spyware and in the end, I had to get XP discs and do a clean install.
Maybe ask about whether you can get the actual Windows discs since you're paying for the Windows license.
Oh and the MacBooks are 5.2 pounds:
http://www.apple.com/macbook/specs.html
Feb 21st, 2007, 04:41 PM
#45
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We brought an apple laptop to Austria and the Czech Republic so we could take lots of photos and easily transfer them from camera to computer every night. I-Photo is so good and so easy. Also, we found wireless internet almost everywhere! Even in Bohemian villages. Then in Prague, we stayed at a beautiful and inexpensive bed and breakfast and it had free internet which was much faster than we have at home. All we had to do was to plug the wire into our laptop, and we were almost instantly able to do I-Chat with our kids in the States! I think Macs are the easiest and best! I highly recommend them for ease! You don't have to go through any rigamarole to get on the internet, unlike pc's. It was really handy to finalize arrangements for rental cars and arrival times on trains and hotels when we were over there, not to mention storing all the info for the trip on the desktop.
Feb 21st, 2007, 04:48 PM
#46
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"You don't have to go through any rigamarole to get on the internet, unlike pc's."
WhT "Rigamarole" do you mean? Like punching an icon? My 5 PCs are on the internet all the time, so I really don't know what you mean.
WhT "Rigamarole" do you mean? Like punching an icon? My 5 PCs are on the internet all the time, so I really don't know what you mean.
Feb 21st, 2007, 05:13 PM
#47
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Yes, connecting any modern computer to an open WiFi connection is a piece of cake. If there's security enabled, it's much more painful, but again it doesn't matter what kind of computer you're using.
My laptop routinely connects to five different wireless networks as I move around, and I don't even have to "punch an icon" after the first time; it just remembers who it was on the network the last time and goes. The only time I've had trouble is when visiting multiple branches of the library network; sometimes it thinks it's still on the Greenwood branch's subnet when it's on the Ballard or Wallingford branch instead, and has to be nudged a bit to let go. Not a big deal.
Macs are great if you like Macs, but very few of the supposed usability issues versus Windows have any substance. With Vista, that may be changing, as it is both (a) new and (b) excessively hand-holding, and will repeatedly ask you stupid questions about whether you really want to do that, when you really do want to do that. Microsoft has never understood network security; but then, Apple never has either.
My laptop routinely connects to five different wireless networks as I move around, and I don't even have to "punch an icon" after the first time; it just remembers who it was on the network the last time and goes. The only time I've had trouble is when visiting multiple branches of the library network; sometimes it thinks it's still on the Greenwood branch's subnet when it's on the Ballard or Wallingford branch instead, and has to be nudged a bit to let go. Not a big deal.
Macs are great if you like Macs, but very few of the supposed usability issues versus Windows have any substance. With Vista, that may be changing, as it is both (a) new and (b) excessively hand-holding, and will repeatedly ask you stupid questions about whether you really want to do that, when you really do want to do that. Microsoft has never understood network security; but then, Apple never has either.
Mar 21st, 2007, 07:19 PM
#49
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Oh, sorry, I guess I'm pretty ignorant about PC's. I assumed it was more difficult to connect with a PC because I went to a wi-fi cafe recently, and there was a huge set of complicated directions on how to connect a PC to the wireless internet. But for the Mac, all that was required was to turn the computer's power on and it automatically searched for and connected to the available network. So, I'm sorry if I am so ignorant! I must have made some incorrect assumptions.
Mar 21st, 2007, 09:08 PM
#50
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Anybody have experience with connecting to the internet in Greece? We will be there for 2 weeks and I'm trying to decide whether to take the laptop or not. Any info on wifi availability, prices, how-to, etc. would be appreciated.
Mar 22nd, 2007, 09:58 PM
#51
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You best shot is to find accommodations which has Wifi.
I've lugged laptops to Internet cafes and not all of them let you use your laptop or charge you more for it than using one of their computers.
Lugging my laptop has been worth it for me. In Rome, I paid 35 Euro for a week pass at EasyInternetCafe at the Piazza Barberini, instead of paying about 20 euros a day at the InterContinental. Well I was able to sell some stock at a higher price than I originally targeted because I could see the stock was going to go way past my target price. More than paid for my vacation.
Something similar has been happening in Madrid. Again, stock shot past the target price, about a $1 above. So I'm thinking of either selling or seeing if it goes higher.
I've lugged laptops to Internet cafes and not all of them let you use your laptop or charge you more for it than using one of their computers.
Lugging my laptop has been worth it for me. In Rome, I paid 35 Euro for a week pass at EasyInternetCafe at the Piazza Barberini, instead of paying about 20 euros a day at the InterContinental. Well I was able to sell some stock at a higher price than I originally targeted because I could see the stock was going to go way past my target price. More than paid for my vacation.
Something similar has been happening in Madrid. Again, stock shot past the target price, about a $1 above. So I'm thinking of either selling or seeing if it goes higher.
Mar 22nd, 2007, 10:09 PM
#52
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I always worry about it getting stolen or broken from rough use. I just think it's better to pay the little money for the internet cafe instead of having to worry about it.
Theresa
www.nomadwannabe.com
Theresa
www.nomadwannabe.com
Mar 23rd, 2007, 12:11 PM
#53
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You can get insurance specifically for laptops.
Your homeowners policy may cover it but a laptop-dedicated policy lets you avoid deductibles from your homeowner's insurance and documenting the replacement cost and so forth.
Look at www.safeware.com.
Often, the data on the laptop is more valuable than the laptop itself. Think of say thousands of songs or thousands of pictures accumulated over several trips, not to mention financial documents like tax returns and other sensitive info.
One way to do this is to back-up you data. You can get external hard drives for under $100 these days which will have more capacity than the internal hard drive on your laptop.
After backup, delete the files with financial data from your laptop and copy it back after you get back.
Another approach is this, which is a service which tracks your laptop when the thief plugs it back to the Internet:
www.lowjackforlaptops.com
Your homeowners policy may cover it but a laptop-dedicated policy lets you avoid deductibles from your homeowner's insurance and documenting the replacement cost and so forth.
Look at www.safeware.com.
Often, the data on the laptop is more valuable than the laptop itself. Think of say thousands of songs or thousands of pictures accumulated over several trips, not to mention financial documents like tax returns and other sensitive info.
One way to do this is to back-up you data. You can get external hard drives for under $100 these days which will have more capacity than the internal hard drive on your laptop.
After backup, delete the files with financial data from your laptop and copy it back after you get back.
Another approach is this, which is a service which tracks your laptop when the thief plugs it back to the Internet:
www.lowjackforlaptops.com
