Using a laptop abroad

portchieboy

OH and I are reaching the age where we can holiday as we want, not the kids! We have tried a Road Trip in the US and loved it, but by the nature of things thought afterwards that it may have been v useful to be able to connect to the Internet, and check out Motels, Entertainment, travel details etc.

Now I am very un-techie in these things.

Would it be worth buying a small(?) laptop to carry around, could we find enough 'hotspots?' .....would we just then be able to look things up.

We do not have up to date phones.....don't use them, and anyway, surfing on a tiny screen does not seem easy. Also, takes me forever to text. (Bless)

Thats it, any ideas please?

wanye

getting a small laptop is good, but it depends what you want from it... i've got an asus EEE 8g model i bought for £220 and its great for stuff like that.

but if you *just* want it for web browsing via wifi points, then what about an ipod touch/iphone? (or a nokia 770/800 internet "tablet")

are you wanting more than just access to a browser? is a keyboard essential, or will a touchscreen be enough for what you need (i also have a nokia n95 that does acceptable internet access through opera mini and a foldable bluetooth keyboard (£25ish))

HTH

chunter

Vodaphone Mobile works in countries where Vodaphone have a network.
http://www.abroad.vodafone.co.uk/index.cfm?do=cost.data&me=a1&nu=1&le=1&sn=s10

Though I would think most access will be slow (around dial up speeds)
http://online.vodafone.co.uk/dispatch/Portal/appmanager/vodafone/wrp?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=template04&pageID=MB_0001

patricia1066

You may not need to take a laptop. Remember you will need to think about security and most hotel safes are intended for passports not laptops.

We spent three weeks in West Coast USA a few years ago, and everywhere we were able to use PC terminals in the hotel lobby with a pass from reception. Its easy to book a hotel room for the next night cheaply, while having the most flexibility in travelling around.
I recommend priceline as a way of getting amazing bargains.

If you check expedia.com of course once you have a list of hotels with availability on the day you can just turn up and make them an offer well below rack price.

dirtywater

we are also non techie and want to go around europe on a barge.
outside the larger marinas wifi is going to be rare and my experience of mobile phone coverage suggests its surprisingly patchy in the countryside. 95% of the population may be covered by mobile signals but few of them live in the countryside.
How do I connect a laptop onto the system where there is no wifi. Whats the cheapest way? Does sky work abroad and assuming it does will a satellite dish be stable enough on a canal boat to get a regular signal?

We were hoping to email and surf the net but occasionally download english TV programmes/films etc.

any suggestions/ experiences dirtywater

weegie.geek

dirtywater wrote: »

We were hoping to email and surf the net but occasionally download english TV programmes/films etc.

Internet cafes and a laptop would be your best bet I think. Especially for larger downloads.

Satellite on a barge will be next to useless. The slightest bob or turn would put the alignment off, and of course you wouldn't be able to use it in motion.

It might be worth doing a lot of research and buying payg sims for each place you're going to be, in advance, to use in a 3G usb dongle, but like you, said network coverage will hinder you there.