Wifi in europe? Bring a netbook or just use net cafes? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

spyre · 01-09-2010, 01:57 PM

I'm going to western europe for a month in 2 weeks, will spend a couple days in London then a 18 day Topdeck thru Europe and then back to london and over thru Ireland and Scotland on my own. Primarily will be in hostels. Was trying to decide if there is a point to bringing a 10" netbook. It's 3lbs so it shouldn't be too back to have in the backpack and would allow me to backup pics off the camera. Anyone do this or would it be a waste?

**raoulduke** · 01-09-2010, 04:45 PM

Internet cafes are everywhere in Europe, I say leave the netbook at home.

The hassle of finding a cafe will probably be less than finding a wifi signal or somewhere to charge your netbook. Plus its another thing you have to worry about getting stolen.

A lot of cafes will backup your photos onto a cd/dvd for a few dollars also.

**Elizabeth** · 01-09-2010, 08:01 PM

If you're the type of person who is attached to their computer I say bring it, esp since its so small. Most hostels have free wifi so you will see others with their laptops/netbooks and get jealous. Just make sure its with you at all times. Even sleep with it or else you might be sorry.

**mbo108** · 01-09-2010, 08:51 PM

So besides for backing up pics do you really need it? You can usually do this at the same cafes with internet access, for a few euro you can burn a disc with you pics. not to mention upload them to facebook, flickr, photobucket, or your TravelPunk photo album. i love my laptop but still leave it at home when i travel. miss it the first 2 days then forget about it.

**Dig** · 01-10-2010, 08:08 PM

My vote is to leave it at home. That is, of course, unless you NEED it. I think it is too much of a hassle to keep an eye on.

travy · 01-10-2010, 09:42 PM

Granted my Laptop is quite big, it was a wasn't worth it lugging it around Australia.

spyre · 01-12-2010, 12:25 PM

Thanks for the replies. I just decided to skip the real computer and picked up a used iphone on ebay. It can use my prepaid europe sim and has wifi and should be good enough for most browsing with wifi and I can do the picture backups at the net cafes. Thanks!

**travelpunk** · 01-12-2010, 02:10 PM

Good call on the used iphone

. Problem solved

**MeTurk** · 01-13-2010, 05:55 AM

For anyone that needs actual applications on the go you should have a look at docs.google.com. It's an entire office suit that runs through their website linked to your google account.

Even if you don't need it on the go it's a great place to back up to.

**lost in texas** · 01-17-2010, 04:25 PM

Good call on the Google Docs. I put some of my trip planning stuff there so you always have access to it. Also--this probably wasn't really secure--but I stashed credit account info too in case anything was lost or stolen. Never had any problems.

iPhone is a great idea. I wouldn't travel with a computer but would take my ipod touch since it can pick up wifi and do basic stuff. Of course a couple of years ago the netbooks weren't so cheap so that may be a viable option now for some people.

Have a great trip, spyre!

xtremefx · 01-28-2010, 01:26 PM

Take an ipad

lmao

**mooloo** · 01-29-2010, 09:15 PM

If its just for backing up pics perhaps you could get a small external hard drive and backup pics onto there? Some of them are tiny nowadays!

**Legitikick** · 02-03-2010, 02:41 AM

An iPhone is perfect, because it'll work for the basic things you'll need, but not convenient enough to spend too much time on it. Try not to spend too much of your trip on the computer, its much better to just get totally disconnected from your normal life.

travy · 02-06-2010, 01:46 PM

I've been planning on a Blackberry Tour2 for my 3 months(if not way longer). I'm down to four weeks till I leave.

**mooloo** · 02-11-2010, 02:28 PM

4 weeks!! That ain't long, bet your mega excited!! Don't forget to let us know how it was when you get back!

Riffy · 05-03-2010, 09:57 AM

I have a blackberry tour, and honestly, it's much worse than an iphone for browsing. The screen resolution is better, but it's completely unreasonable unless you zoom in (very very tiny text, impossible to actually click links, etc), and without a touch screen it's hard to navigate around once zoomed.

If it's not too late, I'd get an iphone or something with a big touchscreen. I'm regretting it, even though I do love having a real keyboard.

I'm planning on traveling with my *sigh* 16" big laptop, because I need to work on the go and it'd be a waste to buy a netbook for such a short trip (2 weeks, one in UK, one in Malta).