Comments on: Packing Question: Should you take your laptop on your trip?

By: 0xc0000185

0xc0000185 — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 09:12:17 +0000

The main drawback to taking a laptop on the trip is about the battery back up, which never do support more than 2 to 3 hours.

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 18:38:48 +0000

As an alternative to carrying my laptop around, I’ve recently purchased an iPod Touch and am going to take it with me on my next trip to Europe. I like having internet access for checking out accommodation options and getting information and email, but I don’t want to be worrying about my laptop. I am hoping the Touch will be a handy alternative. My one concern is availability of wifi. Does anyone have any feedback on the availability of free wifi in Europe?

By: PB

PB — Wed, 27 May 2009 07:59:05 +0000

I usually leave mine home, unless of course it’s a business trip. Even a three-pound notebook starts to feel like a ton after a few weeks of traveling, and I hate worrying about losing it or having it stolen. On the other hand, I usually do bring a mobile phone.

By: greg

greg — Mon, 18 May 2009 04:23:46 +0000

I take my laptop on every long-distance trip, including my last one to Paris.

I write my trip logs, edit pics, audio and video. Check the latest weather, sightseeing info, available local tours and events, where to get good, cheap local eats, train/bus/ferry schedules, reconfirm flights. It has become as important to me as my passport.

By: central paris

central paris — Sun, 17 May 2009 07:02:18 +0000

I do not carry laptop with me ever because it is very much valuable for me as it contains all my valuable information. I am afraid that I might loose it.

By: Pam H.

Pam H. — Fri, 15 May 2009 02:36:23 +0000

@ Pete Myers – I missed your 2nd question. Believe it or not, we usually travel with a Sony Mylo as well. We have a T-Mobile Hotspot account for this device, which resembles a phone. It makes Skype phone calls too. You can access web pages, but they are pretty hard to read. It’s excellent at picking up Wi-fi signals, which we sometimes don’t find with the Asus eee.

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 14 May 2009 22:54:16 +0000

I just bought an iPod touch. It does everything the iPhone does with a wi-fi connection– except make calls.

I see no need to bring a laptop, especially if you are moving around quite a bit.

By: Chris Cook

Chris Cook — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:24:38 +0000

I’ve always swore that I would not travel with my laptop but more and more I’m wishing it was with me. Waiting for someone to get off the one computer at my hotel, running late and needing to book my next hotel in a hurry or uploading my videos to youtube so I have memory left on my camera all seem to be reasons I’m reconsidering. I for one am going to start shopping for a travel size laptop…or an iphone (do those even work in Europe?)

By: Pam H.

Pam H. — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:56:15 +0000

@ Pete Meyers –

Pete, I do use the netbook frequently. I keep a journal, send trip update e-mails, check reservations, weather, traffic, etc. I don’t fall into the trap that many do, which is to spend too much valuable vacation time online. This is the perfect little machine for the job.

By: Leslie

Leslie — Thu, 14 May 2009 13:54:40 +0000

I recently bought one of the smaller laptops, a netbook because I am in graduate school part time and I hated lugging the laptop around to work and then to classes (well, that is my excuse and I am going with it!). I also just got back from a cruise and brought my netbook along with me and while I had to pay for access for the two weeks I was gone (in Europe) it was well worth the effort. It was nice to be able to check on my bank account and I also had downloaded several pages from different websites of places to visit, etc… In addition, I kept a short journal. I don’t know if I would take it with me if I were moving to different hotel rooms over the course of a vacation, but I did enjoy the access. AND I did have to force myself NOT to look at my work stuff while I was gone. I did not want to get sucked into anything!