Comments on: Should you bring a laptop while backpacking? http://artofbackpacking.com/should-you-bring-a-laptop-while-backpacking/ Backpacking is cutting travel costs, but not cutting the exciting elements of adventure. Travel in style; to distinctive places and to have fun doing so! Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:23:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Blendobass http://artofbackpacking.com/should-you-bring-a-laptop-while-backpacking/#comment-7749 Blendobass Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:21:00 +0000 http://artofbackpacking.com/?p=291#comment-7749 um... I am going to south east asia, I would stay there if I could find work... I build websites, and I use it to dj, not to mention my whole life..... BUT I am worried I will be on it to much, that is why I want to travel, to get away from BULL if you know what I mean. Its a conflict. I think I will take my android HTC phone (that overheats and might break down over there) and use that for secure emailing and stuff... and I will take an old ipod with my dj music on it, as well as a all my Traktor DJ app settings on it. I figure if I find a DJ gig I will have to burn CD"S or use someones traktor setup... If I want to stay over there and find work... I will be pissed that I left my laptop behind, but chances are I will end up back at home to Canada. My last 3 trips to SE asia I was glad I didn't have a laptop for sure... but everyone that didn't seem to need one had one, I don't want to be wired up or watching movies, just work.. Its a conflict, I still might bring my macbook and a little usb mixer with me, and leave the android home... um… I am going to south east asia, I would stay there if I could find work… I build websites, and I use it to dj, not to mention my whole life…..

BUT

I am worried I will be on it to much, that is why I want to travel, to get away from BULL if you know what I mean.

Its a conflict.

I think I will take my android HTC phone (that overheats and might break down over there) and use that for secure emailing and stuff… and I will take an old ipod with my dj music on it, as well as a all my Traktor DJ app settings on it.

I figure if I find a DJ gig I will have to burn CD”S or use someones traktor setup…

If I want to stay over there and find work… I will be pissed that I left my laptop behind, but chances are I will end up back at home to Canada.

My last 3 trips to SE asia I was glad I didn’t have a laptop for sure… but everyone that didn’t seem to need one had one, I don’t want to be wired up or watching movies, just work..

Its a conflict, I still might bring my macbook and a little usb mixer with me, and leave the android home…

]]> By: Hector G. Parra http://artofbackpacking.com/should-you-bring-a-laptop-while-backpacking/#comment-6629 Hector G. Parra Thu, 18 Aug 2011 20:43:00 +0000 http://artofbackpacking.com/?p=291#comment-6629 I really DON'T want to take my laptop, a 2008 15" MacBook Pro. It's heavy, big, and a liability, not to mention I'm traveling to get away from the damn thing. I was going to take my iPad instead. Problem is, as a software engineer and designer, the laptop is a ticket to making spare cash. Quite a conflict! I really DON’T want to take my laptop, a 2008 15″ MacBook Pro. It’s heavy, big, and a liability, not to mention I’m traveling to get away from the damn thing. I was going to take my iPad instead. Problem is, as a software engineer and designer, the laptop is a ticket to making spare cash. Quite a conflict!

]]> By: Noah Fernandes http://artofbackpacking.com/should-you-bring-a-laptop-while-backpacking/#comment-5954 Noah Fernandes Wed, 25 May 2011 04:34:00 +0000 http://artofbackpacking.com/?p=291#comment-5954 This article has helped me with a long asked question I've had. And the truth is, like you say, there is no answer. It's all about the relative pros and cons, and right now I feel carrying it has more cons than pros so I'll probably be leaving my laptop somewhere safe (or sell it to get some extra pocket money for the trip). I finally own an iPhone and I've found it tremendously useful. Its my phone, my internet connection, my calculator, camera, hostel finder, map, GPS, converter, music, book library and Skype to name a few and it fits in my pocket! I've found various apps out there dedicated to travelling, some of which are mentioned right here on this blog (thanks Michael!). One drawback is it's tiny screen and keyboard which makes it difficult (but still possible) to write blogs. I guess this could be solved with an iPad or an external blue-tooth keyboard though. Another drawback is, unless its jailbroken, its not very computer social. Meaning you can't simply walk into any random cyber cafe and unload pictures, swap songs, etc. Also, it doesn't act as an external hard-drive if you were thinking of unloading your DSLR's images into it. On the whole though, it suits me just fine and unless I need to do some serious work while travelling, I'll leave my laptop back home and take just my trusty phone. This article has helped me with a long asked question I’ve had. And the truth is, like you say, there is no answer. It’s all about the relative pros and cons, and right now I feel carrying it has more cons than pros so I’ll probably be leaving my laptop somewhere safe (or sell it to get some extra pocket money for the trip).

I finally own an iPhone and I’ve found it tremendously useful. Its my phone, my internet connection, my calculator, camera, hostel finder, map, GPS, converter, music, book library and Skype to name a few and it fits in my pocket! I’ve found various apps out there dedicated to travelling, some of which are mentioned right here on this blog (thanks Michael!).

One drawback is it’s tiny screen and keyboard which makes it difficult (but still possible) to write blogs. I guess this could be solved with an iPad or an external blue-tooth keyboard though.

Another drawback is, unless its jailbroken, its not very computer social. Meaning you can’t simply walk into any random cyber cafe and unload pictures, swap songs, etc. Also, it doesn’t act as an external hard-drive if you were thinking of unloading your DSLR’s images into it.

On the whole though, it suits me just fine and unless I need to do some serious work while travelling, I’ll leave my laptop back home and take just my trusty phone.

]]> By: Michael http://artofbackpacking.com/should-you-bring-a-laptop-while-backpacking/#comment-2764 Michael Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:14:03 +0000 http://artofbackpacking.com/?p=291#comment-2764 Good point. I actually did the same with the USB. I always charged all my devices via USB including my digital camera which I found only Samsung and Kodak did.<br>Thanks for the comment! Good point. I actually did the same with the USB. I always charged all my devices via USB including my digital camera which I found only Samsung and Kodak did.
Thanks for the comment!

]]> By: Michael http://artofbackpacking.com/should-you-bring-a-laptop-while-backpacking/#comment-2852 Michael Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:14:00 +0000 http://artofbackpacking.com/?p=291#comment-2852 Good point. I actually did the same with the USB. I always charged all my devices via USB including my digital camera which I found only Samsung and Kodak did. Thanks for the comment! Good point. I actually did the same with the USB. I always charged all my devices via USB including my digital camera which I found only Samsung and Kodak did.
Thanks for the comment!

]]> By: Adamasao http://artofbackpacking.com/should-you-bring-a-laptop-while-backpacking/#comment-2763 Adamasao Fri, 30 Jul 2010 04:42:46 +0000 http://artofbackpacking.com/?p=291#comment-2763 I know this is an old post, but just for new readers I'd like to add a couple of things.<br>First, with most netbook chargers these days there'll be no problem with the different voltages, etc, available in different locations. All you'll need is an adapter to plug it in to the socket.<br>Which brings me to the next pro - sure, you'll need to carry around the netbook charger, but having the netbook will enable you to leave at home almost all of your other chargers.<br>Having an mp3 player, a DSLR, a point n shoot, a Nokia phone (with GPS), an iPhone, an iPod (all this between 2 people:))... these start to add up if you need a charger for each one, but I managed to find USB chargers for every piece of electronics except the DSLR so only had to take take 2 chargers in total - al the rest you can charge via the netbook USB ports.<br>This is also VERY helpful when you're stuck in the common backpacking situation of shared rooms and limited outlets.<br><br>Great article! I know this is an old post, but just for new readers I'd like to add a couple of things.
First, with most netbook chargers these days there'll be no problem with the different voltages, etc, available in different locations. All you'll need is an adapter to plug it in to the socket.
Which brings me to the next pro – sure, you'll need to carry around the netbook charger, but having the netbook will enable you to leave at home almost all of your other chargers.
Having an mp3 player, a DSLR, a point n shoot, a Nokia phone (with GPS), an iPhone, an iPod (all this between 2 people:))… these start to add up if you need a charger for each one, but I managed to find USB chargers for every piece of electronics except the DSLR so only had to take take 2 chargers in total – al the rest you can charge via the netbook USB ports.
This is also VERY helpful when you're stuck in the common backpacking situation of shared rooms and limited outlets.

Great article!

]]> By: Sencha tea http://artofbackpacking.com/should-you-bring-a-laptop-while-backpacking/#comment-2443 Sencha tea Sat, 03 Jul 2010 22:10:26 +0000 http://artofbackpacking.com/?p=291#comment-2443 Very good information.Thanks. Very good information.Thanks.

]]> By: carla brown http://artofbackpacking.com/should-you-bring-a-laptop-while-backpacking/#comment-1698 carla brown Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:08:16 +0000 http://artofbackpacking.com/?p=291#comment-1698 i cant even think about it..without..it..it will harder for me...to keep on writting.. i cant even think about it..without..it..it will harder for me…to keep on writting..

]]> By: dinniedraco http://artofbackpacking.com/should-you-bring-a-laptop-while-backpacking/#comment-1441 dinniedraco Wed, 13 Jan 2010 08:46:54 +0000 http://artofbackpacking.com/?p=291#comment-1441 Have my white macbook and a 17inch pro. I am considering the white one since even if I lose it, it is cheaper to replace. Have my white macbook and a 17inch pro. I am considering the white one since even if I lose it, it is cheaper to replace.

]]> By: Michael Tieso http://artofbackpacking.com/should-you-bring-a-laptop-while-backpacking/#comment-1440 Michael Tieso Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:38:53 +0000 http://artofbackpacking.com/?p=291#comment-1440 Thanks! Which macbook are you going to bring? Thanks! Which macbook are you going to bring?

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