Laptop on safari?

Is it practical to take a laptop on safari?

I'm going on a lodge-based safari next week (in Kenya) and I would like to
take my laptop to download and process photos each evening. I also like to
write on holiday.

But I'm moving from lodge to lodge most (not every) night and I was
wondering if I might regret taking it due to the hassle.

What do you think?

Bobby

In message <35ik9lF4ni9nnU1@>, Bobby <bobby@europe.com>
writes
>Is it practical to take a laptop on safari?
>
>I'm going on a lodge-based safari next week (in Kenya) and I would like to
>take my laptop to download and process photos each evening. I also like to
>write on holiday.
>
>But I'm moving from lodge to lodge most (not every) night and I was
>wondering if I might regret taking it due to the hassle.
>
>What do you think?
>
>Bobby
>
>
You may find that you return minus your laptop!
Why not take a camera and notebook? The headache of wondering if your
laptop might be stolen, plus carrying it around, make taking it on
holiday an unattractive proposition. Just my opinion.
Pat
--
Pat Anderson

On 2005-01-23 22:46:29 +0100, "Bobby" <bobby@europe.com> said:

> Is it practical to take a laptop on safari?
>
> I'm going on a lodge-based safari next week (in Kenya) and I would like
> to take my laptop to download and process photos each evening. I also
> like to write on holiday.
>
> But I'm moving from lodge to lodge most (not every) night and I was
> wondering if I might regret taking it due to the hassle.
>
> What do you think?
>
> Bobby

I went to Kenya in November carrying an iBook and it was pure joy. The
equipment will be safe in any safari vehicle, and in the lodges there
are no problems at all. Just be wary of leaving it in a tent on its
own, but leave it at the hotel deposit.

Geir
--
.................................................. ...........................
No matter where you go, there you are
.................................................. ...........................
Geir Ertzgaard
iBook g3/500
iBook G4/977
iMac G4/1.2
iMac G3/233
.................................................. ...........................
Minolta Dimage 5
Minolta Dimage F100
Minolta Dynax 5

I find it easier to carry two smaller storage systems such as a FlashTrax.
I keep one in my carry-on with my cameras and lenses and the other in my
wife's carry on. I once had an Image Tank fail and don't trust storing all
my photos on only one device. I store each flash card on both devices each
day before reformatting in the camera for the next day of shooting.

I don't want to spend my evenings editing photos so I don't miss a laptop.
The only thing I sometimes miss if the ability to resize photos to an email
size if I want to email some pictures to a friend.

Scott

"Bobby" <bobby@europe.com> wrote in message
news:35ik9lF4ni9nnU1@...
> Is it practical to take a laptop on safari?
>
> I'm going on a lodge-based safari next week (in Kenya) and I would like to
> take my laptop to download and process photos each evening. I also like to
> write on holiday.
>
> But I'm moving from lodge to lodge most (not every) night and I was
> wondering if I might regret taking it due to the hassle.
>
> What do you think?
>
> Bobby
>

On 2005-01-25 06:01:20 +0100, "Scott Elliot" <19elliot46@telus.net> said:

Though you miss the opportunity to log your trip on a word processor
which I find a good thing to do.
Then you can always backup your pics on CD-R and store that somewhere
away from your computer. I always do that, and find it cheaper than
buying an extra gadget for image storage.

Geir


> I find it easier to carry two smaller storage systems such as a
> FlashTrax. I keep one in my carry-on with my cameras and lenses and the
> other in my wife's carry on. I once had an Image Tank fail and don't
> trust storing all my photos on only one device. I store each flash
> card on both devices each day before reformatting in the camera for the
> next day of shooting.
>
> I don't want to spend my evenings editing photos so I don't miss a
> laptop. The only thing I sometimes miss if the ability to resize photos
> to an email size if I want to email some pictures to a friend.
>
> Scott
>
> "Bobby" <bobby@europe.com> wrote in message
> news:35ik9lF4ni9nnU1@...
>> Is it practical to take a laptop on safari?
>>
>> I'm going on a lodge-based safari next week (in Kenya) and I would like
>> to take my laptop to download and process photos each evening. I also
>> like to write on holiday.
>>
>> But I'm moving from lodge to lodge most (not every) night and I was
>> wondering if I might regret taking it due to the hassle.
>>
>> What do you think?
>>
>> Bobby


--
.................................................. ...........................
No matter where you go, there you are
.................................................. ...........................
Geir Ertzgaard
iBook g3/500
iBook G4/977
iMac G4/1.2
iMac G3/233
.................................................. ...........................
Minolta Dimage 5
Minolta Dimage F100
Minolta Dynax 5

On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 21:46:29 -0000, "Bobby" <bobby@europe.com>
wrote:

>Is it practical to take a laptop on safari?
>
>I'm going on a lodge-based safari next week (in Kenya) and I would like to
>take my laptop to download and process photos each evening. I also like to
>write on holiday.
>
>But I'm moving from lodge to lodge most (not every) night and I was
>wondering if I might regret taking it due to the hassle.

Bobby,

I travel with my laptop, because I need it to offload photos
from the camera and tracks from the GPS, to show movies, to
write my travel diary, and to communicate, for example to upload
my travel diary to my web server while I travel.

I've never declared the computer on entry or exit and don't know
what would happen if I did or if they checked me. You may want
to find out, but I think whatever you find out officially will
not be reliable anyway.

I have an inverter with me, so I can use and recharge the laptop
from the car battery. For cars that don't have a cigarette
lighter socket, I have a special cable with huge alligator
clips, so I can go to the battery directly.

In the lodges there is sufficient electricity to recharge it, so
you can use it at least some of the time, depending on battery
life.

Some lodges, like the Lake Naivasha Hotel, even offer you a
timed Internet connection. For that you have to sit down in the
secretary's office and use her telephone line or some such. I
forgot about the details.

Then there is GPRS (mobile phone Internet) roaming, but you may
want to be careful with the price. It may or may not be
bearable. Ask your service provider for GPRS roaming rates (and
be sure your mobile phone is GPRS capable and is a 900 MHz GSM
phone.

During travelling you want your laptop packed dust and shock
proof, so bring an extra bag.

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.