BootsnAll Travel Community

This is a copy n paste from my blog... I suppose its poor form to just outright link to your blog on a topic. It seems equally dumb to just copy n paste it in... but what the heck. I hope this helps if anyone is currently torturted on the laptop debate...

Aaron

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This is one that i debated for sometime before making the call... Read the travel boards, searched etc.

2 months into the travels, I'd thought it time to write up my $0.02.

My verdict so far is that traveling with a laptop rocks and is absolutely the right thing for me. I love it.

However, obviously thats not true for everyone... Travel styles, interests, etc are all different. Here's my overview on what i have, whats good, whats not so good and a few other considerations.


The Gear
- Dell Lattitude X1 with extra battery
- Cable lock
- Tucano waterproof case
- Outdoor Research waterproof stuff sack to keep it all together and obfuscate the laptop look. Occasionally security through obscurity buys you a little.
- small logitech webcam

Why i love it?
- Skype. Amazing to get in touch with friends and family, int'l reservations, take care of issues back home, etc... awesome.
- manage my phots and upload to flickr as i go
- Work. I dink around with a couple web sites and so this allows me to write code and manage stuff. Writing code gives me fun projects to work on as a travel around. I like to mix it up and stay productive...
- Writing. I am working on some writing and handwriting is essentially useless for me. So this works out really well.
- Web cam chat
- a homey feeling. Sounds funny but having my programs, projects etc are like a little home away from home.
- booking hotels and managing a few things back home with a secure computer.
- Carrying 30Gig of music without having a large ipod

i didnt bring the removeable CD burner so no burning or DVD movies.

The downside...
- i know my latop can be broken or stolen at any minute and i just have to accept that reality. I back up my docs through email and hope for the best.
- It aint without weight. The laptop plus batteries plus charger and lock (essential) is probably about 7 lb's almost 1/4 of my packweight. Its a big sacrifice. I deal with this by trying to keep super light on everything else (my whole gear is probably about 34 lbs inc travel guides and water). If i can, i will ditch my laptop for a while in Nepal where I suppse carrying my pack will be a constant. I have a spare battery which i will probably also ditch at some point... its really just not a neccesity.

Fortunatly since I left the blow dryer and jeans at home my bag is still pretty small.

All in all, I love traveling with a laptop. I could lose/brake it tommorow or it could be stolen. That would be sad... but life's hard. Now if i just find a way to ditch some more weight i'll be super stoked...

This is great information. Thanks so much for posting it. I'm tenatively planning a 6 month trip to South America next year and would really love to keep a good blog plus do some writing so think carrying a laptop would be a great way to go.

I'm extremely non-techy in this regard...but how do you hook into the various Internet connections all over the world? I'm guessing most places outside the US (and maybe Europe) haven't gone wireless yet...so do Internet cafes just let you plug into their connections? Do you have to install new software and/or drivers every time you connect in? Do you connect via USB cable or something else?

Stacey

Do you have insurance for your laptop? Mine is insured through Safeware, which makes me a lot more comfortable with bringing it.

Bear in mind that AG's laptop (Dell X1) is a super tiny one (less than 3lbs) - most common users don't buy them that light(they're more costly as well, and generally not as powerful). I have a Vaio TX650 (2.7lbs, WITH dvd burner ) but like AG, I'm a techie and a web programmer for trade. I also vouch for all those pluses AG mentions on his post (skype, music, photos,etc).

how's that x1 working out? i've been wanting to check one out but the dell shop doesn't carry "business" machines...

i'm thinking either the x1, the panasonic r4, or one of ibm's x-series.

Whatever you do - buy it on ebay - it can go for up to 40% cheaper compared to buying from the Dell site, sometimes even with the warranty still valid. I bought my Dell X300 (the one that got replaced by the X1) for $1500, with docking station, extra battery, 3 years of onsite warranty, where on Dell's site this would have costed over $2200...

Another example, I bought my Vaio on ebay for $1700 brand new sealed box - if I bought it on Sony's site? $2400...

The X1 has been really awesome. There is no fan and so sometimes i have to put it on something for better ventalilation. Definitly the extended battery is key but i think i will ditch the regular battery soon. its not essential and weighs a fair amount.

I have used my share of laptops and this one is pretty damn good. No CD drive internally which i feel is more or less an asset in terms of keeping off weight but it would be nice at times.

One thing handy about going super small is that i carry my laptop inside of the tucano inside of a mountain smith tour bag which has all my day bag stuff. This is really good for keeping my laptop in stealth mode. Its common sense that you dont want to flash around fancy gear at the wrong time and this really helps keep it on the DL. One would never suspect i was schleping around a laptop most of the time. It means i can ditch my pack in my room and carry around my laptop and its no worries. Carrying a laptop bag would be weird and akin to a neon 'steal me' sign.

connecting int'ly isnt too tough. There are wireless spots here and there... I carry a wififinder as well Some of the inet cafes have caught on and let you link up your laptop. No need to install anything, you just plug in the ethernet cable. test this at home before leaving.

A good blog could easily be maintained wihout a laptop. I know of a good travel blog site if you need one

The Ebay thing seems like a good call. I got mine on refurbished dell which has a pretty good deal... my gear was $1600 inc extra life battery, taxes and shipping.

cheers

you folks are making rethink my situation. I am on the road with a laptop adn I love it. I now have time to write and work on small flash projects. But about 3 weeks ago my laptop broke. we fixed it but about every 3 start ups I need to take the back off and replug in the harddrive. the little snap broke that keeps it in place. Now I am thinking of getting a new|smaller one. if I could get one that weighed 7 lbs with all the gear I would do it. Also the problem I have had is that mine is full size. I would recomend to anyone to spend the extra money and get a little one.