Those of you who know me well, know that I have a very unwired lifestyle. Barring the power adapter for my Powerbook and the headphones (and sync cable) for my iPod, most of the devices I use, have no wires. I guess that puts me at the cutting edge of the wireless lifestyles, and part of a growing majority of Americans who are getting rid of the damn cables.
A new Wi-Fi Alliance survey shows that 70 percent of current and prospective Wi-Fi users report they are more likely to take their notebook computers when traveling on vacation thanks to the widespread availability of wireless networking hotspots in airports, hotels, parks, and restaurants. And that is despite poor-to-average WiFi experience. Bigger question: why the hell would you take a laptop on vacation? I mean its a vacation for go sake, not that I would know anything about it.
Also according to the survey, 74 percent of Wi-Fi say they can now work from places other that home office or office. Like local Starbucks? Or Coupa Cafe? Funniest part of the survey: 46% say that Wi-Fi allows them to dedicate more time to marriage or personal relationships. We work too much …. don’t we?
If we could connect wires into the veins in order to get our SMS, e-mails, RSS feeds and podcasts directly to the brain we probably would have done it by now… Taking a personal notebook with you to a vacation – it seems like we’ve got out of balance here, I agree 🙂
I know what you’re talking about! I sometimes find it hard to admit that I’m a communication addict, but I find comfort in taking my personal notebook on my vacation and upload the sites, the sunny view, the beach and everyting else and right after uploading is completed, no feeling can be compared to the feeling after sending the link to my friends at work…Just keeping them updated while I’m having fun here 😉
I usually take my laptop with me on vacation not for work but usually for the time spent waiting in airports. If we are visiting a new place, its great sometimes to pull the laptop out and check restaurant/club reviews etc. But I do have to admit to some feed reader addiction along the way 🙂
One of the most liberating experiences of the past 5 years was leaving all computers, cell phones, etc, at home when I went to Costa Rica for a week. I think that should be a yearly goal — one vacation minus electronics per year (of course, that would mean taking one vacation a year. hmmm, baby steps).
Reasons I’ve taken my laptop on vacation:
* Mapquest is better at giving me directions than are the maps handed out by the car rental companies, and I don’t want to spring for Neverlost.
* There’s a lot more information about things to do in an area on the internet than there is in the pamphlets sitting in the hotel lobby.
* I can find out the hours, price, etc. of an attraction online without having to wait in autoattendant hell (or without having to call during business hours).
I’ve taken my powerbook with me on every vacation so far. A backpacker with a 12″ AlBook does draw some odd looks, but I really think every traveller should take one.
Firstly, Long Bus/Plane/Train/Taxi rides are a lot shorter when you can watch movies, TV, read one of the 15 or 20 books I pack on before I leave, browse interesting attractions in the city you’re going to etc
Secondly, It’s an invaluable translation tool. When you’re groping with the language, a quick, searchable, talking Bilingual dictionary is a godsend. Sure, it’s kind of dorky to have to dig your computer out of your pack to talk to the people you meet in a bar, but it beats the hell out of blank stares 🙂
Thirdly, The bigger brain: The web is an incredible source of information on things going on wherever you are, local events you’d never have found out about otherwise. You’ll have a lot more fun if you know what’s going on, where the transport is, where the current hotspots are etc.
Fourthly, keeping in touch with family, friends, and people you meet on the way. Most travellers do this in Internet cafes: That’s fine, but they’re usually dingy and boring, with often ancient machines. Plenty of them don’t let you install software (Skype etc),and it’s just generally not fun.
So yeah ,travelling with notebook = teh win.
LG
I spend quite a while replying to emails from friends and family on holidays. It takes a lot of time and when you’re on a vacation, there’s just so much to write about so why not?
When I’m at home or at work, I want to download the latest and the greatest and the best to tryout and that’s why I expect much better connectivity while at home or at work, whichever the case may be.