What is the best 'gadget' for me?

jackieblack

Hi
I want a 'gadget' to use while travelling abroad. We go to the USA every year and I'm getting braver and booking accomodation etc myself now, rather than doing it all through a travel agent/tour operator.

We were 'stranded' in California, during the volcanic ash situation in April this year (:D) and were being constantly asked to 'check the website' for information but didn't have any way to do this easily. We spent quite alot of time looking for internet cafes, and money using the hotel's business centre.

So I've decided that in future, I want to have some kind of gadget that I can access the internet on, to check and send emails and to arrange/amend accomodation etc while travelling.

But I'm not sure what to get. I've thought about mobile 'phones that access the internet but I'm not very good with complicated 'phones and don't really understand how they work , I've thought about netbooks and those hand-held ipaq type gadgets, but I've been thinking about it for so long and looked at so many different things that I think I've just confused myself now.

My main priority is that it should be light - I'm usually pushing my hand luggage allowance as it is with cameras, camcorder etc.

I can spend up to about £300 if necessary, but wouldn't mind spending less

I would be grateful for any suggestions with relative advantages/disadvantages/explanations please.

23n1th

A smartphone like HTC desire and/or a netbook. Smartphone you'll get internet access from mostly everywhere though this could cost a bit due to roaming charges though they are wifi enabled. Netbook in wifi hotspots.

JasX

23n1th wrote: »

A smartphone like HTC desire and/or a netbook. Smartphone you'll get internet access from mostly everywhere though this could cost a bit due to roaming charges though they are wifi enabled. Netbook in wifi hotspots.

problem with smartphones is even when they are wireless accessing sites not designed for mobile access can be fairly cumbersome on a small screen, a small protable netbook/(ultra) portable laptop with wifi is probably the better option.....

gonzo127

agreed that a unlocked smart phone would probably be the best bet - unlocked so when you in a different country you could buy a 'pay and go' sim card and slot it in giving you much cheaper call charges/data charges than the standard roaming charges about now using a UK sim card

23n1th

I don't know if you've used some of the latest smartphones but my HTC desire small as it is is rather good with all websites you can view the whole lot and zoom in and it adjusts it for you. Plus you can download all your emails to it.

gonzo127

JasX wrote: »

problem with smartphones is even when they are wireless accessing sites not designed for mobile access can be fairly cumbersome on a small screen, a small protable netbook/(ultra) portable laptop with wifi is probably the better option.....

agreed but then again i have read the above more as a just in case device than a use it all the time device - i could be wrong

nursebill57

Not sure is this is a gadget as such but one of my niece's spent April to December last year travelling with new baby between Thailand,Indonesia and Japan keeping in touch with all via newly bought tiny netbook and the travelpod website - sending emails,uploading photographs and booking the best deals as she went.Great website as well to research where you might want to go next based on others who have gone before.

[Deleted User]

cheapest option is probably a netbook, sadly tablets aren't quite cheap enough yet - they will probably be by next year though.

You could always get one of these.. http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/16255707/Disgo-Tablet-6000-2GB-7-Touch-Screen-Android-2-1-Tablet/Product.html#

But i hear they're not that great.

You could wait for this one:
http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/15776584/Huawei-Ideos-Tablet-S7-256MB-7-Touch-Screen-Android-2-1-Tablet/Product.html#

But this will be the best of the three:
http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/16596932/Commtiva-Linx-N700-4GB-7-Touch-Screen-Android-2-1-Tablet/Product.html

It's got a capacitive touchscreen.. quite like the iPad

However, they are all underpowered with less CPU speed than a high-end mobile phone (like the samsung galaxy s or the desire). Personally, i'd be using a phone + wifi.

[Deleted User]

If you were willing to wait, and were a pure techno-nerd, you could get one of these bad boys - http://www.openpandora.org/index.php

Chorlie

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=261628

Other options are:

Smartphone
Netbook
Tablet

You also need to consider the cost of using which ever when over seas or you could end up with a very big bill, you hear of people having bills of hundreds of pound when using smartphones over seas.

So weigh up all the costs not just the cost to buy the product.

jackieblack

Thanks for all your suggestions.

I'm a bit worried about these smart 'phones - I'm fine with computers, but can't work any 'phone more complicated than my old 3330
I wouldn't need to make calls - I was thinking I'd just want to connect whatever it was to the internet using wi-fi (?)

Initially, I thought it would be a 'just in case' thing, but can see that if I had one I would probably use it a fair bit for booking accomodation etc