Now back to that oh-so-scandalous topic of “should I take my laptop with me around the world?” I have been a firm believer that travel styles may vary thus providing an ambiguous answer to this question. I personally feel that taking a laptop would be beneficial to my trip since I will need to be able to process RAW images from my camera and make videos from our video camera. Of course, these aren’t necessary tasks, but they are tasks I feel would enhance my travel time significantly.
From this I made the decision to bring a laptop, and so began the search for the perfect travel laptop – tiny, cute, light, and powerful. To my shock, those characteristics come in a very pricey package *sigh*. After the initial search, Brian and I decided to stick with his gateway 14″ laptop because it would get the job done, and furthermore, if it got stolen or broke along the way, we wouldn’t be out $1000+.
This plan was going to work fine until Brian accepted a job offer to work overseas, forcing me to do some traveling on my own. I now needed my own laptop! I started searching again and discovered the Dell Latitude D400. It is an older model, but super small (12″ screen diagonally – 11″ by 9″ by 1″ body) and super light (~3.7 pounds). It includes an external cdrw/dvd player giving it better packability. These little guys can be found used or reburbished for around $300-$400 on Ebay. Not bad, eh?!
I purchased mine last week for ~$400 with shipping. It is an amazing little guy! My laptop is refurbished and contains a 2.0Ghz Intel Pentium M processor, 60GB hard drive, 512 RAM, and Windows XP. Now I’m going to start downloading all necessary travel apps – Boggle, camera software, and Skype. Yay, new laptop!
Well what are you waiting for? Go get your own amazingly tiny and cute travel laptop, too!
Hey! I’m about to head off travelling in a few months and am in need of a laptop as well. It seems though like all there is out there are massive 15″ widescreens. I don’t get the point of these… they’re not exactly that portable! So I like the look of yours. I’ll have to keep an eye out because if I can get as good a deal as you did I’ll be a happy camper… I mean backpacker.
Dude- I got the same computer for my travels a few weeks back and its been pretty sweet so far!
Yay Kelly! I love my laptop, too – it really does rock.
Yay Kelly! I love my laptop, too – it really does rock.
Great post!
I struggled so much with this question as well. Now after 4 years of on again off again world travel, I still do not own a laptop.
Do you really recommend it that much?
I’m also looking into the Macbook Pro
Personally, I totally recommend a laptop. I do it bc I can watch movies, type up blog posts, play with photos, type emails up offline, use my own computer to make online bookings and the like.
But, I am still a cheap laptop girl when it comes to travel. I just got an msi Wind to replace the dell and it rocks. Only $450 AUD and it is super tiny and cute!!!!!!
If there are reasons that taking a macbook pro with you would be beneficial to your trip, then go for it. But, be prepared for uncertainty – get insurance – and just be careful with flashing that bad boy around. cheers