Do you bring a laptop when you travel?
By Torunn
@Torunn (8609)
Norway
July 14, 2011 5:20am CST
I'm sitting at the airport, waiting for my plane to Helsinki now. I'm off to visit a friend and as usual, I've brought my computer. I've got 3 laptops in 3 different sizes, for this trip I've brought the one I usually use. Next trip (to Iceland with some friends, unless Hekla and/or Katla give us trouble) I'll bring the net-computer, one of those really small ones 'cause I'll only use it to check e-mail and facebook.
Do you bring a laptop when you travel? Or do you prefer to be really on vacation and unreachable? I did that last week, but that wasn't planned. It's just that the mobile broadband in the western fjords in Norway is really, really slow :-)
If you bring a computer, how do you go online? Do you pay for mobile broadband or stay in places that provides it for free?
1 person likes this
13 responses
@redvakaurvaki (4216)
• Indonesia
15 Jul 11
for this case, I have two kind of situation.firt if I have long vacation, I will decide to bring my laptop.I can't imagine how to spend long time without laptop.I will miss many thing.
in second situation if I have short vacation for 2 days - one week, I won't bring my laptop.I'm kind of careless, so leave my laptop in home will more safe for me 
in second situation if I have short vacation for 2 days - one week, I won't bring my laptop.I'm kind of careless, so leave my laptop in home will more safe for me @Torunn (8609)
• Norway
15 Jul 11
That's a very good point. I always have travel insurance, but it's so annoying to lose or ruin a laptop that it's not just replacing it. I'm mainly quite good with backup of important things (pictures, CV etc) but not always, so I'm sure there's some things on my laptop that'd be lost forever if something happened to it.
@Torunn (8609)
• Norway
15 Jul 11
I got a new extern hard disk this spring, it's enourmous, so I should just put everything on the laptop on it. Might do it when I get back home actually, and start burning DVDs with pictures. I usually have copies of my pictures both on external hard drives and DVDs.
@redvakaurvaki (4216)
• Indonesia
15 Jul 11
that's the point.laptop is more than just computer but sometime it's a diary of it user.I'm careles and losing my laptop will make become so upset even I can afford to buy two more laptop 
worst thing is... I'm not regularly back up my data on my laptop hardsdisk.it can be disaster when I lost it 
worst thing is... I'm not regularly back up my data on my laptop hardsdisk.it can be disaster when I lost it 
@Torunn (8609)
• Norway
28 Nov 11
That sounds like a really nice trip!
I've only seen New York from the air, I'd love to go there at some point. Possibly not with computer though, as bringing a computer through the security check for the US probably take ages ...
I'll have to get myself a smartphone til then.
@Torunn (8609)
• Norway
19 Jul 11
I often share quite a lot of my travelling with my friends (whether they want to or not :-) ) from my computer. Of course, you can often borrow one, but it's easier if you bring your own.
Especially if you take a lot of pictures and run out of memory cards ...
@brew2x (3094)
• Philippines
29 Jul 11
Nope I don't. I just e-mail my family when I get to the place or country I'm visiting just so they know that I made it in one piece hehe. I just want them not to worry about me. Some airports have computers with internet that could be use for free, also most hotels have them too.
@Torunn (8609)
• Norway
3 Aug 11
I often stay in youth hostels, and the computers you can use there normally cost a bit (not a lot though) plus the they're not always very good. And there's a long line of dirty backpackers in front of you, who want to check their emails before taking a shower *hehe*
Stayed in one youth hostel and one rented appartment this weekend, free wifi in both but no computers. We were 5, so an appartment was more practical than a hotel. Both places had fast wifi, also the youth hostel in the middle of nowhere.
@greenline (14838)
• Canada
8 Aug 11
I travel quite often, within my country and to overseas too. They are mostly on my business trips, so I do have to carry along my laptop with me since I have all the business papers stored on there. Yes, many of the international airports offer free internet connections, very convenient. That's where I sit down and do my work.
@xuyxuy (432)
• Philippines
28 Jul 11
I usually bring my computer with me every time I travel. I always want to be connected and be updated every time I travel. For me to be online I stay on places that provides free connection so that I won't be spending additional money to stay connected.
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
14 Jul 11
Hi Torunn! 
You've got three laptops? Wow. ^^
I usually bring my netbook when I go on travel but it depends where I'm going or where I'm staying and if the place has an internet connection. If I'll be staying in a hotel and there's a wifi connection, then I'll bring my netbook. Even if I'm on a vacation, I always try to get connected at least at night before I go to sleep. But if the connection is not for free, I don't use it. I just wait until I get home. 
Cheapskate? lol I just think it's something I shouldn't be paying for since a lot of hotels and other establishments offer them for free. 
You've got three laptops? Wow. ^^
I usually bring my netbook when I go on travel but it depends where I'm going or where I'm staying and if the place has an internet connection. If I'll be staying in a hotel and there's a wifi connection, then I'll bring my netbook. Even if I'm on a vacation, I always try to get connected at least at night before I go to sleep. But if the connection is not for free, I don't use it. I just wait until I get home. Cheapskate? lol I just think it's something I shouldn't be paying for since a lot of hotels and other establishments offer them for free. @Torunn (8609)
• Norway
15 Jul 11
I've got one I used for my PhD, big and quite old but still good. A middle on I usually use and one of those tiny thingies that are mainly good for checking email and facebook, possibly mylot :-)
Definitly cheapskate :-) If I stay somewhere with no internet connection I go to coffe shops or restaurants that have one, especially if I'm gone for a longer period of time.
@my_name_is_coco (4334)
• Philippines
16 Jul 11
I don't like bringing my laptop when I travel.I have a wide laptop,around 16".I bring my iTouch though.I surf the internet using my iTouch.sooner I'll be buying an Archos 5.when traveling I bring the smaller gadgets.
@Torunn (8609)
• Norway
16 Jul 11
I've been thinking about getting an iPhone or something similar, for that very reason. I've got a very cheap mobile phone, can't go online and doesn't even send messages every time it's supposed to (but works well as a torch) so I've been thinking about getting a new one.
It's just that they cost about the same as new lenses for my camera, and I'd much rather have new lenses :-)
@marguicha (215492)
• Chile
19 Jul 11
I don´t travel with computers or difficult books. When I travel I want to have all my senses placed on th country I´m in. I give a phone of my hotel for real emergencies. If that was enough years ago, I don´t know why it would not work now.
@Torunn (8609)
• Norway
19 Jul 11
*hehe* It should be :-)
I often pretend that my phone doesn't work properly, 'cause I can't be bothered to answer phone calls when I'm abroad. If they send messages instead, I can answer when I have time. Sometimes I think it doesn't work, but then I have reception anyway. My mother phoned me somewhere in the middle of the Scottish highlands. My friend, who had a British number, didn't have reception all day, but I had nearly everywhere.
@zzyw87 (1254)
• Philippines
14 Jul 11
I always bring a laptop when I have a long vacation. A long vacation for me is at least 5 days. I have no choice. I cannot neglect my work for more than 5 days. I always make sure that the hotel I am staying at has free wi-fi or LAN connection. If it is just a short vacation I am having like 3 to 4 days, I don't bother bringing a laptop so that I can get to relax more.
@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
19 Jul 11
Yes, we always bring a laptop when we travel for more than a weekend--it is nice to stay connected, even if we don't do one bit of work. Plus, I like the convenience of being able to look up travel info, local places, plane/train/bus schedules--even the weather and traffic! I find that a laptop is still more convenient than a smartphone for this, especially if I want to research the area where we are staying. I do this at home before we go, but there's always something that pops up once you get to a place that you might want to check out and didn't know about until you got to your vacation destination!
We usually stay in places that offer wifi for free, but if not, we will pay for a couple days' of service, or find the nearest Starbucks!
@Torunn (8609)
• Norway
19 Jul 11
Yes, finding information easy when you are travelling is important. Maybe especially when you go somewhere you haven't been before, I nearly always find something interesting when I arrive that I want to know more about. Checking what other travellers say if often more helpful than asking the tourist information.
@angie20 (191)
• Philippines
15 Jul 11
I don't bring my laptop when I travel unless it is needed by the situation. If I have to travel for some information, that't the time I bring my handy tech. But, If I have to travel for mere relaxation well that's another story. It's better to stay on places that provide free Wifi to save money.
@Torunn (8609)
• Norway
15 Jul 11
Someone I know traveled through all of Germany using their Norwegian mobile phone online for the GPS. Then they wondered why they got such a big phone bill. So free internet is always good :-) I'm staying at a friends place for this holiday, so I can use hers. Which is good, 'cause she is sometimes very late out of bed and then I've got something to do in the morning.
@gubocooper (3)
• China
18 Jul 11
I always bring my ipad and smartphone.It is quite in inconvenient for me to bring a laptop,no matter how small it is. When you want use a laptop in airport or train station,you have to open
it,wait until the operation system initiated ,sometime you have to find an electrical plug.But ipad make it very easy,all you have to do is turn on/off the power switch. When the bell rings,
you can go to the boarding gate as quickly as possible.
@Torunn (8609)
• Norway
19 Jul 11
Ipads and smartphones are definitly easier to bring then a laptop, since they're much smaller. Not sure about this laptop, but my biggest one is set so that when I close it, it automatically shuts down. Not just flight mode, but shut completly down. Makes it much faster to turn it off :-)
