A friend of mine, who was a shutterbug, went on a photo trip to Bali last August. He would be bringing along his notebook PC, but I advised him to leave it at home. I thought it was a bad idea to burden himself with extra weight of his PC. After all, his trip would last only 4 days.
These days a lot of photographers travel with their laptops. Their main purpose for doing so is to backup their photos as well as surf Net. Some also photoshop their pictures during the trips.
However, I have been backpacking around Southeast Asia, and haven’t found the need to do so. For a start, I usually stay in family-run guesthouses, which do not have Wifi services anyway. If I want to surf Net, I would walk into one of many ‘Internet shops’; if I want to backup my photos, I would burn a CD/DVD in a camera store. As for editing pictures, I will leave it until I return home.
The chief disadvantage of bringing a laptop is its weight. In theory, I can leave it in the hotel room, but then I would be concerned of theft. High-end hotels do provide safe deposit box, but they are not my choice.
Of course, if I would be driving, I may change my mind. And if I am on business trip, I may have no choice.
So, do you have a habit of bringing along a laptop when you are on a leisure trip?
no, I don't bring my laptop along. safer to leave it at home.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't travel with a laptop. With the added weight of camera equipment, you risk the hassle of having to lug a heavy bag...which does dampen one's travel.
ReplyDeleteOne can always bring extra memory cards for longer travel period.
I'd leave it at home if on leisure trips. Hate to be travelling with concerns of theft, weight and general hassle. A holiday should be a holiday and not to be spoilt with unnecessary worry. Like you, I'd pop into an Internet cafe or use the hotel's PC if I need to go online. So, did your friend heed your advice?
ReplyDeleteme will be depends. but of course i will prefer not to bring it when am on vacay! :D of course i would prefer to enjoy my trip rather than online, after all, we can always use phone to surf net nowadays! ;)
ReplyDeleteit's really a fuss bringing along your laptop while you are travelling in leisure..
ReplyDeletefirst thing is that it's really a burden, and you also have to always take care of it not wanting it to damage or lost..
ReplyDeleteit's already not good for me even carrying it to work from home to office, not to mention carrying it the whole day while you are doing sightseeing??
ReplyDeletereally it's not wise, unless you have to.. eg: extending your business trip for your own leisure..
ReplyDeletewenn
ReplyDeleteYeah, safer to leave it home.
Mei Teng
Actually we can buy memory card on the road.
happysurfer
Not sure if he brought his laptop.
Carol
Surf net with phone in another nation would be expensive.
SK
I also extended my business trip in Sabah to go to the island. Really wished I didn't have the laptop with me.
I am totally agreed with your post that,carry a laptop during travel is not necessary.When some times i carry my laptop with me it increases the discomfort level of mine.I don't like to carry laptop during my travel.I enjoyed my trip by taking full joy and adventure of the trip.....
ReplyDeleteI don't unless there is no choice...
ReplyDeleteBringing a laptop for overseas vacation is good for one thing - if you have not finish doing all your research.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, I will try not to bring. Taking budget flights for most of my vacations, and there's a very limited weight allowed for my baggage.
I took my laptop to France, the U.K and China, and generally when we travel in Canada. I don't take it for multi-months trips such as Latin America because I don't have the room and most places we stay in (if not all) don't have wi-fi.
ReplyDeleteBasically, I take the laptop when we are mostly staying at one place and traveling around, that's it.
if it is not for work, i would not bring it. i feel that once i get my hands on laptop, i will not enjoy my trip fully already :P
ReplyDeleteNo laptops for holidays! It's just too heavy and it reminds me of work when I should be enjoying myself! :)
ReplyDeleteNo I don't bring laptop along for my travels. I try to stay offline as much as possible during holidays and if I do go online it's simply to tweet and FB a little. I would not even think of posting photos I took online. That can be done after the holidays when I am back at home!
ReplyDeleteI don't travel with my laptop because i feel it will add weight to what ever am carrying.So i live it at home but if i want to access any data of mine.Then i can get all the files i need from my account.I backup my data on a regular online with an online backup solution called Safecopy backup.So incase am not with my laptop which i prefer not to carry when traveling,i can access my files anywhere online.Safecopy is cost effective and that is why i use it.
ReplyDeleteI've broken my laptop too many times!
ReplyDelete