Internet while travelling - which gadget?

trillion

First of all, I'm a total luddite when it comes to gadgets - I've still got a PAYG mobile for goodness' sake! - so be gentle with me.

I'm planning a Big Trip next year which will take me through much of Eastern Europe, Russia and Scandinavia over a period of six months or so and I want to take something with me which can both keep me in touch with family and friends and be used for browsing maps and websites, and to book travel and accommodation along the way.

It'll need to be small and light, as I'll be backpacking, but being of a certain age, I'd also like it to have a decent sized screen and a typing/texting arrangement which doesn't involve the miniscule buttons so beloved of the young!

I also need to know - how will I connect to the internet? Would I need to have a contract with a provider? Or are WiFi hotspots available without having a provider? I'll be mostly moving from city to city rather than widerness trekking or anything. Will I need to downloads Apps?

I'd like to get something in the next couple of months so I can practise with it, so any and all ideas welcome.

Wannie_2

Perhaps something like a BlackBerry with T-Mobile if they have Roaming agreements with the countries in which you will travel.

I suggest T-Mobile, as they have an unlimited Blackberry email and Internet package for £15.32 per month.

Their cheapest BlackBerry is £130(though you might get it cheaper via an independent dealer). I prefer to deal direct. You'll get six months of free BlackBerry Email and Internet in the UK, so you'll have a lot of opportunities to practice before you leave. No 3G with their cheapest model. So without WiFi access, it could take a while to send pictures and videos via GPRS. Their 3G model costs £180.
You can check on their website to see if you will have service in the relevant countries.

I'm assuming that you don't want to be tied in to any contracts.

Using the internet abroad

If you’re a regular traveller abroad with a BlackBerry you can also buy a BlackBerry World Email 30 Day Booster which costs £15.32 for a month. You can get this by texting BBROAM to 879

T-Mobile UK mobile telephones

I'm sure others will come up with other sensible ideas.

Wannie_2

Of course if you are really old.... you can consider a Netbook. Between £130 and £200. But then you'll be at the mercy of the available WiFi Hotspots unless you purchase an unlocked or SIM free USB broadband modem(£20 can cover that) and an Abroadband SIM. Not the cheapest option, but useful for sending emails, booking accommodation etc
You'll also have the option of buying local SIMs if they are inexpensive and come with a data allowance.

trillion

Whoosh!
Twenty hours and it's on Page 3!

I've thought about Blackberries but I instinctively feel the screen is too small to, say, see much detail on a map that covers a big enough area to be meaningful (do you understand what I mean there?).
I think all of the screens are under 3", but looking at their website, there's a think called a Playbook, which doesn't appear to be of any use to me whatsoever, but does have a 7" screen, which looks a lot more practical.

So.............. I guess I'm looking for a tablet then?

jayme1

trillion wrote: »

there's a think called a Playbook, which doesn't appear to be of any use to me whatsoever, but does have a 7" screen, which looks a lot more practical.

So.............. I guess I'm looking for a tablet then?

the blackberry playbook is a tablet

infact that's the one I was going to suggest to you because the 7inch form factor is a great size for maximum portability yet it is big enough to comfortably use for maps and the web, and it's web browser is fantastic including flash so every website should work as normal, but I've just looked and I don't think it has a built in maps app like the ipad and android tablets.

using free wifi abroad will avoid any costly and complicated roaming and being limited to something stupid like 20MB which would be used up in a matter of seconds if using for maps.

your other main option is the ipad (or ipod touch) both should be perfectly fine unless for some reason a website requires flash which then you would be stuck, or an android tablet which also supports flash but is a larger size than the playbook so may be more difficult to carry around for months.

so to sum I would stay away from using anything using 3G and try to stick to wifi

Wannie_2

Forget about the Playbook. It's doesn't have the same functionality as we are used to with Blackberry. Forget about a Tablet, as you will still have the same issues with Internet access. No WiFi and you are stuck. So you are back with the Netbook. You'll have a choice of WiFi and 3G/EDGE/GPRS to connect. Easier with which to work and more space to store your photos and videos.
Samsung Netbooks are good, with their non-reflective screens for outside use and long battery life.

Enterprise_1701C

I have bought an Acer Iconia A500 for taking on holiday. I specifiically bought a non-3G one so that I can control when it accesses the internet (a lot of android apps access the 3G when they feel like it!!), I shall be buying a mifi device (3G wireless hotspot that you put a sim card in) to access the internet when we need to when we can't get on wifi and I will get a local sim card when I get there.

The tablet has google maps and I will be downloading quite a few apps relevant to the country we go to. The tablet also has GPS and various other useful tools.

It has a 10.1 inch screen, you would probably need an anti-reflective screen protector, and a double tap on the screen increases the size of whatever is on the screen.

I am expecting no problems using it anywhere in the world.

I would suggest going somewhere like a Currys Digital to play with a few tablets and see what you think then, you might still prefer the idea of a netbook, and I have to admit it was a very good excuse to buy a tablet that I wanted anyway, a netbook might have done the job just as well, but would not have GPS in it (I don't think so anyway)/

mr_fishbulb

Not used one for internet access, but would a Kindle 3G suffice? The browser isn't great, but you don't get any internet charges.

buglawton

Netbook - around £200 - and can be used after the trip too. But still can be a nuisance to carry around at every moment.

In E. Europe, free WiFi is usually easy to come by.

Or at a pinch, even an iPod Touch at maybe £150, great for holiday travel research, if not for any big typing tasks. And again, a great little gadget about the house after the trip.

johnjackson

Dell streak, you can get a 5 inch screen version for about £199
Good for web surfing, bigger than the Iphone!
You can connect to internet via wi-fi or through 3G
Google maps can be installed as well as co pilot as it has built in GPS.
Battery life is not good though and it needs charging once a day at least

trillion

Wow - thanks for all the replies.
Lots of food for thought there.

Wannie said

Forget about the Playbook. It's doesn't have the same functionality as we are used to with Blackberry. Forget about a Tablet, as you will still have the same issues with Internet access. No WiFi and you are stuck.

I agree that the Playbook doesn't tick all my boxes. my comment about it was all about the size, especially the size of the screen
I don't really understand the second part of your comment as I just googled "tablet with wifi" and there seem to be loads

mr fishbulb said

Not used one for internet access, but would a Kindle 3G suffice? The browser isn't great, but you don't get any internet charges.

I hadn't considered that! It's got a keyboard too hasn't it? And WiFi. And I wouldn't have to take a big stack of paperbacks! It's the one gadget I could really envisage using regularly after the trip too.

So - what are the downsides of a Kindle?

Thanks also for all the positive comments about netbooks.
They're certainly worth considering, but the size and weight are potentially a bit of an issue.