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Best Technology For Long-Distance Travel?

Posted by kdawson on from the unbeaten-path-warrior dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Over the past year I have traveled across the globe for work but I can't seem to find the right balance of technology to take with me. After reading a CNET article about tech for traveling, I'm still slightly undecided about what hardware suits me best. On the work side of things I need a laptop, nothing fancy but it can't be too heavy or slow. I also need a smart phone that can receive emails across the world and if possible a satellite navigation device, as I need to get to less-traveled locations on a regular basis. From a personal perspective I need my music but I don't care about video, so I'm looking for something with high-quality audio and great battery life. A compact camera wouldn't go amiss but dSLRs are too heavy for my needs and carrying strength, so something I can tuck in a pocket would be perfect. Any suggestions greatly appreciated."

13 of 257 comments (clear)

  1. Dupe! by Z80xxc! · · Score: 1, Insightful

    OK, how many times are we going to get asked what to bring on our trip around the world? I swear this exact same question has been asked at least twice just this year already, and the year is young! It's getting old. (tagged: gettingold)

  2. N800/N810 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Consider an N800 or N810. See the N810 article for a summary of the differences.

  3. The perfect is the enemy of the good. by Erpo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If you strive for the perfect setup, you'll be miserable. Just try to find a combination that's good enough.

    Someday, we'll all be wearing digital clothes and contacts like in Rainbows End and it will meet all your needs. Until then, you're going to have to choose between carrying a few different gadgets and giving up capabilities.

    P.S.
    Does the "the government can revoke your certificate and kick you off the net" idea freak anyone else out? It sounds like Vernor Vinge understands trusted computing.

    1. Re:The perfect is the enemy of the good. by kalidasa · · Score: 2, Insightful

      iPhone fanboy defense coming.

      For the device it is, the battery life is not bad. I do about 2 hours of web surfing on EDGE a day, an hour on the telephone, and read about 30 emails on mine, and I can usually get through a day and a half on the battery. One can also get battery-based rechargers for iPods that I'm sure would also work on an iPhone, which is in fact less expensive than a spare cell battery, so the "non-user-replaceable-battery" is a nonissue for travel (face it, if you're carrying a cell phone for a few weeks with few opportunities to recharge, you're going to want a recharger that takes standard batteries like AAs, not a spare cell phone battery). If you're going to travel someplace with a lot of cellphone access, you will probably be able to get an iPhone International travel plan for it looks like less than $70/month for voice + 50 MB of EDGE, and with ~$5.50/MB overage in their main service area (most of Europe, India, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Canada and Mexico, Australia and New Zealand, and Egypt), plus ~$11-$22 / MB outside the service area (your charges if you don't have one of these plans would be a lot worse). Also, if you have free WiFi, your usage there is obviously not an AT&T matter.

      If you're just traveling around the main cities in these countries and staying in hotels or with friends and family, an iPhone with a good hard case would be a good choice; it takes care of web access, email, cell phone, and a very mediocre digital camera with a music player and photo album. The Google maps are good, but the location feature isn't good enough for navigation, so get a cheap GPS that can handle good world-wide maps (a lot of the decent cheap GPS units in the US only have NA maps available).

      That said . . .

      If you are going to be traveling on your own in small towns in these countries, or anywhere in Africa (including most of Egypt, I would imagine - never been there), South America, or Asia away from the Pacific or Indian Ocean coastlines, yes, follow Tony Hoyle's advice and buy a cheap unlocked GSM international phone with a USB charge socket and buy a pre-paid SIM in every country you visit. In many of those countries, you won't have EDGE, and even if you do, the AT&T international roaming plan won't do you any good. The iPhone is going to be a major pickpocket magnet, and it has your SIM in it - the headache of cleaning up after a stolen iPhone isn't worth it. It will mark you as a filthy rich Westerner (rather than just a rich Westerner), so haggling will go less smoothly. Also buy a battery-based USB recharger. I think the eePC might be a good choice for laptop, too; just make sure you encrypt everything on the disk. Again, a cheap small GPS would work, and a small Canon or Nikon point-and-shoot.

  4. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  5. The best is low tech... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It's called "a book".

  6. A Couple Thoughts... by Nom+du+Keyboard · · Score: 4, Insightful
    You sound like you haven't traveled much.

    First, you don't need your music. You simply want it.

    Second, anything you return to the USA with may be taken at the border and searched, including computers and storage devices. Be aware of the information you're traveling with, and where it's backed up otherwise.

    Thirdly, don't take anything you can't afford to lose. The USA are not the only border guards you'll face, along with all the other predators out looking to take advantage of the richly equipped foreign traveler.

    --
    "It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
  7. Re:HTC TYTNII by ForestGrump · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Vulgarity is not a sin against God, but against Polite Society. Between you and me, I don't give a **** about Polite Society.
    -Brother Justin, Carnivàle

    --
    Is it true that more people vote for the winner of American Idol, than vote for the president? -Ali G.
  8. Re:best camera by rolfwind · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You forgot:

    Something that takes normal AA or AAA batteries.

    Spare yourself from taking a million adapters that may or may not work, plus it's less devices to plug in once in the hotel.

  9. macbook air by nicolaiplum · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The Macbook Air is completely unsuitable for long distance travel because of the poor battery life and non-swappable battery.

    --
    "For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled"
  10. Some of what you want can't be done... by Builder · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Some of what you want can't be done - there's no such thing as a smartphone that works across the world. I spent 5 months in north and west africa last year, and it's often the case that there are no roaming agreements for european or US networks, so your phone won't work at all. And even if you get a local sim card, you'll still be stuck with no data in many places.

    The rest - well, it depends on whether you are going to a hospitable or hostile environment. If you're going to a hostile place, make sure you take something to keep yourself amused. A portable game device and LOTS of reading or tv shows and books are essential.

  11. Laptops by lunartik · · Score: 2, Insightful

    If you regularly travel internationally on business, it is a good idea to use a laptop which does not carry personal information and just contains non-confidential materials related to the purpose of your trip.

  12. Re:Go ahead, waste your time. by mrboyd · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I am probably feeding a troll here but here we go.

    If you have traveled for a few months with your backpack, on a shoe string budget, enjoying your freedom and lack of deadlines, mingled with the local, been invited to share meals. You've only seen one side of the place you're visiting.

    If you've been traveling for business, stayed in posh hotels, dealt with swift local executive, and enjoyed the luxurious night-life, you've seen just one other side.

    They are both true experiences and it would be foolish to pretend that one of those travelers has seen something more real than the other one. There are too many ways to experience a country or a place. I don't see why someone taking pictures or writing about his experiences would be less of a traveler than anyone else.