Experiences with Laptops/Internet & crew hotels?

[doubleUanchor]

Was thinking about buying a "serious" laptop to be my main computer.

How does one get online at the various hotels?
Do I, therefore, need subscriptions to 101 different ISP's?
What about cables to link up to phoneline and electicity lines?
Any comments on a DELL 8000 series laptop (value for money) or other units in that +/- USD 25-3000 arena?

Many thanks, Chaps and Chapesses!

[Specaircrew]

My ISP(www.cix.co.uk) provides global roaming so I can usually dial a local number for internet access. You'll need a UK and US telephone lead/plug combo as a minimum or you could invest in a set of international phone plug adapters. Be careful as some hotel sockets are digital and can harm your modem. I use an in line gadget that gives a green light if the phone line is safe to use, alternatively you can use a suitable mobile phone. Your laptop power supply should work on any voltage so you'll just need a travel adapter.

[This message has been edited by Specaircrew (edited 08 February 2001).]

[18Wheeler]

doubleUanchor - A Dell 8000?
Nice machine; guess what I'm using right now. ;)
P600, 128meg, 32meg video, CD-RW, 10 gig.
Agree with the reply above as well, good stuff.

[777AV8R]

Having skipped around the world a bit, maybe this can help out.

My Toshiba has a "Global Modem" on board. If, for instance, you are in a country such as Japan, all one has to do is get into the modem setup page and select Japan (or the country you are in). This allows the modem to set up for your situation. I also purchased a XIRCOM Global PCMCIA modem as well.

Some computers, like the Toshiba, has a connector for a LAN connection in the back.

Some of the better hotels now provide you with a LAN connection in your room and charge a ridiculously low daily rate on the use of the system. Some Meridien hotels and Marriot hotels provide LAN connections.

The LAN connections fast,convenient and very easy to set up.

If you have to go the modem route and use a telephone, AOL provides worldwide service. Their software is free at many retail stores. The setup is quick and reasonable cheap. Their data base and program allows you to enter the area code or city that you are located in, their software will either call up the telephone numbers out of the database or dial a toll free number and automatically load several local numbers into your AOL system, that you can use.

The drawback is that in many countries, if you are using your hotel telephone switchboard (using the telephone data port), you may be charged for time units that you are logged on. In some hotels in London, for instance, you can pay 59 Pence per Minute for telephone use....thus...you may end up paying nearly 36 pounds for an hours' use of the system. It would be far cheaper to walk down to a local internet cafe and use their system.

Hope it helps and happy computing.

[ExSimGuy]

Some time ago, the much-travelled Capt Slasher (much-trvelled in the sin-bins of the Far East anyway :)) posted a list of "must-haves" for the serious travelling laptop owner:-
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Laptop essentials?
1. Spare 50 foot roll of electric cable to get your power pack to reach that one and only power point in the hotel bathroom.

2. Spare 50 telephone line to get your modem to reach the one and only phone outlet behind the hotel room fridge in the next room.

3. Cellular telephone and modem connecter for hotels without telephones.

4. Battery charger kit for above.

5. Satcom cellphone and modem connecter for hotels located in communist states where the internet is banned because its violent capitalist borjwaar propaganda. Same needed for ME places because of the internet being an infidel instrument of satan.

6. Another battery charger kit for above.

7. Plenty of US$10 notes to pay off any commie/ME hotel staff who catch you using satcom internet and want to dob you in to the local army/mosque chief.

8. Various intl electric socket adapters for your power pack.

9. Heavy chain and padlock around the laptop case to prevent your underpaid crew/pax from stealing your expensive stuff out of it (or copying your hard looked-for porn pics).

10.Another overnight bag to carry all the sh*t specified in 1-9.

Right then your all decked out. (Dont forget to bring your laptop!)
</font>

[Boss Raptor]

AOL also has overseas access numbers in most countries - with a nominal surcharge per minute outside near Europe for UK members.

[askcv]

Dunno whether it was just a once off fault, but my LAN card blew up the other day when I touched the laptop and got a big jolt of static. I think it was a charge carried by the LAN cable since I do not have a problem with static normally. Going through adaptors for power prevents any earthing, and I don't know what to do about it in future. Never mind, its fun and prevents boredom.

[fobotcso]

Don't forget CompuServe. (Kin of AOL of course).

Numbers available from their Site for most countries.

[DEFPOTEC]

I have a Sony Vaio. It’s very lightweight (around 3 pounds).

The CD and floppy drives are external. Since I don’t use them much, I leave them at home.

It does have a memory stick port. If you’re thinking of getting a digital camera you might look at the Sony Cyber-shot (DSC-P1). They work great together. Just unplug the memory stick from the camera and plug it into the computer. I love it.

Ditto on Slasher’s list but skip the lock and chain if your homeowners insurance covers items that go missing form hotel rooms.

Oh, if you put the laptop in your suitcase, don’t forget to wrap it in a plastic bag. I had a shampoo bottle leak.

[static]

IBM has a really nice and cheap internet provider for worldwide local access.
www.ibm.net (http://www.ibm.net)

I`ve used it a lot to my full satisfaction.

Just checked the link myself and it seems they`ve teamed up with ATT. Not an improvement. I`d look elsewhere. Sorry http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/frown.gif

[This message has been edited by static (edited 15 February 2001).]

[ExSimGuy]

DEFPOTEC - Surely not !!!

Laptops never, never, never in checked baggage! Admittedly I remember the days when two of UK's airports were known as Thiefrow and Gatnick ( :)), but with airports all over the world, I wouldn't chance an expensive laptop (or camera, or video etc) to checked baggage. For many years I have always left my suitcase unlocked (a lock is no deterrant to a knife) and containing nothing of value.

And have you seen the way that the baggage gets bumped around on baggage handling equipment? AAAARRGH !

Anyway, the laptop bag is useful for carrying my in-flight book, passport and tickets in an outer pocket!

------------------
What goes around . . .
. . often lands better!

[fobotcso]

Agree with ESG about keeping the stuff with you. As for the "Laptop Bag", a much travelled client gave me her laptop bag in part payment. She reckoned that it marked her out as a potential "snatch & run" victim.

With something as small as my half-size Vaio I favour a beat-up old sports bag that doesn't look interesting or a plastic Waitrose "Bag for Life".

And as for checking it when you're pax, what else you going to play with on the flight? Or isn't that allowed? [typos!]

[This message has been edited by fobotcso (edited 18 February 2001).]

[DEFPOTEC]

ExSimGuy,

I’m a pilot for WN. I don’t check my suitcase. It goes in the cockpit with me. There’s a baggage storage compartment behind the captain’s seat on the 737.

I know there are some airlines where the flight crew does check their baggage. You must have assumed I work such a company. No problem, but please don’t call me Shirley.

Yes. I have seen how checked baggage is gets bumped around. When we are late I often tell the customers it’s because the machine that rips the handles off the baggage is broken and it takes a little longer to do it manually. :)

[ExSimGuy]

DEFPOTEC

Sorry, Shirl, I didn't check your profile so I didn't know you were FD crew. So you're the one who stops me getting a flight deck visit by putting your luggage where it blocks my jump seat :mad:

How late does it make you when the other machine that puts on the scratches and gouges breaks down? :rolleyes:

[DEFPOTEC]

ExSimGuy,

The baggage storage is under the second jump seat. And they are my jump seats, not yours. So there. http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/tongue.gif

The reason you don’t get to visit my flight deck is because in-flight visits are strictly verboten here in the land of the free. Besides, I wouldn’t be able to play with my computer if anyone could see. That’s verboten too.

The scratch-gouge machine is a “no go item”. No. That doesn’t mean we don’t go when it’s broken. It means your bags don’t go. We leave on time. http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/tongue.gif

I see you are in the Angling Church. I like fishing too. It sounds like you are really into it. What do you catch?

[This message has been edited by DEFPOTEC (edited 20 February 2001).]

[ExSimGuy]

On a serious note (on PPRuNe?) I just love the N.American hotels where they have the Ethernet plug lying there beside the phone - and charge between nothing and $10 a day for unlimited DSL access. I replaced my (broken) PCMCIA modem with a Xircom modem/Ethernet adapter so I could use these, and I love it!

Shirley

I'm confused - are you in The Land of The Free, where the flight deck is always locked? Or are you with GF who never manage to board all my baggage on the same plane as me http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/eek.gif
_______________________
Keep the blue bit up and the black bit down :)

[This message has been edited by ExSimGuy (edited 21 February 2001).]

[WideBodiedEng]

I've got 2 accts. One local and Compuserve (CIS). When I'm away I use CIS as ISP and then use Outlook Express to get my mail from my home account. For a while I couldnt send mail but I've just sussed that one. Set up an account in OE call it CS Access or whatever, Set the incming mail POP3 to your home account but change the Outgoing SMTP to SMTP.compuserve.com and presto you use the one e-mail address anywhere. Use all your home a/c details otherwise eg Name address etc. Just remember when replying to a message to change the account to "CS Access" at the "From" dropdown menu. I know you can get IBM etc anywhere, as well as Yahoo (& PPrune mail) but I prefer to have a paid ISP for reliability. My home supplier and Compuserve both do that brilliantly.

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The Stamp is mightier than the Toolbox!!

[Specaircrew]

Check ou this web site for details of ISPs that do Global Roaming, it works very well for me(with CIX) and the dialer software makes things simple.

http://www.gric.com/zone/

[DeeTeeS]

Static,

Don't do much Global Roaming but I have been on ibm.net (now attglobal.net) for five years and from what I understand it is still the same excellent service that originated in ibm making available to the public their spare capacity after hours; I have not noticed any degradation of connectivity, etc.)


[This message has been edited by DeeTeeS (edited 25 February 2001).]

[Low_and_Slow]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">On a serious note (on PPRuNe?) I just love the N.American hotels where they have the Ethernet plug lying there beside the phone - and charge between nothing and $10 a day for unlimited DSL access. I replaced my (broken) PCMCIA modem with a Xircom modem/Ethernet adapter so I could use these, and I love it!
</font>

One thing to check. Some ISPs only allow outgoing mail traffic from computers on their own networks. Thus you might find that your mail server refuses to allow you to send outgoing mail since you are logged in from a machine (and with an IP address) on the hotel's internet provider (when using in-room DSL)

[Shore Guy]

In the states, make sure to check with the hotel operator that your connect phone number is a local call. Some cities have a pretty bizarre local network, to the point that an exchange in the same city you are in can be a "local" long distance call. Save's surprises at checkout time (some hotels now publish a list of "local" exchanges).

[mr blue sky]

Specaircrew
I had a look at cix, and they say that I must use one of a list of isp companies to gain access to gric . Which isp do you use, and what has been your experience of them. Drop me an mail if you would be so kind.

[johntrav69]

If its just for email, how about using the IR port on your mobile phone for a quick call back to UK (suggest Nokia 6210). If for more, I strongly suggest getting a laptop with a compact flash 2 socket for modem as will be upgradeable for big Bluetooth explosion later this year.

[ExSimGuy]

. . . Yes, in countries where Bluetooth is available . . grrrrr :mad:

[blackadder]

I can reccommend a Gateway 9300XL without hesitation.
128mb, 20mbHD and a weight of 5kg! incl all peripherals.
Get the dk green Taurus backpack so you won't be targeted by the thieves!

Can't help on the connection scenario, but the previous advice sounds good if you can get the IBM connection.

good luck :)