'7 Reasons NOT to Take Your Laptop on Holiday!'

7 Reasons NOT to Take Your Laptop on Holiday!

Steve Robson () -

Heading off on vacation soon?

Then perhaps you're tempted to take your trusty laptop along for the trip.

After all, you bought it for its mobility, and it's nice to stay in touch via email with your family and friends back home.

However, just before you start packing, its pays to consider the downside of traveling with a laptop, particularly if you're planning to go abroad:

1. Weight

A laptop (plus accessories) starts to feel heavy very quickly. And who really needs MORE luggage to carry around?

2. Security risk

To you, it's a laptop computer. To a thief, it's a bag of easy money. (About $1000). And that bag is something you have to guard every second of your vacation.

3. Power supply problems

You'll need a different power adaptor plug for each country you visit. And depending on your laptop power supply cable, you may also need a step-up / step-down voltage transformer.

4. Connection complications

You'll need to find a way of connecting to the Internet. If your laptop is suitably equipped and you can find a local hotspot, you can take advantage of wireless Internet access.

Otherwise you're stuck with dial-up modem access, which means a choice between:

- using your existing ISP's local call number in the country you're visiting (provided your ISP has a local number! AOL and Compuserve generally do.)

- making a long-distance telephone call to your regular dial-up number back home

- signing up with a local ISP (rarely practical in the short-term)

5. Telephone socket trouble

Different countries have different types of telephone socket. If you're planning on connecting via dial-up access, you'll have to bring a suitable telephone adaptor plug.

You'll also need a digital signal tester to test for higher- voltage digital telephones lines. Otherwise you could end up frying your modem and possibly the motherboard too.

6. Extra insurance cover

It's highly unlikely your travel insurance policy extends to laptop computers. You'll therefore need to arrange separate specialist insurance cover, which isn't cheap.

7. You're on holiday!

Do you really want your office with you on vacation? Aren't you supposed to be getting away from it all?

If you're beginning to think that traveling with a laptop computer is a major logistical exercise, then you're right. (Just ask any "road warrior"!)

However, there IS an alternative:

An Internet Cafe.

Almost every city and large town now has several Internet cafes. To locate one when you're abroad, just ask your hotel receptionist or a friendly taxi driver.

You'll also find Internet cafes in airports, railway stations, major hotels, business centers, public libraries, and even onboard cruise ships.

Before you leave on your travels, simply ensure you can access your email via a web browser. (This is known as "webmail". Most ISPs offer this option automatically - just ask them if you're unsure.)

Alternatively, set up a free webmail address (at http://hotmail.com or yahoo.com ) for the duration of your trip and give it to anyone who might need to contact you.

With webmail set up, all you have to worry about is remembering your email login and password. Everything else - hardware, connectivity, security - is somebody else's problem.

To summarize:

Unless you have a very good reason for taking your laptop on holiday, you'd be wise to leave the darn thing at home and use an Internet cafe instead.

And who knows - maybe your laptop could use a vacation from you!

Steve Robson is a successful technical author and contributor to HowToBuyALaptop.com - For advice on how to buy a cheap laptop, visit: http://howtobuyalaptop.com/cheap-laptops.htm

• http://howtobuyalaptop.com/cheap-laptops.htm

Comment #1 Lily (72.155.147.225) -

I have to agree with you on those points. There a few things I will not take with me when I travel and that is one of the most important ones. I am always afraid that it will get lost during the trip or stolen.

Comment #2 Frank (152.163.34.217) -

Check out the forum on this device. If you haven't seen the Nokia 770 it is a so-called "internet tablet". It fits nicely in your hand a little bigger than a pack of 3x5 cards!

Surf the internet, check your email and more. 800x480 screen so it works really well with most web pages.

It is the travelers dream for just checking on stuff. You can use the stylus to type messages or get a wireless keyboard that folds up to be almost as small as the Nokia770.

You do need an internet connection (from a cyber cafe or through your cell phone). There are *MAJOR* security issues with Cyber Cafes. The computers could be infected with keystroke monitoring and their network could be monitored (by the cybercafe, miscreant customers or others).

Using your own computer avoids one of those problems. Using a "VPN" (which is unfortunately too complicated for most people) avoids the others.

• Nokia 770 Hacks

Comment #3 endora (24.45.126.104) -

Something to think about. I was going to take along my laptop on my next vacation but just the hassle of customs would make me not.

Comment #4 Jose (152.163.35.65) -

I have travel to many countries with my laptop and customs (coming or going) has never hassled me a bit over it. Once the police at the security check point (xray) leaving Colombia asked me how much it was worth and said it was no problem.

Another South American customs asked me if he would find a lot of "electronics" if he opened my bags, I said just my camera and computer. End of discussion.

Once I was hassled by customs AND immigration AND had my car searched going into Canada because I told them I had a "camera and change of clothes". (a cheap Kodak digital camera) Immigration wanted to know about my "working" in Canada and where I was going to sell the pictures (as if no one takes photos of Niagara Falls).

If you are worried about U.S. Customs you can register your equipment when you leave and then there is no issue when you come back. They give you a little form that is good forever with the description and serial numbers of your stuff. I forget the number of the form, but you could look it up on the U.S. Customs Service website. And, don't except a real warm welcome when you stop by to register your equipment. They do not keep copies of the forms.

Comment #5 sams from Travel -

You are correct Steve. When we carry our Laptop to a vacation, we become centre of attention for many people. We have to be more careful. So it is better to use cybercafes.

Comment #6 stef from Victoria, a wee island on Earth -

I have often travelled with my laptop and have not recieved too much hassle about it. But if one feels nervous about having a laptop with them.. They could always try out these phones that have access to the internet as well. That can be incredibly useful.

Internet cafe may just be the way to go in most cases though if there are concerns about robbery and so on.

Comment #7 Betty from Boop City -

I would never take my laptop with me on vacation. I am too paranoid about it being stolen and besides, when I'm on vacation I want it to be a real vacation from EVERYTHING...including the computer!!

Comment #8 sundance from hidden hills -

There are times when I need have internet available even while I am vacation. I haven't had too much trouble traveling with it, but then again I haven't taken it out of the US.

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