Should i bring laptop to europe

Although you can get power adapters for airplanes, I have rarely found a power outlet in economy class. So unless you travel in business or first class, it will be difficult to take advantage of your airline adapter. The excellent Seatguru. The power grid is often unreliable in many developing countries, and a surge protector can save both your power adapter and your computer in case of a power surge.

If you plan to send to sign on to the internet via WiFi or even a modem, your surge protection should also include a phone jack. Many new laptops no longer have built in modems, so you may need to bring an external one to be safe, though WiFi access is now becoming commonplace worldwide.

Most laptop power adapters can convert voltage from to power your computer, which is very practical for traveling. All you need is a plug adapter to accommodate the type of electrical plug used at your destination. To be sure, read the labels on your power adapter, which will tell you the input voltage range of your unit.

With power supply unreliable in many remote areas and developing countries, bringing an extra battery is a good way to ensure that you can put in the working hours you need. Many travelers make use of downtime while waiting for a train or flight by working on their laptops—so make sure your batteries are in good working condition. Although dial-up connections via modem are no longer common for home or office use, it is still good to be prepared during an international trip to use a phone line for internet access, in an emergency, if you have no readily available broadband or WiFi connection.

You may find fewer WiFi hotspots in some locations around the world except at airports and major hotels, though this is rapidly changing due to an upsurge in expectations due to generational demand. But if connectivity is critical for you, and you are staying at hotels with a telephone in your room but no WiFi there or nearby, it might be prudent to consider a local dial-up service during your travels. Many internet service providers overseas have low-cost options that allow for prepaid dial-up access to the internet for a certain amount of hours per month.

But such a need a fortunately now a huge exception rather than the rule. Bringing a laptop lock can help secure your computer in your hotel room, and may deter theft, but it is not a surefire guarantee. Hide your laptop when you are not in your room, so it is not immediately noticeable. I have had little trouble with hotel theft on my travels in over 40 countries, but it that does not mean it has not happened to someone you know at some point.

VPN for Mac or PC will encrypt your connection and make data you send or receive impossible to crack by a third person. This app is a travel essential that could allow you access to geo-blocked websites too. Travelers who want an internet connection all day long will benefit from a device called pocket Wi-Fi, read our review about Tep Pocket Wifi here we have been using it for years.

It is a small modem you can carry around with you. Think of it as a smaller version of your home router. Before you embark on your trip abroad, invest in a universal adapter to make sure your battery is full all the time.

The adapter should also have protection against power surges. Traveling with a laptop could be risky because it might get stolen or misplaced in transport. You could buy a new computer once you get home, but you will lose all the data.

Backups can help out with that. Save all your files on an external hard drive or cloud storage of your choice. And remember to set up a password on your laptop as well. Finally, getting travel insurance could make your trip more enjoyable. Of course, it is not mandatory, and it is up to you to make this decision. The insurance covers anything that gets lost or damaged while traveling, including your electronic devices.

So our last piece of advice is to read our Travel Insurance Guide. We compare insurance for long-term travelers, but you can use the same tips and recommendations to buy your travel insurance for days, weeks, or months. I am an amateur photographer and can easily fill up a 16 gig memory card in one day some days 32 gig.

I need a laptop with at least a gig hard drive. I do a lot of culling as I go along for which I also need a decent screen to make those decisions. I carted my original iPad with me to Australia and New Zealand, and that was a pain. I promptly bought an iPad mini when the price dropped last summer! My usual approach is to lock it in my suitcase, unless I'm planning to use it immediately. Several years ago, I traveled with a netbook and would either use a cable lock to attach it to a desk or I'd lock it in a bag or the safe.

I normally travel with a Netbook, which is a bit of a compromise but it's so light and easy to travel with compared to my 15" MacBook Pro. It's somewhat inexpensive compared to a Laptop so if it's stolen or damaged, it won't be a huge hit on my budget. I normally just leave it locked inside my luggage when out touring for the day, and have never had a problem with that method. I've thought of trying an iPad however the virtual keyboard is a problem for me as I prefer a "normal" keyboard.

While there are accessory keyboards available, that's one more thing to haul around so I prefer to stay with the Netbook. I always traveled with a laptop, then bought an MSI notebook, smaller, lighter, but does everything.

I use it to back up photos, stay in touch, write a travel diary, store all my planning notes, and now that I have an iPod Touch, I'm using it to upload stuff to Dropbox so I have the bits I need for a day or so in my pocket. I always leave it in my hotel, either in the safe, if it fits, or tucked away in my usually locked suitcase. I love having it on hand for train rides, when I have time to review photos and write letters. I can't imagine traveling without it.

The original poster has never come back in the 3 weeks this thread has been active, so we may all be talking in an empty room. She does have 10 other posts though so maybe she's around. I am seriously considering an iPad mini Unless on business, I would not bring a laptop even though it can probably be kept in the safe. Too much to lug around. I'd consider an ipad, but my smartphone does everything I need. The last 4 times I went to Europe, I was there on business, but was able to make time for sightseeing as well.

I would never carry a laptop on a true vacation trip or even a tablet, I find my smartphone on wifi good enough for what I need to do , but I had to have it on those work trips. Easier to un-ugly the laptop afterward. That is a brilliant idea! It took me a few weeks to find this laptop as everybody I talked to said the same thing as the Best Buy guy — that it didn't exist.

Well, the good news is that it does! And the slightly bigger screen than a netbook makes such a difference, as the netbook screens are too small to spend a significant amount of time staring at. I believe there is also a Toshiba version out there as well…. You just made my day Earl!! I was terribly envious of your mini when you came — it really is so incredibly ideal for traveling!

Right now I am on the hunt for a smaller backpack for my big ole laptop so that I don't look like such an idiot when I am wearing both! I'm always with a laptop and recently bought the Acer Timeline It has all of the specs of a large laptop but is only slightly larger than a netbook and weighs the same as a netbook.

I'm absolutely loving it so far as it can handle even heavy programs such as dreamweaver and photoshop with ease. Granted, I wasn't gone for 11 months, but YOU know, Shan — even with the free-lancing work, it was more than perfect for me. Next time, I'll bring a external hard drive to account for the small one in the Mini, but how convenient was it that I could carry it nearly always in my Camelbak?

We'll have to talk about Machu PIcchu ;. Does the Pac Safe really work? I have been looking for something to feel more secure about my electronics on the road, I get a little worried even leaving my stuff in the lockers provided by the hostels. Or am I just thinking it looks a bit more flimsy than it actually is?

Really, it keeps people from doing the quick steal — and that's where I have always felt there is more danger. Dave and Deb at ThePlanetD took one with them and they have also found it incredibly useful.

It wont stop someone who's determined and has the time on their hands, but it will stop all the rest! I think it's worth it if you're carrying a laptop and esp if you add a DSLR and other electronics onto that I feel you there! We are traveling with our laptops one each! We have been using the pacsafe and it helps ease our minds a lot. I don't think that I could have the computer and not have the laptop. If we are staying in a sketchy place it is good to know that it is securely locked to the bed.

Sure they take up space, but I think it is needed. From editing video, pretyping posts before hitting the Internet cafe and going through hundreds of photos. A lot of work can get done while laying in bed at night.

We are using our iphone as well and are starting to use it a lot more to check email and facebook etc. It saves time at the Internet so that we can spend time to focus on the blog. We are really loving the Iphone now. Great points all around Shannon! I second you on the PacSafe — although it's not infallible, it does make it a whole lot harder for someone to walk away with your electronics!

I'd be interested in seeing a followup post from you guys on the iPhone ;- I bought one and unlocked it a few weeks back, but I have yet to use it on the road — hoping it will do me well in Central America and am interested in seeming the pros and cons not that you've used it! I think some readers are missing a point — there are people out there like me still drinking PBR!

My wife take are laptops with us wherever we go, but we're traveling by car, not backpacking. If I were backing, I would still want a computer with me — a net book seems like the ideal choice. The car does make it easier, but as you said, even backpacking, the laptop comes in handy