Inspect your gadgets

March 5, 2008 4:16 AM

What do you think's the ideal gadget for heavy travelers?

Of course, it depends if the traveller's a businessman or a backpacker, but given the new gadgets out there easy enough to slip into a pocket and go, what would you suggest, or what have you been traveling with?
Might have these:
long, long battery life (no fumbling around with wires)
good time waster
good camera(good = fast; optional)
can pick up a decent wifi signal
fast & easy to navigate
has maps (naturally)

the first thing that comes to mind is the iPod touch, but I'm open to suggestions, because others might be more attached to their psp/nokia/treo/whatever. But generally the nokias are too slow for me, the higher-end their model.

Thanks!

posted by drea to technology (12 comments total)

Sony Reader for books, with the libprs500 software, rather then Sony's shipped software. Supports more formats, can download whole websites into it, great piece of kit. I'd recommend seeing it in person to understand why it's better then reading books off your mobile phone.

PSP's are fun, used to use one on my train trip into work, but realistically (for me) only once modded. Put an emulator or two on there with a few hundred games, SCUMMVM works great, so you can play Sam 'N Max, Beneath a Steel Sky and Day of the Tentacle in all their glory. But for official games, the only one that's kept my attention is Lumines-- a simple puzzle game. It also supports wifi, web and you can watch movies. Replacement batteries are cheap, so I would grab a couple, and an 8GB stick to store them all on would hit you back about a hundred bucks.

My only requirements in an MP3 player are ridiculously good battery life and direct drag and drop MP3 support-- I travel with a laptop, so I can live without 100GB storage on my MP3 player.
posted by Static Vagabond at 5:00 AM on March 5

iPhone = iPod Touch + phone
posted by mpls2 at 5:09 AM on March 5

Someone gave me a jacket that folds up into itself down to a little pocket sized pouch. It's rain resistant and can really help block the wind. It's thin enough that it doesn't get too hot in the tropics, but, as I said, it blocks the wind so it's really saved me when things turn cold. No, it's not a gadget. There's no electronics to it, but by god it was the best gift I've ever gotten as far as travel is concerned. Frankly, electronic gadgets really tend to just be encumberances to me. They are theft magnets. They waste time that I should be interacting with locals or looking at the scenery. But that's me.

Nokias seem to be more universal. They show up wherever you go world wide and sim chips, repair/replacement service, chargers and accessories are available in almost every place I've been.
posted by Pollomacho at 6:52 AM on March 5

I'd go with a good smartphone,
the iphone comes to mind, but I would suggest the Nokia N95 because it takes better pictures (replaces your camera) and also takes awsome videos.
It can also guide you around (the gps) if you get lost.
Battery life may be a problem so i would suggest getting a proporta travel charger.
This replaces about any other gadget you might want to carry around. (even a flashlight, I guess).
posted by kall at 7:11 AM on March 5

The iPhone was the greatest thing I've ever taken on a trip (other than a friend). Seriously. Without equal. While Maps is plenty useful. The address/phone number/website launching pad that Maps is is the killer app.

Sure, wi-fi is best, but Edge works just fine in a pinch, so you're never without the net. And it is a nearly perfect media player.
posted by sourwookie at 7:16 AM on March 5

A travel alarm clock that sets itself to the correct time zone.
posted by 26.2 at 7:34 AM on March 5

I am personally interested in Amazon's Kindle. It works on cell technology so a WiFi signal isn't necessary. Of course this assuming you enjoy reading.
posted by mcarthey at 7:53 AM on March 5 [1 favorite]

A pad of reasonable quality watercolour paper - say A5 in size, a pen with water soluble ink, a water brush and perhaps a small tin of watercolour paints. It will all fit in a small bag or pocket and provides a great means of passing time, creating original souvenirs or gifts and making friends with locals. If you loose, break or exhaust any element it can be replaced. No batteries are required.
posted by rongorongo at 8:21 AM on March 5 [1 favorite]

Depending upon where you are traveling, the SteriPen might very well be the most useful gadget. For normal traveling it is a cell phone, preferably one with integrated email and internet access.
posted by caddis at 8:32 AM on March 5

If you're travelling overseas, an unlocked GSM phone. If you're just in the USA, I'd recommend CDMA instead; you can tether a Windows Mobile phone to your laptop and use it as a modem. Any decent "smartphone" will do. I prefer phones on which I can install apps.

Forget the iPod touch. It's too small. Get a big iPod, and you can use it as an external USB drive also. Small external speakers are nice.

A small laptop. The smaller, the better, I think. If it's small enough, you're more likely to take it with you.

A small pocket pen, and a small pocket knife if that's an option. A bag that folds into a small pouch. A lightweight, water-resistant jacket.
posted by me & my monkey at 10:22 AM on March 5

Seconding n95 US variant. Camera is great, screen is big, and they really did speed up the interface. Web browsing is inferior to iPhone, but the rest of the features as mentioned above, 3g, voip capabilities (via gizmo project, or skype via fring), real gps navigation, replaceble battery, and data tethering really outclass it for serious road use.
posted by lovejones at 11:04 AM on March 5

Without question, you need an Archos 605 Wifi. 800x600 resolution touch screen. You can get up to a 160Gb hard drive in it. Browse the web with a $20 addon. Wifi (b/g). Fits in a large pocket, like a jacket. Kickstand built-in. Plays AVI, MP3s etc with outstanding quality. Browser is Opera and it does support flash (Youtube etc). Addons allow you to actually jack this into your cable/tv and record directly on the unit (like a Tivo) - you can even get a TV guide on it a la Tivo too. Fantastic photo viewer with slideshow and transitions. Another addon allows you to use a helmet camcorder with it which would be awesome for travelling with. Widgets through Opera allows (currently) Calendar, notepad, RSS reader, to-do list and some other stuff. With the TV dock, you can take this to hotels/motels with you, plug it in and watch your Archos movies on the hotel TV. Chargeable via USB so if you get a Scosche car cigarette lighter USB thingie ($10 from Meritline.com) you can charge it in any car. Basically it's the ultimate everything gadget and, I'm sorry Apple fans, it craps on the iPod Touch in every single way except handbag factor - definitely worth the tradeoff when you see the screen on this thing which will allow you to view a complete webpage, perfectly readably. (folds arms)
posted by tra at 11:15 AM on March 5