Laptops !!!

[tyke]

I am considering taking my laptop on our next trip so I can download and store digital media from our cameras/camcorders !

However I do have a couple of questions -

Are you allowed a laptop case as well as your hand luggage allowance or is it classed as your carry on allowance ?

Does the US voltage provide sufficient supply to power the laptop ?

Also, it would be great if I could e-mail some of the wedding photos back home while we are away - what is the best method of connecting up to the net in the US - we will be staying in a private villa !

tyke

 

[JANNYANS]

Laotops should not be a problem when travelling just make sure they are charged up as you may be asked to prove they work.
US voltage is only 110 so you will probably need an adapter.
Your villa owner may be able to sort out a connection for you but it can be a bit of a headache.If you are staying near the west end of the 192 then the public library offers free internet access for about 30 mins.Or there is an internet cafe at 6700 conroy road just west of I-Drive which may enable to send your photos.The cafe is called cafe.com tel 407-447-7744 if you want to check exactly what they offer but I can't find a web site for them!

 

[martina857]

We bought our laptop this time and it,s a doddle. No problem on the plane, you are allowed baggage plus laptop. Go into pc world and buy the US plug for the laptop or just plug it in the adaptor, all laptops are designed to work with US and UK voltage. Our Villa owners offer free local calls, so do some research and find an ISP in Florida offering a local (to your villa) access number, you could also use Juno or AOL.

 

[JANNYANS]

All villas will have free local calls but the problem is that not all calls with the same number are free-for example some 407 calls from my home are free some are not so you really need to check with your home owner berfore you do anything.

 

[athurstance]

Using a laptop to connect to the internet should be no problem in most villas. You may need a BT to US adaptor for the telephone plug - you don't always need it depending on your modem connector but best to get one in the UK as they are harder to find in the US - they have them in PC World.
For the ISP try - www.access4free.com - it is the one many villa owners use themselves. You pay a maximum of $10 per month ($1 per hour for the first 10 hours - if you don't use it at all no charge). They have local numbers all over the villa community areas so pick one which will dial out from your villa - most will use a 407 number. Best ask your villa owner or the managment company - they will know.
It is really very easy to get organised and I find it really convenient to just be able to download our photos and touch them up while we're on holiday. I like to email the odd photo to family back home too.
I am using my laptop in Florida at the moment. The US power is lower voltage than in the UK but it seems to be keeping my laptop at 100% without any problems. Not sure about carry on luggage - my DH never carries any so I made him take the laptop. He did have to take it all out of the case at Orlando airport so they could check what it was but we didn't have any problems bringing it over.

Angela

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

British Airways treat laptops as part of your carry-on allowance unless you are in one of their premium cabins. I have no idea if this is strictly enforced. More details of BA's luggage policy can be found on their website.

If you want internet access while on holiday have you thought about signing up for wireless broadband access? A number of coffee shops and hotels offer wifi hotspots via providers such as Boingo or T-Mobile. For example, most Starbucks offer this service. It doesn't need to cost a fortune - a wireless access card for your laptop costs about £55, and the service providers offer pay-as-you-go options so no need for monthly contracts. The service also works well - I'm typing this on a wireless connection from San Francisco, and it is even quicker than my broadband access at home.

Regards

Rob

 

[MickeyMcMouse]

Watch out if you are thinking of aol.

From aol site :

There are two ways of accessing AOL from outside the UK:

1. Connect to AOL using a local Internet provider - in this case you will not be charged by AOL, but will have to incur the charges of the Internet provider in question. For more information on how do to this, see Can I connect to AOL via another Internet provider?

2. Connect to AOL directly, using AOL's network of international access numbers in over 100 countries. For a list of these access numbers, go to AOL Keyword: International Access.

Please note:
* Use of these numbers carries an additional charge of at least £2.50 per hour, depending on the country.
* Many of these numbers cannot be used for the first 60 days after you become an AOL member.
Please see the communications surcharge page for more details.

* Use of these numbers carries an additional charge of at least £2.50 per hour, depending on the country. - the sting in the tail !!

David

 

[tyke]

Thanks guys

1 laptop added to packing list !

tyke

 

[3yL]

You can buy pre-paid internet access cards (similar to pre-paid long distance phone cards.) AT&T offers them online (though you may not have enough time to receive the package by mail.) You can download the software though (versus getting the CD by mail). It's actually not that bad of a deal, and you can use the regular phone number if it's local, or you can use the 800 toll free line (though the 800 toll free line is more expensive - it uses up more of the money from your card). AT&T does have a local Orlando number (407) but I don't know if it's long distance from where you'll be or not.

http://www.consumer.att.com/prepaidcard/prepaidinternet/

There is also Slingshot (another pre-paid internet access card) which is sold in Pilot Truck Stops (I have no idea if there are any in Orlando though.)

BudgetDialup is another one.

I'm sure there are lots more. AT&T gives you a 30 minute free trial to test it out.