Ahh life is great. I’m sitting out on the terrace overlooking Porto Rotondo in Italy with my laptop out and connected to the internet via speedy HSDPA. It doesn’t get much better than this.
I decided to travel light and not take many things with me on this trip. Here’s what I packed into my Crumpler messenger bag:
– Macbook Air
– Huawei E170 HSDPA modem
– iPod
– Canon SD950
– Blackberry Curve
– Power adapters
And that’s it. Im actually quite proud of myself for not taking any more junk as its been a pleasure running through Italian airports with a comparably lighter bag. I failed in my plan to get a netbook for the summer to take with me around town, mainly because I did not yet sell my HTC Shift (which is still up for sale or trade in the forums). All is good however and I am not finding the smaller amount of connectivity a problem. I’m on vacation after all.
I’m going to finish up this post and go for some pizza. Out of curiosity though, what’s in your sumer gadget bag?
Well I’m planning my trip to the Beijing Olympics and in my bag will be:
– an OQO 02 for connection in the hotel
– A HD Camcorder (yet to buy/decide which model)
– A portable hard drive to backup the output from the HD camera – yet to decide which model – as OQO’s can’t power external small hard drives so it needs its own power supply
– Panasonic DMC-TZ5 camera
Nice, I was going to go but unfortunately I wont make it to the Olympics.. :/
As for the HD Cam I heard some got things about the pansonic SD5. Harddrives, go for western digital or lacie.
Nice pic! So you are here, not so far from where I live. I found this site after searching for a review of the Kohjinsha SC3, the “magic machine” I almost decided to buy.
Anyhow I will be packing for Sicily sea soon and this time for the first time my summer gadget bag will not carry a portable PC at all. Just my Casio Ex-word Japanese-Italian-Japanese electronic dictionary. Too late to by a Kohjinsha SC3 before leaving… that would be my ideal trip companion.
Thanks again for your reviews.
My brand new Wind (if it manages to materialize before I go), my iPhone and my wife’s Canon Ixus + adapters and cables.
This should keep our travel weight down quite well and still give us reasonably flexible access to the interwebs.
I suppose some sort of 3G modem would be nice (or another novel idea: how about enabling tethering in the damn iPhone, Steve!), but mobile data prices are usually outrageous when you’re abroad so I’m sure our wallet will thank us for sticking to free wifi.
I was mad the iphone didnt tether too, but after having the e170 I now see how much better this solution is. The stick is really small, and buying prepaid cards abroad is easy :)
Did you buy the e170 alone or with a data plan? Does it come unlocked so you can use it with any sim? That might be an idea worth pursuing :)
The e170 is the unbranded version made by the OEM – Huawei. vodafone has a branded one which I think is the e172. Mines unlocked, and I actually got it as a gift from the company so Im not sure where you can get an unbranded one.. Mobilx.hu sells other unlocked 3g sticks.
I will not be going anywhere this summer until august so I am still holding out for a $300 Dell E
otherwise, I have
-generic mobile phone
-iPod (touch)
On Vacation? Hmmm, bring along just a plain simple Cell Phone. Because, I don’t want anything along, that I would worry about being ripped off. So the cheaper the device, with the best battery lifetime, the better.
Can’t bring much! I was in a hotel room once, there was a knock on the door, I said nothing, then the door handle giggled and started to open (they had a key). I started to move to the door talking WTF, someone said “shit” then they then ran away down the hall before I could see who it was. So – you can’t feel confident that you can leave valuable stuff in hotels when you travel, so all devices gotta be with you all the time. So…
So — still waiting for the so small and plain that they are * innocuous *, aka a very pocket-able simple netbook, umpc, cell phone that no one notices at all (and that I would easily forget that I have would be perfect)!
To do this, and I have no connection to any commercial hardware interest (in this topic area) at all, I feel that a device needs to show up with the advanced low power screens as described on the Pixel Qi site (by them or someone else). I hate batteries! I hate power cords!
The key with being mobile ON VACATION is to have on sneakers, socks, shorts, t-shirt, sun glasses, and a light device (or two, a web device and a simple cell phone as backup) that will fit into your shorts pocket, and you can leave in a towel at the beach while you take a dip, where no one would even think to steal it there either! It has to work all day and into the night (meaning no extra batteries, or having to charge anything that means you have to bring along an AC cord)! So – of course, today, that means one device fits that criteria and that is the simple cell phone! Add a power using screen and down goes battery time (Pixel Qi, and the OLPC design concepts, are all about power-saving-sunlight-viewable-screens and someday this tech by them or someone else, will be in cell phones too)!
To do web browsing… as I look around, there is no such device. So, I go with just a simple cell phone that has the longest battery life. Some pocketable devices are nice, and are almost there… but they would be much nicer with newer power saving screens and a crappy looking cae/holder that is beaten up looking and not attractive to a thief.
as the previous poster said…”just bring your cellphone with you”
that’s what i’m gonna do in my holidays in greece (am italian though..).
just for those two weeks forget about computing etc. how relaxing it is to be on the beach, drink a frappe (popular greek iced coffee) and talk with friends, sun, swim…listen to music and in the evenings go for souvlaki and some drinks in those hundreds of bars and cafes…
that’s it! no need for notebooks, netbooks, umpc…just a digital camera for those great snapshots that you can transfer to your pc later back home..
i would say: enjoy holidays and forget about technology. there’s more out there than being connected 24hours!
For me the internet is just too valuable of a resource to go without. What about the opening hours of that museum you want to visit? Or directions for that restaurant you really want to visit? The schedule for the metro etc?
I can definitely see the problem with ubiqutous connectivity if you’re constantly tied to your work e-mail or it’s causing you stress.
Oftentimes not having a connection can be even more stressful so I really enjoy having a way to get online. Laptops etc are also really nice for watching a film on the plane/train/bus/ferry or unloading your photos to etc.
oops forgot: the cellphone is to make your friends hate you after you sent them the “nice” text messages…
What my bag contains (every workday)
1. Kohjinsha SA* or Everun
2. HTC Cavalier or Palm Treo 500v
3. Nokia N95 8GB
4. Nokia N800
5. HP iPaq 510 Voice Messenger
6. Options Golbesurfer HSDPA USB modem
That’s a lot of gear that seems to somewhat overlap; how do you use it all? :)
I, i’m living in Arzachena and I work in Porto Cervo, near Porto Rotondo (30 km.). I read your articles all days.
Bye.
well I don’t have my ideal holiday gear bag yet hopefully I’ll have it at the end of the year. This would basically be what it would be,bear in mind I’m just a kid with a taste for gadgets.
1. T-mobile Dash cell
2.Exilim 7.2mega pixels digital camera
3.creative labs “Zen” 16 gig player
4.Sony PSP
5.isonic snapbox DV566
6.Aser Aspire one with 1gb ram,120hd,and xp
7. a kit with retractable USB cables
Im over in Spain at the moment, Im still tuning things but I have.
Q1 Ultra
HSDPA USB modem – now broken whilst opening to see if it could be fitted in the Q1
Compact III mobile which was mainly a backup phone an gps but is now my modem linked by BT
only weak point is my Yogio sim, its so slooowww but on the flip side so cheap.
This year I am hopping to travel to Greek Islands.
I am waiting my M704 (Cause my Laptop is Huge)
I will take also my Mio a501 (PPC Phone with GPS)
And my ixus canon Camera.
I also use a backup phone (nokia e60) as a 3g modem BT modem for my Laptop (I hope it will work with M704).
hi kornel. Which provider do you use for the HSDPA connection?
Im actually using an orange sim on roaming, but its not mine and its a business account so company pays ;)
Mmm. ipod and mobile phone. I still dont understand why people buy both. I use my Nokia with a 2gb card (to be upgraded to 8) and buy, download and stream from the phone itself.
Therefore id take N82 for phone, web, gps, maps, photo, video, music and a few games. Also take a spare battery!
In addition a notebook that we can all use in hotel for web and films if needed. (Films for the child usually)
Note, not a sign of a UMPC. On holiday i rarely do any mobile computing that would require a UMPC. Its one of the few places where i dont use a UMPC!
Steve
the impression i get is that people end up carrying their whole library with them as they cant make up their mind about what they want to listen to.
or maybe its just habit.
me, i have a small set of songs on my SE Z710 that i rotate ever so often.
Because the mp3 players on phones are just oh so shitty imo. My n95 8gb which i have sold always wanted to update it db of whats on the phone and kept searching for music files everytime I wanted to listen to a song. Not that great really. And I love itunes ;)
Just did a miniature vacation (less than a week) due to wedding anniversary. Had this with me:
1. Sidekick LX with which I can do all my emails IMs and basic internet
2. iPhone (first gen) with 1.1.4 sw so it has the locate me on the Gmaps, and also more decent browsing on it when needed.
3. EEE 900 w/Win XP using it at Wifi spots.
I am still considering this (as I most of the time stay close to my car anyhow and it CAN be taken with you if you want), and since Tmo USA doesn’t have 3G readily available at this point, so this is what I want to try:
http://www.autonetmobile.com/
Not a bad idea but I would definately get one that can be taken out of the car and used in a hotel.
but…isnt this the same thing as those cradlepoint routers that you plug your hsdpa modem into and they act as hotspots?
if you have a winmob or symbian phone there are apps for these things. grab a bluetooth handsfree and a car charger and you have your own in-car hot spot ;)
I would never use my phone as a hotapot unless it was plugged in to the mains though!
heh, you did see that bit about car charger, yes?
ah sorry. We agree!
I was under the impression that its only Ad-ho then, no infrastructure mode. So its pretty much like bluetooth tethering. or?
from what i can tell, thats a symbian specific issue. but thanks for bringing that up as i was not aware of that limitation.
so i guess only windows mobile based devices are really a option if there is more then one computer in the car.
Generally my OLPC XO has proven to be a really good travel companion. But that before I trashed my display so now I have to resort back to my 15.4″ laptop. Or an iPod touch in an Apple store (like right now)…
wibrain b1h with extended battery, iphone 3g, ovation 950 hsdpa usb modem, sony cybershot 6,2 mpx compact camera and all the necessary wires.
“all the necessary wires.”
Sometimes that becomes more cumbersome than the actual devices, at least I feel it can be.
One solution I like (not any beauty perhaps) is this practical home/car charger combination I have for my SK LX.
http://www.harris-wireless.com/catalog-hw/images/HC-SKDUALCHARGE.jpg
Archos 704 for rainy days or late night fix of TV series ,iPod Touch for music and wifi and trusty sony eric. 800 for comms,left the samsung Q1 Ultra at home,sometimes its good to take a break away from tech!Mind you coming from Ireland to Orlando for vacation you see enough mind tricks to keep you happy.
@Kornel
You’re talking about these?
http://www.cradlepoint.com/phs300/phs300.php
That’s not a freestanding device from my understanding?
@turn.self.off
“if you have a winmob or symbian phone there are apps for these things.”
In my case I used a Sidekick LX (Danger OS) and iPhone (OS X) neither have 3G nor are they obviously WM nor Symbian, nor does my carrier (TMo USA that I’m happy wit h otherwise) have 3G available much yet (just launched!) not to mention it being 1700Mhz. So the http://www.autonetmobile.com/ not only does it use the best coverage 3G in North America EVDO (non GSM network, and I am frankly somewhat biased against non GSM networks :)) but it roams with the two carriers in USA Sprint & Verizon so as to rely on one network when the other might not be as strong, it also has a very good per month fee of $29/mo unlimited the only catch is you pay the whole year (12mo) up front.
ah, yes. i keep forgetting about the “silly” world of usa mobile phone systems…
you plug a usb hsdpa or evdo modem into the cradlepoint.
Did you read my reply in regards to TmoUSA and HSDPA?
And my bias against EVDO networks? :)
Aside from that why get TWO devices when the autonet device could do the job with ONE device, a lot better (read with roaming on BOTH EVDO networks, and the special tech for moving connection)
As a gadgeteer it has always been a challenge from searching for which bag to fit all the goodies we want to bring along.
In fact I am looking for a bag to fit:
1.) Kohjinsha SR with adapter
2.) Canon 450D DSLR with 2 lenses
3.) PSP Slim with adapter
4.) HTC Touch Dual with adapter
5.) MyPhone Dual SIM wsith adapter
6.) 32G Flash drive
Well preferably, #1 and #2 can be detached, #3 will prolly just stay in the hotel and #4 #5 and #6 will be in my pockets. All Adapter/chargers will be left in hotel except for #1.
I’ll be taking:
– Nokia N800
– Fuji S5000 camera
– HP NC8000 laptop
– Sierra Wireless 875 data card
– Sony-Ericsson W950 (my phone, and modem for N800)
– Nokia 6230i (work’s phone)
– 80Gb iPod
– iGo multi-device charger
I might take the DS too. I’m toying with resurrecting my Palm 3 XE to use as an ebook reader, as the battery probably won’t last long enough in the N800.
Alan.
leaving this Thursday for a dive holiday, i will pro’ly have
1) eee pc 701 with Ubuntu eee
2) Olympus 725SW with underwater casing
3) Olympus E-410 with dual kit lens (that works very well)
4) N70, but not going to use since no money to pay for Roaming :)
5) 4GB USB stick
6) Bluetooth dongle, for just-in-case
7) headphone
and of course, diving gears ;)
This year I am hopping to travel to Greek Islands.
I am armed and ready for my vacations.
My M704 is now in my hands armed and ready with every application I might need.
Other equipment:
-Mio a501 (PPC Phone with GPS)
-ixus canon Camera.
-4 GB usb stick
-Nokia E60 as a 3g modem BT modem for M704 and also as backup phone
Thats all!!!
does the huawei e172 fit in the macbook air’s usb slot. because the “3g option icon 7.2 usb modem” doesn’t fit in the macbook air’s usb slot.
Maybe there would be a slightly more convenient solution? (I for one hate “sticking out” things on my laptop…so let me ask you this (in three different posts):
Do you by any chance have a Windows Mobile phone with WIFI in it? Or S60 Symbian for that matter…
http://www.walkinghotspot.com/
*OR* …
…for your Symbian phone you can chose this ONE TIME fee solution
http://www.joikuspot.com/
I’ve got this one on an N78 and just love it.
See below comment in NON blue also :)
Or then if you happen to have a jailbroken 3G iPhone there is the iPhonemodem (and Netshare) neither approved or supported by Apple, but work nevertheless, although not as smoothly as the two previous ones (from my understanding)
iPhonemodem is available in Cydia.
Why people so crazy about iphone 4 even the problem with the atenna. I decided to go for a LG, it’s better