Should you lug a laptop around with you? Ultimately it is a decision you must make and it should be based on many factors which I will go into shortly. Before we go anywhere on this topic you must know what your goals are as they pertain to technology and what is available in the communities you will be traveling through. Read here for some suggestions on what is possible for you to do with technology on the road.
If at all possible I would suggest not taking a laptop unless you can’t accomplish what it is you want to do without one. I’ll go over the disadvantages and advantages of a laptop, then the alternatives to taking one with you. Although most of my travels are on bicycle, my suggestions can be applied to those of you who are backpacking or traveling in any other manner.
Advantages of a Laptop:
Availability. Free wireless networks seem to be just about everywhere from Pizza Huts and hotels to campgrounds and tourist information centers. It’s not hard to get connected when you have your own laptop – yes, even in third world countries!
Homeschooling. There many great educational programs on CD’s to use for homeschooling (and even more not-so-great ones). Without your own computer, it would be impractical to utilize these programs. We carry a combination of traditional books and CD’s to use for our kids to keep up with their schooling.
Video Production. A YouTube video is a great way to share your trip with others but impractical to produce a video of halfway decent quality unless you have you own computer. For more information on producing videos with and without a laptop, click here.
Offline Work. Sorting, editing, and storing photos along with writing emails and blog entries is much more convenient on a laptop, especially if computer time is limited in a library or internet café. I have thousands of photos of our trip stored on our laptop. When I have spare time, I simply download them onto the computer, then sort, categorize, and put captions on the pictures.
Disadvantages of a Laptop:
- Space and weight. When lugging a backpack around or climbing hills with full panniers, every ounce and each cubic inch makes a difference. Remember that along with a computer comes its case and recharger.
Hassle of protection. Not only does it take up space, but its space must be protected from the elements and rough conditions. It’s all the bumps and vibrations which shake the connections loose and facilitate metal fatigue. Obviously you must also keep it dry and as dust free as possible. Doing all these things take up prime real estate in your backpack or pannier. If you expect to be in rough conditions or rainy weather think about if you really want to go through the hassle of protecting your computer.
Theft. I read a story about a cycle tourist somewhere in Finland who was held up at gunpoint and the robber said, “Give me your laptop.” So many backpackers and cyclists are now carrying laptops that thieves are going after them, especially in third world countries. When you are in a hotel room and want to go out, what do you do? Take it with you or leave it in the room? Either way you open yourself up to getting it ripped off.
Library Computers and Internet Cafes. Why lug along a laptop when there is a library in most towns in America which offer internet on their computers for free? In other countries there seem to be more internet cafés than churches.
Warning: I’ve found that it's not wise to rely on library computers in the States since:
- Many libraries block the USB ports
- There are sometimes so many people waiting to use them that they have a sign up sheet with a long wait and a limited usage time
- The libraries are closed usually two or three days a week (especially the ones in smaller towns where you would most likely use them) and on the days they are open their hours are usually limited to the daytime (again especially in the smaller towns).
Alternatives to a Laptop.
Portable Apps. I’ve got a GREAT idea for those of you who are only slightly computer literate and want to do only e-mail, word processing, FTP, and/or photo and graphic editing WITHOUT taking a laptop along with you. All you need is access to a Windows computer with an accessible USB drive (dicey in libraries and internet cafés in America, but almost a sure bet in third world countries). Better yet after the purchase of a USB device – it’s FREE!!! Let me repeat this – it’s FREE!!! Interested? Read on . . .
There is an open source organization called PortableApps.com who have made a whole suite of programs that can be installed on certain USB devices (USB flash drive, iPod, portable hard drive, etc). Simply insert the USB device (I’d suggest a flash drive) into a USB slot and you can run your program off of it. I’ve used this on my current trip and it works like a charm. It’s also my backup plan if something happens to my laptop. I’m excited about this alternative because of its low cost and I’ve successfully tested it.
Some of the programs I’ve used that you may find useful are Mozilla Foxfire, GIMP Portable (a PhotoShop-like program), OpenOffice.org Portable (a MicroSoft Office-like program), and Filezilla (an FTP program), but there are many more you might want to consider.
iPod Touch. If weight and space are critical to you and you are only using simple internet functions, an iPod touch
is another alternative to a laptop. It comes complete with Wi-Fi and the Safari browser so you can surf the web, check your email, or even update a blog. In addition you can use it for data storage and entertainment on the road - see my entertainment section for more information. However there are major drawbacks to an iPod Touch:
- Display Size - It only has a 3.5-inch display - very small. It does give you the ability to scroll around the window by moving your finger on the touch-screen
- Cost - $299, $399, and $499 for an 8, 16, and 32GB iPod respectively. You could buy a laptop for this amount of money and get a lot more capability.
- Keyboarding - It's all thumbs on a touch-screen. For me, text entry was painfully slow and I wouldn't expect to be doing any long text entries.
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To protect the screen from getting marred by the keys while traveling, I place a couple of lens cleaning cloths between them.
If your computer is small enough, consider taking along a couple of large ziplock freezer bags to put your computer in. This will protect it from water and dust.
When bicycling, simple physics dictate that the energy from bumps on the road transfer to your belongings most effectively the closer they are to the point directly above an axle. This is why I believe it best to put a computer in a trailer if one is available.
The best place I’ve found on my bike to carry a laptop is in the BOB trailer. I have the Ibex which has a spring suspension (a shock absorber) to minimize the impact of all the potholes, gravel roads, etc. In addition I surround it with clothes, sleeping bags, and other things which further absorb bumps and vibrations.
By far the most common story I hear of travelers getting robbed occurs in hotel rooms. Dishonest people at the hotel have keys to your room and slip in and help themselves to your goods. One laptop would net them at least a few month's of salary. One way of preventing this type of theft is to use the Pacsaf, a wire reinforced nylon bag that you can lock to something secure in your hotel room. The only way someone will get at its contents is if they have a decent pair of wire cutters.
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