Travelling with a netbook – a blessing or a curse?
Written by Karen Bryan
In February 2009 purchased a netbook, a small laptop, so that I could work and stay connected when I’m travelling. It’s not ideal having to search for internet cafes when you’re travelling and I’ve found if I’m away for more than a couple of days without internet access that I have so much catching up to do.
by dougbelshaw
A netbook is a compromise between the tiny screen and keyboard size but easy portability and low weight of a mobile phone and the luxury of a large screen and keyboard but heavy weight of a standard laptop. My Advent 4213 weighs 1.4 kigs but you need to add on the weight of the charging cables and plug which means it can take up a fair proportion of my flight hand luggage allowance.
Of course having the netbook is only part of the solution as I still need to connect to the internet to read emails, update on social networks and administer the Europe a la Carte blog.
Initially I tried the FON free wifi network (mainly in the UK) to get online but I could rarely pick up a signal at the designated hotspost. Now I always try to stay in accommodation which offers free internet access to guests, either through wifi or a wired connection.
However I sometimes find bargain accommodation which doesn’t offer free internet access. As a back up I purchased an 02 pay as you go mobile broadband modem in September 2009 for use in the UK after doing a lot of research in to the best UK mobile broadband provider. This is useful to me when I stay in UK Travelodges as their wifi costs £10 for 24 hours whereas with 02 it’s £2 for 24 hours (which also includes wifi hotspots).
It’s expensive to use mobile internet outside the UK, so I’ve just stuck to the free internet either in my accommodation or cafes.
When I’m on the road I do try to be disciplined and only do the bare minimum online, as there was no point in being in travelling if I am going to sit at the computer for hours.
The other issue with the netbook is one of security. Sometimes I have to carry it with me, if my accommodation doesn’t have a safe.
What’s your opinion? Do you think that having a laptop and internet access is essential to your travel or do you think it’s better just to concentrate on being out and about during your trip?
Update December 2009: After ten months of travelling with my netbook including my 10 day Summer 09 UK Blogging Tour I’m now of the opinion that travelling with my netbook is definately a blessing. I am able to prepare blog posts, update and interact on Twitter and Facebook and upload vidoes to youtube as well as keeping on top of emails and blog comment moderation. However I’m all too aware of the potential to spend too much time online.
I’ve been traveling with a laptop for 2 years. I’ve had no issues other than dropping it. Carry a cable lock with you and your laptop will be reasonably secure.
If you wish to do any serious photography on an extended trip, you really have to bring a laptop. I have yet to see an internet cafe with Photoshop.
Gary – thanks for your comment. It is easy for a laptop to slip especially if it’s laid on your lap. That’s a good point about requiring Photoshop.
traveling with a laptop kills some of the lazy time during your vacation. some people say it is a bonus that you can now work and check your email in the plane, bus etc., but i think this is against the idea of having a vacation – you take a vacation to GET AWAY from work. the last thing i wanna do on my vacation is to get an email “the server is broken – how do we fix it?!” or other work related notifications. another minus is that you always have to take special care of it: don’t put anything heavy on it, geep it away from water, sand, hot temperatures and always keep an eye on it. netbooks are sort of annoying, because i still haven’t found a proper use for it: it sort of is a notebook, but the keyboard is much to small (unless you’re a 10y old kid) to type on it with 2 hands. the worst handicap is the screen! 1024×600 – who came up with this; its totally useless! unless you move the taskbar to the left or right you cant even click the “ok/apply/cancel” button in some applications or system setting, because you simply cant reach them with the mouse because they are below the viewport! same with your browser – try to view a page with more than 2 toolbars installed.
as an alternative, you could install linux on a bootable usb-stick and plug it into the computer in any internet cafe. this way you can carry your desktop-environment around, use your applications and settings on any computer with nice keyboard and screen and it is much smaller and needs less care while you’re on the road.
A netbook is only good with internet access. I travel a lot and find that internet access is often spotty and expensive. What use is a computer without significant storage and editing facilities if you have to wait hours or days for your next connection? Like when you are flying.
I travel with my Air and a couple of external drives.
Skyring – the Advent 4213 that I bought has 160 GB storage and 1GB RAM and I’d loaded all the softward I need on it. Although I only really need to check email, write blog posts and moderate blog comments. However I agree I do need interent access to do these tasks.
I long for the day of very cheap, widely avaiable wifi. I’ve looked into mobile internet in the UK and for £15 a month you get 3GB limit but have to sign up for 24 months and coverage is patchy.
Daniel – I love being able to use that time sitting around in airports fruitfully. My problem is that as a freelance travel blogger, if I don’t work when I’m travelling, I have to do it some other time. If I were an employee I wouldn’t take a work laptop with me on holiday.
I agree the whole looking after the laptop/netbook when travelling is a pain.
Yes the screen size is a problem, I’ve increased font size but then have to scroll a lot and as I don’t have the daintiest of fingers I make even more typo errors than usual.
The USB stick is a good idea but you still need to find an internet cafe which may take time to find, travel to and then you may have to pay for use.
I’d already come to conclusion that there is not ideal solution. My husband likened having the netbook to having a fast car and no suitable roads on which to drive.
I am following this discussion with great interest. I have only used internet cafes while travelling, but I am considering my options are for travelling with some type of device that will get me email and internet access. I only need access to email and the ability to browse for accommodation and attraction info, etc. I have thought of a full-size laptop, netbook, and then the possibility of an iPod Touch. I like the idea of its portability. Has anyone used one for travelling? Any feedback?
Rhonda – thanks for your comment. Hopefully someone can give feedback on the ipod pouch,
[...] started doing research into availability and cost of wifi when I bought a netbook in February 2009. I want to be able to keep on top of emails and blog admin when I’m on the [...]
[...] use Skype on my netbook to make free calls but having the ability to make free Skype calls from a mobile would be more [...]
I like the tactile experience of Bejeweled on the Touch. I like the pocket size for train, bus and plane use. The Touch also reads .pdf files pre-stored with airport maps, hotel contacts and emergency info. The netbook is great for movies (pre-loaded), Skype and email (with internet access). It’s much easier for typing reports and blogs. They complement each other so I carry both on trips.
Carl – thanks for your comment. I like the idea of the portability of a pocket sized piece of kit but then the screen is too small for me to read.
[...] Cafes site in one of my Google Alerts and the site really struck a chord with me. SInce I bought my netbook in February 2009 and my unsatisfactory experience with the FON wifi community, finding free, [...]
Interesting discussion. I will try out my new and basic Asus Eee shortly when in Estonia, and hope to be able to blog, complete with photos, each day. I’ll soon see if my £150 netbook is fit for purpose.
Andy – I’m sure netbook will be fine, the main issues I’ve had when travelling in Europe, UK included, have getting a decent signal strength and the cost of wifi.
[...] a Scot who never drinks alcohol) and hardly ever switch on the TV. However now that I have a netbook I may spend 1 – 2 hours a day online, assuming the hotel has wifi, either in the rooms or in [...]
[...] visiting!In September 2009 I finally took the plunge and purchased UK mobile broadband to use on my netbook. In theory this means that when you insert the mobile broadband modem or dongle (a sim card [...]
[...] me to have quick and easy access to the internet when I’m away from base. I’ve had a netbook (small laptop) since February 2009 but I don’t always want to carry that with me and it takes [...]
[...] me to have quick and easy access to the internet when I’m away from base. I’ve had a netbook (small laptop) since February 2009 but I don’t always want to carry that with me and it takes [...]
Have been traveling with med size laptop and love it. No problem doing E-Mail and businnes while wife is in bathroom getting ready for the day. Do not like to have to search for Internet Cafe’s in a strange town. Also wife gets bored waiting for me. But I need a new device and a small netbook seems perfect for traveling. Going to have to check into this WiFi stuff in Europe though.
Cal – Finding decent wifi is a big issue, I’ve stayed at 3 different UK hotels in last 2 weeks all claiming to have free wifi throughout, none had decent signal in my room, one had no decent signal anywhere in the building. It’s annoying having to go to the lobby to get online but better than no getting online at all.
I have a mobile broadband modem for UK usage, it’s generally OK in urban areas but patchy in more rurual areas
I thought that finding reliable wifi connections was a challenge primarily in Corsica but from your comments, I see even when traveling in the UK it can be hard to locate a decent signal. There’s Pros and Cons about traveling with a PC (whether with a notebook or a netbook). I think you hit it on the nail when you wrote “there really is no ideal solution”.
Liz – the UK is awful for wifi, I stayed in 3 hotels in the last 2 weeks and none (even the 5 star) had decent wifi. Often the best bet is McDonalds which has free wifi in all UK outlets.
I have a netbook with lightroom and its really a necessity for me. I wouldn’t travel without one.
We are going to the UK during Christmas holidays and am concerned I won’t be able to access the internet or will have to pay a ton for spotty service. We are having a hard time deciphering what our options are. Since we are mostly staying small inns and B and B’s I assume we will have a lot of difficulty getting online.
I don’t have to check emails as much as I have to moderate a mental health forum I volunteer for and have nobody else to cover me while I’m gone. So, I have to spend enough time reading messages and then putting them through. Ideas of what we can do??Thanks!