[NM]

Sometimes my carry on bag and sometimes also my checked luggage resemble out of a kids movie (Inspector you know who). There is often little room for the essentials like duty-free scotch.

What gadgets do fellow travellers carry with them for short domestic trips, longer business trips, and even when travelling for leisure?

My list often includes:

• Laptop computer (IBM T41) *
• Pocket PC (Dell Axim X50v) *
• Mobile Phone *
• Digital Camera *
• USB Card Reader (for camera and PPC)
• Bluetooth Keyboard (for PPC)
• USB Battery Charger (for camera and BT keyboard batteries) and spare batteries
• USB Headset (for IP Softphone)
• USB Hub (when I need to use more than 2 USB devices together)
• USB Serial Adapter (the T41 does not have a serial port)
• Earphones (Shure E3)
• Stash of different power plug converters

* each with their own power supply

And loads of different cables, including various length and colour ethernet Cat 5/6 cables, RJ11 telephone cables, RJ45 joiners (good for extending telephone cables for modem use), DB9-RJ45 serial cable, USB cables for digital camera, PPC sync, phone sync, card reader etc.

And that is just for a day-trip to Sydney :roll: . For a leisure trip I would likely add the video camera to the list . Its a good thing we get 2 x 32kg baggage allowance for USA trips.

[jasonja3]

NM, you may be able to consolidate some equipment, I have been travelling domestically a fair bit lately as a Project Mgr, I carry two devices which cover alot, almost everything I need...

IBM X41 notebook with
* wireless a,b & g (no probs getting hotspots in cities and airports)
* BT
* Storage card slots (SD etc)
HP IPAQ H6515, it has
* Built in 1.3mp camera
* Removable SD card which there is a slot for on the IBM
* Smart phone
* Inbuilt GPS good for getting around unfamiliar territory
* GPRS for checking mail and browsing when no wireless net around
* BT
* Quad band GSM so it works in most countries
* Full QWERTY keyboard

The IPAQ syncs with the IBM with BT (Blue Tooth) works wonderfully, it is a true "mobile office" for me. Having everything wireless, except for power is great.

Maybe food for thought..... :roll:

[NM]

Yes, I could technically combine camera, phone and PPC, but the PPC/Camera combination is a pretty limited camera capability. And the FBT ruling under which I bought my Dell Axim specifically excludes phones and cameras (and combo devices) from the list of "personal computing devices" that can be purchased as a salary sacrifice. Hence I stuck with the PPC and didn't go for the combo PPC/Phone/Camera deal.

Also cannot take a digi camera into our computer rooms. That means I would have leave a combo device outside and I use my PPC regularly inside such facilities, so another reason to have one without a combo camera.

Would still need the USB headset, USB Serial adater, cables etc since not everything I need to connect with has WiFi or BT :cry: . Maybe that will come with time.

I probably should get a BT adapter for my T41, then I could save on some of the cables. I usually don't take my PPC cradle with me, just sync via WiFi or Infra-Red when I need to.

A lot of the bulk is all the power supplies. I have had Nokia phones for a while now, and having purchased them in Australia, USA and KL, I now have a variety of Nokia plug pack adapters with the most common power plugs. So for a RTW trip I often take all three, saving the other adapters for the PPC and Laptop as I often have all three charging in the hotel room overnight.

[Damien]

I take the following. Some things are left at home depending on the length and/or destination of the trip.

- Laptop computer *+
- Mobile phone *+
- Digital camera *+
- Portable hard drive *+
- Mouse
- MP3 player *
- Earphones

* each with their own power supply.
+ sometimes I take two of

Plus cables for cables for network and phone, plug adapters, USB accessories, etc. Oh, and the assortment of medication (depending on the country).

I have a US plug for my laptop and camera chargers, but I've found the easiest thing to do is take a 4-plug powerboard with me. It takes up less room than a pile of adapters, and I can have several things charging from the same powerpoint at the same time. We all know how rare powerpoints are in hotel rooms.

I also need to leave room for the goodies I purchase in other countries. My US-born wife always gives me a lengthy shopping list when I head in that direction. I often envy the lucky travellers who board the plane with a small and light carry-on.

[jasonja3]

Yes for for some, seamless integration between devices, and longer battery life cannot happen fast enough!! At least we are slowly getting rid of some cables........

[NM]

Oops, forgot the rechargable shaver! How could I live without that little gadget .

[Anna]

I definitely need a different pair of shoes for each outfit. Perhaps even 2 different pairs, the same colour but with different heel heights. And matching handbags. That's both a day bag and an evening bag. Should I go on? :wink:

[Lindsay Wilson]

Gentlemen, I think you just got trumped by Anna :wink:

Anna, you must meet my wife!

Her record for a 3 week trip was 65kg

Luckily we were allowed 80kg and they ignored the overweight (mine was 25kg).

I just never found the kitchen sink, I knew it was in there........


Cheers

[icarus]

I like to travel with an empty extra suitcase, and buy more shoes as I "need" them. Last Christmas I went to Melbourne at sale time and came back with twelve new pairs and a hole in my credit card balance that made me hyperventilate. (Actually, it still makes me hyperventilate, but the shoes are beautiful. And, hey, on sale!)

As to gadgets - I take my combined PPC/phone/camera, but I hate travelling with a notebook computer unless it's really unavoidable. My iPod and a lovely little set of speakers for them to plug into. Adaptors. Earphones. And the one thing that I cannot live without - my GHD hair straightening iron. It's so indispensible that I am contemplating buying a US version, because using the adaptor I can't get them to heat fully. I wish they made a mini-travel version; it would live in my handbag.