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I'm looking a little advice on regards of what electronics to bring on my trip.I'm torn between bringing some type of small laptop, a tablet, smart phone, camera, etc.
I have an iPhone already that I can use as camera, and while not the best pictures in the world (and really, why do I NEED to take better pictures?), it would save me around $100-$200 to just not get a point and shoot camera and use the phone. I don't know if I'm going to end up taking the phone though, just because I'm not sure yet that Sprint will unlock it. Supposedly, no, but I'm going to seat to a rep later. If they do, that solves the camera problem and cell phone problem. Having a smart phone will make things so much easier; directions, finding hostels, finding places to eat, etc. At least in the bigger cities, like Bangkok. It's my connection to home and to the people I meet on the road. It doesn't solve the laptop/tablet debate for me though, more on that in a minute.
If they don't, well, that's where I'm stuck. I don't want to lug around a camera, a phone, and a laptop. Since I'm going to be there almost 5 months, let me be honest here. I need some type of access to the internet that isn't my phone. I know very well there are going to be days I'm going to get a private room somewhere and just hole in there. It's 5 months, that is going to happen no matter how much I love the trip. There are going to be long bus rides (I'm talking 20+ hours), the phone alone won't cut it in those situations. I can only talk to people for so long before I need to disappear into my own little internet world. This is where the tablet vs laptop comes in.
Tablets are cheaper, but I like the idea of a laptop more. A tablet is a lot more like my smart phone, so pretty much what I could do on that I could do on the tablet. Getting a Chromebook has come up over and over again for me, but my biggest concern is the OS. People also report streaming issues, which while I won't be doing much streaming while there (I'm sure once I get there watching Once Upon a Time every week won't even be a concern), there will be times I want to. That is made for pretty much only the internet.
I'm probably over thinking this. I think I'm over thinking this entire trip.
Of course, after all of this, I'm now just leaning on taking only the phone. It does have all of those things; camera, internet, connection to home. It's easy to carry. SIM cards are cheap, and it's the only electronic I'd have to keep track of.. If they won't unlock it, I could just buy an unlocked one myself. It would be way cheaper than any combo of camera/tablet/laptop. And while I have money I could use toward those, why not use it for something awesome while I'm there? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
The doctor at work advised me not even to take the phone. No camera, no phone, no laptop, just go. I don't think I'm that brave.
I have an iPhone already that I can use as camera, and while not the best pictures in the world (and really, why do I NEED to take better pictures?), it would save me around $100-$200 to just not get a point and shoot camera and use the phone. I don't know if I'm going to end up taking the phone though, just because I'm not sure yet that Sprint will unlock it. Supposedly, no, but I'm going to seat to a rep later. If they do, that solves the camera problem and cell phone problem. Having a smart phone will make things so much easier; directions, finding hostels, finding places to eat, etc. At least in the bigger cities, like Bangkok. It's my connection to home and to the people I meet on the road. It doesn't solve the laptop/tablet debate for me though, more on that in a minute.
If they don't, well, that's where I'm stuck. I don't want to lug around a camera, a phone, and a laptop. Since I'm going to be there almost 5 months, let me be honest here. I need some type of access to the internet that isn't my phone. I know very well there are going to be days I'm going to get a private room somewhere and just hole in there. It's 5 months, that is going to happen no matter how much I love the trip. There are going to be long bus rides (I'm talking 20+ hours), the phone alone won't cut it in those situations. I can only talk to people for so long before I need to disappear into my own little internet world. This is where the tablet vs laptop comes in.
Tablets are cheaper, but I like the idea of a laptop more. A tablet is a lot more like my smart phone, so pretty much what I could do on that I could do on the tablet. Getting a Chromebook has come up over and over again for me, but my biggest concern is the OS. People also report streaming issues, which while I won't be doing much streaming while there (I'm sure once I get there watching Once Upon a Time every week won't even be a concern), there will be times I want to. That is made for pretty much only the internet.
I'm probably over thinking this. I think I'm over thinking this entire trip.
Of course, after all of this, I'm now just leaning on taking only the phone. It does have all of those things; camera, internet, connection to home. It's easy to carry. SIM cards are cheap, and it's the only electronic I'd have to keep track of.. If they won't unlock it, I could just buy an unlocked one myself. It would be way cheaper than any combo of camera/tablet/laptop. And while I have money I could use toward those, why not use it for something awesome while I'm there? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
The doctor at work advised me not even to take the phone. No camera, no phone, no laptop, just go. I don't think I'm that brave.
