London Ninja

When you travel, it is imperative to bring a electronic device(s) that allows you to do all of those tasks you do the following activities:

Essential travel device activities:
1. Check email
2. Internet access for reviews, restaurants, etc
3. IM including Video Chat
4. Internet telephony
5. Watch movies
6. Listen to mp3s like the album from the Spice Girls

Nice to have:
6. Blog
7. Store photos from your camera

What do I use?
Currently I use an old school PocketPC, a Dell Axim X5. I’ve had this PDA since 2002. It is a beast especially with the extended battery on but it keeps on ticking, covering most of the tasks above. It works well for everything except for the buggy Skype software that prevents me from being able to call out from the road. I’m trying to figure out some way around it but other than that, it does very well on the road. I generally use it during transportation, listening to music and watching videos of Michael Jackson in the tube. When I find a unsecured wifi network I can be off and IM’ing and calling my mates “twats” in no time.

What non-phone device should I buy today?
Assuming you don’t have an old brick-like PDA sitting around next to your gold bullions, you may consider buying something. This is not a comprehensive list, but these are the devices that come to mind, ones that give you the flexibility and portability suited for travel.

Dell Axim X51v
Dell doesn’t sell these fine PDAs anymore. As a matter of fact, I don’t think anyone even sells Pocket PC aka Windows Mobile devices anymore. This puppy has wifi, bluetooth, a VGA screen, and makes biscuits and tea in the afternoon. You can get them for ~100 quid on eBay. I’ve seen them used in museums in the UK for audiotours so there you go: approved by the Brits.

iPod Touch / iPhone
I don’t have one because I don’t like Apple’s closed stance on computing. But if you want something pretty that can surf the web…go for it. They are shiney and pretty and very touchable.

Eee PC

Since coming out in 2007, these ultra portable Linux laptops (Made in Taiwan like all things good in life) have revolutionised the cheap-arse computing market. Armed with 2-8gigs of memory, they boot up in no time and are pretty fast for something that can fit in small man bags. Man-purses, if you will. For roughly 100-200 quid, you can get a device capable of doing all of the essential travel tasks. AND, it looks cool because it’s tiny. I think I paid the same for my Axim back in the day…the difference is that my man-purse has grown larger since those days and it has plenty of room for a Eee PC now.

You could go old school and travel without any gear, but what’s the fun if you can’t call your mates “twats” from other parts of the world?

Buy these for international travel. You will thank me when you are trying to fly on a red eye flight. You could get the cheap ones (which may work fine), or you could get the one I have, which is made out of foam, silver, and kryptonite. It works well…I highly recommend it. That said, you really only need it on coach flights longer than 2 hours.

Apparently there are newer designs for travel pillows. While mine looks like a horseshoe as show here:

My style of travel pillow

Newer contraptions include interesting designs like the one shown below sold here. Good luck trying to get one on a plane as a carry on.

Only take this on a plane if you actually look like the person here (or wear that lady’s dress)

Then there is a new class of travel pillows that look like a little pod. I don’t know how they work but they’re supposed to work better than the old school kind that I have which actually works just fine. You are welcome to try it at EZSleep.com.

Let me know how it goes if you try one of these things