What's Coming With Judie on Spring Break Article

Gadgeteer Article by Judie Hughes

February 27, 2003

By now, most of you have heard that Julie's and my families are going to Scotland for Spring Break. While Julie and I intend to do a full write-up on our experiences after we get back, I thought it would be fun to let you all in on what I plan on bringing, before I actually get packed.

The biggest consideration I am making in regard to the gear I chose to bring, is that it has to be versatile and multifunctional. I am packing as light as possible, and I don't want to bring along any piece of gear that isn't absolutely necessary. In fact, instead of traveling with my monster sized Halliburton that usually accompanies me everywhere, I am going to do something unprecedented. I am going to try to fit everything I need for a week in Scotland inside the Swiss Army rolling bag I was given at M�bius. Anything that doesn't fit in there is going in the corner of my husband's large rolling bag that he has promised he'll save for me. Of course, I'll also have my gear bag with me for all of the gadget stuff I'll need each day.

So why am I traveling in a manner so completely out of character? After hearing from helpful Gadgeteer readers about the small size of most European cabs' trunks, and since the apartment we'll be staying in has a washer and dryer (convenient!) - I am going to seriously pursue the art of traveling light. Can I do it? That remains to be seen - I still have some time before I actually start packing, but for now - that is the plan.

So here is a peek in my gear bag. If you can think of anything that I may have missed, particularly in the software area - speak up now! I would hate to get over there and wish that I had remembered to add something while I still could...

Hardware

I am actually going to be bringing both my Palm Tungsten | T as well as my HP iPAQ 5455. Now before anyone starts throwing my words back at me about how I said I was traveling light - let me explain myself...

My reasoning is that the TT will be my daily PDA, loaded with all of the essential programs that I will need. To complement the TT, and to make up for the fact that I will not be bringing my Fujitsu Lifebook (mini-moi), I am bringing a Stowaway XT keyboard. I figure that this should be sufficient for all of the detailed notes that I'll want to take for the article Julie and I will be writing about our trip.

My iPAQ, on the other hand, will be my media-horse. Julie is bringing her new Sony camera that uses Memory Sticks. I am bringing a Canon Powershot S330 which uses Compact Flash cards and my husband will be carrying a Olympus C-700 which uses Smart Media. So right there, you can see that we will have three different types of memory cards that need to be emptied every so often. I have a 5GB DataPak that will be perfect for holding all of these picture files as we collect them. Using my trusty Whitney iPAQ PC BaqPaq, I can insert a 4-in-1 media reader or a CF Reader, move the files to my almost emptied iPAQ (which I did in preparation for this trip), and then I can remove the reader and insert the DataPak to transfer over all of the files. As an added bonus, if we happen to be in any 802.11b enabled areas, I will be able to access the web and check my e-mail. Perfect! ☺

My cameras, two PDAs, memory cards, their readers, as well as my wallet and a few other personal items will easily fit in my Louis Vuitton Nil, which is what I use as a gearbag.

Other Gear

I will also be bringing AA NEXcell batteries and their charger to use with the Olympus, as well as all of the necessary chargers for the two PDAs and the Canon.

Software

The plane ride from Dallas to London Gatwick looks like it will be very long. Even though much of the flight will be taken up with talking, watching movies, and sleeping - I would be lost without a few necessary programs on my Palm. Here are the ones that made the cut...

Time Wasters

PalmReader Pro
No PDA of mine is ever complete without PalmReader Pro. I usually have quite a few books loaded on my memory card, and I have even more in anticipation of this trip. I sure am looking forward to devouring them on the plane rides!

   

Astraware Games
I have a freshly installed protector on my TT just because of these titles - seriously.

If you ever want to see what separates a premium protector such as the G2, WriteSHIELD, or the Brando Plus from the other, lesser protectors, then all you have to do is play thirty minutes worth of Text Twist. Afterward, take a good look at the damage you will have done to any other ordinary protector - or heaven forbid - your screen, if you didn't use a protector. Here are my current Astraware favorites...

Text Twist is a game where the object is to see how many words you can create from the five letters provided. As long as you can get at least one five letter word, you will be able to advance to the next level. This game is completely addictive, as I mentioned recently in my gear diary.

BookWorm is another word puzzle that is hard to put down. In this game, you have to link at least three letters together to form words. Certain letters will be worth more than others, and you have to use "burning letters before they reach the bottom and set the library on fire." This game is almost as addictive as Text Twist, and even though the graphics are way better - for whatever reason I am stuck on the former.

Insaniquarium is a different type of game than the previous two. In this one, you have an aquarium with fish that you need to feed. As they grow, they start to drop coins, which you can bank to buy more fish or different items that will make your life easier. You also need the money to buy enough "eggs" to advance to the next level. Don't be fooled into thinking this is some goofy take on the portable pets that were so popular years ago...this is a whole different experience. You have to be quick to tap on the screen - feeding fish, catching coins, and killing aliens.     Once again, don't say I didn't warn you if you play any of these games without a screen protector in place!

Casino

I always like to play the slots when I go to Vegas - not that I am any good at them, of course! I also like to play Black Jack and video poker - but once again, I get squeamish when real money is involved. I have never understood Craps, so I don't even play...but I have given Roulette a go and come away with a little bit of money in my pocket.  Here is a way that I can play all five popular Vegas games without losing my life's savings! The graphics are very well done, and the game play is exciting!

          

Utilities

While the games will be great ways to waste my down time, I also have a few travel essentials loaded on my Palm.

Botzam Backup

Since I will be away from my laptop, and the ability to hot-sync my data - or recover my data and applications should disaster strike, it was imperative that I find a way to backup my Tungsten's contents. Botzam Backup allows me to do that, and manages to do a few tricks with the backup files in the process. You can schedule regular backups, you can securely encrypt your backup, and you can selectively have your files compressed!

Travel Tracker

I have everything I need to know about my trip loaded in TravelTracker...now if next week will just hurry up and get here!

   

Currency

Since I would not even presume to do a Dollar to Pound transaction without a calculator, it should be even easier to do with this program. The buttons are big enough that I can tap the screen with my finger, and the exchange rates can be programmed in as needed. I may look like a tourist, but at least I won't look unsuspecting!

   

I just realized that we have exactly seven more days before we leave for Scotland! Not only do I need to go practice my packing, I also need to make sure that I have everything that I am going to need ready for the trip. I am sure that there must be many more programs that would make the flight and time we are in the UK even better; do any of you have any suggestions?