If it plugs, leave it home

The Times of London says gadgets are travel experience killers:

 It may seem Luddite to reject modern technology but when did we lose sight of travel as a celebration of all that is different and an escape from the familiar? That’s not going to happen if we’re weighed down with half of Dixons (think UK’s Best Buy - ed.). It’s time to go cold turkey, ditch the electricals and use the most underused gadget of all - our brain. Instead of plunging into the tinny world of the MP3 player, use your MP-me player. Open your mouth and regain the forgotten art of the conversation. Have a chat with a stranger. Try this: “Excuse me, I’m just in Copenhagen/Toronto/Bristol for the weekend. I don’t know it at all. Can you recommend some good bars?” Pick someone you fancy - you’re not going to burst into flames.

I might add that leaving the electronics home saves weight too, though the fact of modern air travel certainly necessitates - in my opinion - a good MP3/iPod-type device.  My new Samsung netbook weighs under three pounds, but I’m going to try to resist the temptation to take it along when it is unnecessary.

Update on February 4, 2009 by Frank@OBOW

The weight-saving multicharger recommended by Buzz:

Comments

[Ash]

I agree with the article. Though I think this can apply to daily life as well - not just travel.
I have noticed that a lot of frequent travelers are gadget junkies (often indirectly from when they describe what they pack in Bag A vs Bag B). Digital SLRs, laptops, cell phones, blackberry, MP3, noise cancelling headphones. Before long the list to gadgets one hauls around from place to place - even on recreational travel - becomes considerable! There is probably a strong correlation between people who are interested in luggage, travel and high tech gadgets.

[Till]

Sure, there is a strong correlation! They are mostly men in successful positions that require them to travel a lot. Their geekiness expressed through concentration on otherwise unimportant things i.e. details might explain why they are successful. Besides that we know how boys are with their toys. That said, when I go on a trip I simply need my laptop and cell phone. If I had an Iphone/blackberry I might be able to do without the laptop for none business trips but so far I have an ordinary phone. I am also quite a passionate hobby photog. So I take a small camera (Canon G9) not the DSLR. I don't read fiction but I love music. So the Ipod comes along to relax.

I only listen to it once I am settled into my seat. I don't use it to isolate myself from the outside world while on the concourse or walking about town. I actually love to strike up a conversation and have met some really interesting people so far. But oftentimes travelers rather want to be undisturbed so one has to respect that.

The only thing that bugs me is all the darn power supplies and batteries chargers!

[Buzz]

I agree that some people go overboard with electronics but it really depends on the person's job. While I have a netbook, phone, PDA, mp3, Kindle, I am doing by best of lightening the load.

I'm switching to a Blackberry storm which will let me make calls, surf the web, check email, listen to music, get GPS help and take photos. I'll also take the Kindle because it replaces the 2-3 books I would normally take on a trip and is much lighter.(And the Black berry screen is just too small for serious reading.

I've also switched to the Callpod Chargepod--a universal charger for all my devices. That one device will charge of all my small gadgets at once.

[Paula S]

I don't travel for business so my approach to techie gadgets has only stretched to a camera.
I finally stretched a bit further in December in London (UK), when we stayed in an apartment instead of an hotel. I needed to phone friends, relatives and book restaurant reservations and I detest using public phones over there....so........I purchased a Nokia cell phone with charger (only GBP 9.95, pay as you go card loaded with GBP 20).
My husband couldn't believe his eyes (I refuse to have one at home), there I am using this phone and merrily playing with the little extras (radio and two games).
Future trips will now include camera and the cell phone. (Boy, am I zooming into the technological future or what....she says, tongue firmly in cheek).
Dont think I would like one of those E-Readers, I love real books too much but even they distract me from people watching and striking up conversations.

[flerdle]

It really depends on what you want to photograph, but if you just want snaps a phone with inbuilt camera does the trick admirably. Unless I was travelling with the specific purpose to take pictures, I'd be happy with this (and I have travelled with an SLR before, so I know what it's like). That gets rid of one piece of tech... I use an ipod for the looooong journey over there (from Aus it's significant; if i was just going within europe i probably wouldn't bother) but apart from that it hardly gets used.

I am all for lightening up on the tech.