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Seduced by the Dark Side

Published

on September 23, 2008

. 19 Comments

Apple computers are to the world as Luke Skywalker was to the Rebels Alliance - A bright light in a dark world. I am an Apple Enthusiasts. I know that Apple laptops, phones and iPods have become the standard by which teens and twentysomethings alike measure their purported hipness. I know that technology (at least for some) has become a fashion accessory. (18 year old girl to her daddy. “But dad, I want it because it is so cute…“). This is not why I like Macs. I will skip the soap box here and simply say that I promised myself several years back (when I was busy converting all of my friends to the Apple platform) that I would never purchase a PC based workstation again. (I recognize that I was a dork in college err.. and high school… err… dang it).

Watch the following video to understand the basic premise behind Apple Superiority

With just over two weeks to go before leaving my precious 12 inch powerbook to go explore the world, I was beginning to have second thoughts about life unplugged. I did not want to log anything like the 60 hours a week I spend in front of a computer at present, but I was wistfully thinking that it would be nice to not need to brave an internet cafe every time I wanted/needed to use a computer. Then I discovered that, while I was planning a trip around the world, the netbook revolution had casually occurred. A netbook (no that is not a typo) is basically a small (10 inch screen or less) laptop that is used mostly for Internet applications. However, with the advent of Intel’s Atom processor, these mini computers can run for 5-8 hours on one charge while delivering enough power to satisfy everyone but the power users.

Although excited, several hours of research left me feeling a bit queasy. Apple does not make a netbook. This represented an inherent clash of values. Apple makes computers that function well and generally do what the user asks with a minimum about of fuss. PC’s (the dark side) require a great deal more maintenance to achieve half the usability. In the end, with much wringing of my hands and talking to myself, I decided that it was better to experience the power of the dark side (a price tag of $483 certainly did not hurt) than to live disconnected. I know. I sold out.

Want a detailed review about the netbook I chose for Natalie and I? Keep reading. If you would rather get Amazon’s thoughts on the 901, I won’t be offended.

Eee PC 901 Review

Specifications

- 8.9″ display
- Intel Atom N270 1.6 GHz
- 1 GB DDR2 RAM
- 12 GB SSD (solid state hard drive)
- SDHC card reader
- 1.3 megapixel integrated web camera
- Dolby Sound Room Certified speaker
- Array Microphone
- 6 cell battery
- Blue Tooth Module
- 2.4 lbs or 1.1 kg

Outside of the impressive hardware bundled into a tiny little package, Natalie and I purchased this netbook for 3 reasons.

- Size
- Durability
- Battery Life

Size
The 901 has the look and feel of a professional notebook that was accidentally shrank in some type of freak accident. When I first saw the size of the 901 it was hard to not think of the little toy computers that I see kids playing with at the play areas in the mall. I mean, this computer is small. The size of the 901 is part of its appeal (I need something small that will not take up much room in my pack) and also part of its curse. I have written this entire article on the 901 and I feel like I am learning how to type all over again. Although typing is possible, I have big hands and frequent stretching has become a part of my typing routine.With measurements of 8.9″ x 6.9″ x 1.3″ (L x W x H) and a weight of 2.4 lbs, this little computer will fit easily into either my day pack or backpack as desired.

Durability
Consisting of plastic and metal, the 901 feels solid in my hands. This netbook presents a streamlined appearance with all ports flush to the sides of the computer. Most importantly, the screen is firmly anchored with two large metal hinges that create enough tension to both hold the screen in position and snap the screen closed when required. Overall, the 901 feels like it can take a few bumps without affecting either its appearance or its functionality. To help with this protection, the 901 comes with a nifty neoprene sleeve that will add additional protection and peace of mind.

The 901 also has a Solid State hard drive. A solid state drive is made of of flash memory (4 GB fast flash and 8 GB a bit slower) which means that the hard drive, unlike a traditional drive, has no movable part. This means, no head crashes and no data loss. Evey notebook I have ever owned (including my Apple powerbook) eventually experienced a hard drive crash. Traditional hard drive architecture is not designed for to be moved around and jostled. Thus, a large selling point of the 901 is the data stability offered by a solid state drive.

Battery Life
Thanks to Intel’s Atom processor, the 901 is capable of running from 5-7 hours on one charge. The Atom processor is designed to only run (read: consume energy) when it is performing a specific task. When it is not working, the processor goes to sleep (read: stops using energy) in order to conserve battery usage. With living out of a backpack a computer that can go further on one charge is very important. Obviously, the more processor intensive tasks that are performed, the more quickly the battery will be depleted. This cannot be helped; however, the 901 does allow a user to turn up or turn down the processor speeds to provide at least the allusion of control over power usage. I am not sure how effective this manual tweaking of the processor will be in terms of extending battery life.

Conclusion

For power users or people who are going to spend all day typing, this not the computer for you. Find yourself a 12 or 13 inch laptop and put up with the extra size and weight. For casual users who are willing to sacrifice screen realestate and keyboard size in order to connect as needed to the outside world, this is a great computer for the money ($482 at amazon).

Are you currently traveling with a computer? What have you found to be the major pros and cons both of traveling with a computer and with the type of computer you chose?

A Backpack, Like a Lover, Must Be Chosen with Care

Published

Justin

on September 5, 2008

in Gear and Questions

. 6 Comments

A few days back Gillian, from onegiantstep.com, asked the following question.

Can you comment on which backpacks you each have (size, make, model etc) and why you chose them?

As I like questions (hint: ask more questions), and this is a hotly debated topic, I thought this to be an appropriate time to discuss my backpack selection process.

First off, every backpacker and long term budget traveler possess a strong opinion regarding backpack selection. This really should not be surprising as many of these individuals spend more time carrying their packs then a prospective mother spends with her child during the gestation period. Passionate people have opinions based on their own experiences and priorities.

I think the first step to buying a backpack is to take a realistic look at the type of travel you will use it for.

- Will you be spending the majority of your time in the back country, away from urban areas? If so, will the climate most closely resemble Siberia or Panama?
- Are you planning on moving from place to place every few days or will you be staying in one location for a month and making day trips to the surrounding areas?
- Do you want to do a great deal of trekking across rugged terrain, or will you mostly be walking from the train station to the nearest hostel?

Next, it is necessary to have an honest conversation (internal or external is up to you) regarding your level of annoyance. Figure out what annoys you, what your annoyance threshold is and factor this into the pack you choose.

- Do you view physical discomfort as a fitness challenge or do you hate muscle soreness to the point where you are willing to club baby seals to death in order to make it stop?
- Is a sweaty back an excellent opportunity to take a cold shower and wash your clothes, or does your back instantly break out into a bacne farm which will cause you to hop the next flight back home?
- Do you find it relaxing to meticulously unpack your bag to get that pesky rain jacket stored at the very bottom, or do you see yourself losing your grip on sanity: dancing in a wild circle on the side of some dusty road with your bag upended, shaking the thing for all you are worth.

After psychoanalyzing all of your needs, wants, and desires, get online and start reading reviews. When you find a backpack that you like, see if www.backpackgeartest.org has reviewed it. Their reviews go on for pages and usually contain multiple entries that span a year or more of use by the reviewer. This is as close as you can get to talking to someone who has thoroughly test driven a backpack.

After doing all of this, here are the backpacks we chose and why.

Justin

I purchased the Osprey Kestrel 48 liter top loading pack. I went to REI and had one of their backpacking experts take my measurements. He recommend that, when purchasing a bag, I should opt for a large frame. I prudently followed his advise. I originally purchased the Osprey Kestrel 38 but, due to Natalie’s back issues it became clear during conditioning that she needed to carry less weight. Therefore I upgraded to the 48 liter in order to carry more and to have the flexibility to add food and other essentials to our traveling menagerie.

The following factors played a large role in why I chose the Osprey Kestrel 48:

- Osprey is a major player in the backpacking world with a dedicated following. They have a reputation for producing high quality bags and each bag comes with a life time warranty. Many companies advertise their “warranties” but, like an insurance company, when something goes wrong these “warranties” rarely turn into practical assistance (read: money). I read many reviews by Osprey enthusiast who were sent new buckles or had straps replaced with a minimum amount of hassle
- I wanted a small bag. This is a larger bag than I originally planned on using but a travel buddy who is in constant pain is a big zero in the fun department. When that person is your wife, you get a bigger pack.
- I hate unpacking a top loading bag to get to something on the very bottom. The Kestrel 48 liter conveniently provides access to the bottom of the pack through a large bottom opening.
- The Kestrel is a compression pack that has numerous straps whose sole purpose is to compress the bag and hold it solidly on my back. I do not want to feel as if the bag is pulling me in one direction or another.
- The Kestrel 48 liter comes with a rain guard. I will use this to wrap my bag in on the rare times that I need to check it at the airport. I like this because now I do not need to spend the $30 on a bag for my bag.
- I originally wanted the Osprey Talon 44 but the Kestrel series is made out of a more durable fabric and I liked the way the side pockets slant so that I can put a water bottle into the pockets when the bag is on my back. The Talon does not offer this convenience as its pockets lack the angle that makes this maneuver possible.

Natalie

Natalie will be carrying the Osprey Talon 33 liter pack. After going through the same REI measuring dance the backpacking guru indicated that she would need a bag with a small frame. We followed his advise this time around as well. In selecting a bag for Natalie, her back issues were a large consideration. Natalie’s L4 disk (see diagram) is current being squished by her L5 and L6 disks. This causes the cartilage in her L4 disk to be squeeze out like a jelly donut. The escaping cartilage puts pressure on a series of nerves that run towards her right hip and down the right leg. In other words, Natalie does not have the extremely painful back issues experienced by most retired football players, but the pain can be debilitating if not managed correctly.

- We like Osprey Packs (see above)
- The Talon series is highly adjustable and made out of light weight material.
- A 33 liter pack will allow Natalie to carry more weight than desired, but, instead of carrying extra pounds, it also provides room for lite items that take up extra space (read: daily wear contacts)
The Talon is easy to adjust and does not have a lot of extra straps that other bags in the same class.
The front of the Talon has a very stretchy pocket capable of fitting a standard Ultimate Frisbee Disk. Natalie is a big frisbee fan and this is the perfect place for our disk.

The Unofficial Nomad Backpackers Backpack buying list of things to consider

Keep it small:
Buying a small bag (between 35 and 45 liters) will keep you from carrying more weight than you really want. Backpacking websites (this one now included) discuss at length how all first time backpackers pack to much stuff. The smaller your bag, the less you will be tempted to bring stuff you don’t need.
Wheels are the devil:
Many of the “travel packs” I looked at had wheels, like the guy in the photo was going to spend the majority of his time moving from the taxi to the airport. Wheeling a bag down the street is like wearing a sign that says “hey, can you please steal my stuff I am not from around here”. True, wearing a large backpack certainly indicates a certain foreignness but I think it also demonstrates a flexibility of movement not offered by their wheelbound counterparts.
Comfort is everything:
If you are going on a long term budget travel adventure, you will become very intimate with your backpack. Try out your backpack before you buy it. Remember, all backpacks feel great when they are empty. Make sure you put 10-15 pounds of weight into your prospective pack before making a commitment. If you are a first time backpacker, buy your pack at a store where someone knows more about backpacking than you. Most packs have a large number of straps that can be configured in about 1,000 different ways. You really want to talk to someone who knows the purpose of all those crazy straps.
Avoid the All in One Backpack with Attached Daypack:
First off, these are usually 60 L or more in size. Second, a backpack is not a secure way to carry anything in a crowd. If you want a day pack, get a shoulder bag that you can keep your eyes on instead of placing a tempting morsel on your back and daring some enterprising thief to give it a try.

Backpack Conditioning? Really? …REALLY~!

Published

Natalie

on September 2, 2008

in Concerns and Planning

. 6 Comments

I have not read much about conditioning with backpacks. However, through my years of running cross-country and running track, it only seemed natural that the athletic endeavor of “backpacking” would also lead to better performance results through conditioning.

Justin and I began about a month ago. We started out with some weight in our packs. I would recommend adding a little more weight each time you head out for a walk. Reams of printer paper work wonderful and phone books aren’t bad either but they’re a bit floppy.

The first two weeks we focused on becoming proficient at 1-2 miles. It wasn’t the easiest at first. The straps felt different, and trying to adjust everything so the weight felt evenly distributed was an art form. But I think we both figured out how to wear our backpacks in the most comfortable manner.

A NOTE to the ladies: Don’t be afraid to tighten the straps. It really helps the backpack feel more comfortable. In addition, ensure the waist strap is not at your “low rise” waist like Express jeans. This just won’t work. Think 1950’s waist and then go a 1/2 inch higher. You want the center of the strap lined up with the highest point of your hip bones. And then tighten some more. Then it should feel perfect. And as for the chest strap. Well, even if you have a smaller chest like me…things will still feel smooshed. Please feel free to share your own advice or “my boobs got smooshed” stories.

And the last two weeks we have been walking for anywhere between 2-4.5 miles with our backpacks. It’s also been fun to give our muscles a break and walk with just our day pack once in a while. I’ll carry the first mile out and then Justin will carry it the second mile on our way back. I think these behaviors should prepare us for a the more realistic forms of walking we will experience.

Before reading this…Don’t worry, I’m fine
2 years ago I had minor back surgery. That’s right folks! I went through intensive physical therapy after the surgery and immediately resumed walking, some biking, swimming, and even attempted rollerblading. About a year after surgery I was rock climbing in the Rockies in Colorado. However, I am no longer a long distance runner. I would love to resume this activity some day, but at this point I am happy to be able to walk and experience the freedom from sharp lower back pain.

After a long night at Starbucks, (that’s right folks, in case you forgot, I’m a barista…like the title…Don’t worry, I’m fine) I will experience some noticeable back and/or hip pain. I’ve had barely no caffeine today and the coffee I had was hours ago. My point is that, I do have pain still. However, it tends to be dull and Motrin IB reduces my inflammation. In case you suffer from inflammation…another great inflammation reducer is Nettle leaf the herb, then you boil water and make green tea out of it.

Right, so conditioning has been more important than you could imagine. It’s been my time of discovering that we can backpack around the world and my back is not going to hold me back.

Nomad Backpackers Phone Home

Published

Justin

on August 28, 2008

in Gear and Logistics

. 6 Comments

In an American culture saturated with instant communication, living outside this web of connections can be both relieving and a little daunting. A part of me is relieved because I do not want people to be able to get in touch with me instantaneously (read: whenever they feel the urge). I like to talk to my friends and family (they enrich my life by providing wisdom, comfort and companionship) but while we are traveling, I want to be a little out of reach. In an effort to not be completely isolated, I am sure that Natalie and I will make weekly or monthly calls as needed or desired.

Of course, how to make those calls is a bit daunting. Thus I did a bit of research and found the 4 best ways to make phone calls while traveling abroad.

Skype |

Phone Cards |

Cell Phone |

Satellite Phone

Skype

Skype is a VOIP (Voice Over IP) service that allows users to make free audio calls from one Skype internet account to another. For a whopping $2.95 a month, a user can get unlimited calls to landlines and cell phones in the United States and Canada. Included n the $2.95 a month, is a voice mail box.

The Verdict: I am a big fan of Skype and I think this is the best deal for the money. With the exponentially increasing prevalence of internet cafes, this appears to be a very cost effective option. This will be our main mode of audio communication.

The easiest way to use Skype, particularly in a crowed internet cafe, is to use a Skype Headset. We opted for the Plantronics Audio 625 headset because it will allow us to use either audio line in ports (read: mic and speaker ports) or a USB port depending on the available technology.

International Phone Cards

I believe that the creation and distribution of international phone cards requires a doctorate degree in some obscure branch of an unknown science. In looking for international phone cards, I can find no consistent pattern to the cost of calling from one country to another. The thing that I really like about international phone cards is that they can be bought anywhere and used in most places. Thus, if we find ourselves in a location without a decent internet cafe, I am sure that we can find a phone card. With any luck, about the time this trip is over I will have mastered this obscure science and can explain it to all of our curious readers (all 5 of you that is )

International Cell Phones

International cell phones are all the rage right now. Apparently some travelers choose to rent a phone when they travel abroad. If I was only going to travel for 2 weeks, I imagine that this may be cost effective. That being said, extended travel and phone rentals appear to be mutually exclusive. I was able to find an international phone vendor that is selling phones for between $49 and $179. At first, I was thinking that this might be ideal. I mean, what is the point of finding an internet cafe when I could pull a cell phone out of my backpack and make whatever calls were necessary? Then I started looking at the rates. This is the deal breaker. Even from tech savy Western European countries, calls to the United States will cost $1.25 a minute. Ouch! That means (not counting the cost of the phone) that a 3 minute call from Europe to say “Merry Christmas” to my mom (1.25 * 3 = 3.75) would cost more than the monthly Skype plan. After doing some serious meditating on the astronomical cost of actually using an international cell phone, I came to the conclusion that International cell phones are a lot like short term health insurance. The cost is justified by the assurance that if something horrible happens (read: I break my leg when I inadvertently step into a Michigan pot hole) I will have the necessary tools to successfully navigate the situation. If something truly bad happens (read: natural disaster, civil war, rare disease epidemic, no coffee for 2 days straight) we have travel/health insurance (www.worldnomads.com) that will help us weather the storm.

Satellite Phones

Satellite Phones of course are, at least in theory, a very cool idea. Just the technology alone makes my giggle like a Catholic school girl. The real downer is that a cheap satellite phone will set us back about $1,000. None of the satellite phone companies are forthcoming about how much it actually cost to use their services. This makes me nervous and a little bit irritated. When I am trying to buy a service, I do not want to contact someone to find out how much it costs. They created the website. Is it really that difficult to post prices? Anyway, this is way out of our budget and seems impracticable because I cannot see me wanting to make phone calls from the middle of desert anyway.

The Keg of Glory

Published

Justin

on August 22, 2008

in Gear and Stories

. 0 Comments

I like shoes. I think different shoes, especially brightly colored ones, offer a unique form of expression. The thing is, I have a deep rooted, almost uncontrollable hatred for uncomfortable shoes. So, when Natalie and I got married (27-May-2006), we decided to skip the standard Tuxedo shoes in favor of something a bit more comfortable. The groomsmen and I sported these shoes at both the ceremony and reception and the bridesmaids got in on the action at the reception.

Why is this important you ask? Because I drink from the Keg of Glory.

When Natalie and I were ordering 10 pairs of shoes from Zappos.com for our wedding, Natalie sent them an email congratulating the company for their excellent shoe selection, low prices, and extraordinary customer service. Zappos.com was so enthralled with Natalie that they gave her account free overnight shipping. For life.

Two nights ago, around 8:00 pm, I ordered the pair of shoes I will be using as we travel the world. By 3:00 pm the next day, I was signing that crazy gizmo that the UPS guys keep in a belt holster. How sweet is that?

I drink from the Keg of Glory! Ah ha.

Suffice it to say, I am excited about my new Merrells, and I am going to start breaking them in soon.

Laxatives, Tape, and Bengay, oh my!!!

Published

Natalie

on August 14, 2008

in Gear and Logistics

. 12 Comments

Two nights ago, Justin and I had the privilege of beginning to gather various odds and ends that will be traveling with us in our backpacks. These are items that we have been advised may be helpful during our backpacking journey.

These items tend to fit into 4 categories:

Things that: - we already use

- may not be available in another country

- are great to “MacGyver” our way out of a tight spot

- we have never heard of before but other backpackers have recommended it

So, here we are buying items, some of these we have never purchased or used before. However, if it was a lifesaver for a certain backpacker, who says it was the best thing they brought, what do we have to lose? If we discover we don’t need something, and we don’t feel like carrying it anymore, we can always throw it out or give it away to someone we meet. Who knows what people we may meet? They might really need some duct tape.

This is a picture of some of these items, but not all of the things that will be in our backpacks.

What do you think? Is their any items in the picture above that you would leave behind? Why? What is something, you think we should remember to bring, that is not on our packing list?

Let us know what you think. With a lack of experience in the laxative department, perhaps we purchased the wrong brand. Maybe you have advice for us?

Or perhaps you are an athlete, and you know a product that works better than Bengay? Has anyone ever used something called Tiger Balm…we have heard about this…

Over the next few months until we leave, I would like to focus on: W.W.Y.B.

What Would You Bring?

Garage Sailing: The REI Way

Published

Justin

on June 29, 2008

in Gear

. 0 Comments

Although Natalie and I are hoping to attract sponsors, we are not waiting around for a miracle. Thus, we spent a few hours at REI this week. REI, if you are not aware, operates as a co-op. Co-op members enjoy special benefits (10% discount on regular priced items, access to REI classes etc.) including access to their annual Garage Sale. The REI garage sale consists of products that were returned to REI throughout the year. After being returned, these products did not get the REI quality nod of approval and thus were not put back into the store. Rather than dupe some unsuspecting schmuck into purchasing a product that was used, broken or not up to spec, REI puts all of these products into a garage sale.

After we learned about the garage sale (it was on Saturday starting at 9:00 am), Natalie and I figured it was time to become co-op members. Apparently this event is a rather big deal because the store manager told us that people start lining up around the time the store closes. That is, the night before. At 9:00 p.m. Now I like saving money as much as the next guy, but I have never been the type who wakes up the day after Thanksgiving at 4:00 a.m. so I can stand in line, with other members of this odd sub-culture in front of Best Buy so I can get a ginormous t.v. for $2. If you are this type of person, well….your time is your business. No hard feelings from the nomad corner, okay? Deal. Right, so there was no way I was going to spend Friday night camped out in front of REI. Seriously. Natalie and I arrived around 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning and promptly joined the quickly growing queue of people waiting to get in the door. As we walked to the line, I was carrying our shopping list and my backpack (if the waiting got out of control, I wanted my laptop within easy reach) Natalie was carrying two coffee mugs and our French Press. (If you like coffee and are unfamiliar with the French Press style coffee you really have not lived. Check it out.) I probably do not need to mention that we got a few looks. The coffee was good and the people waiting in line were very nice and rather friendly. We spent most of our 30 minute wait talking to a couple from Windsor, Canada and a lady from Kalamazoo. (The lady from Kalamazoo is an advisor where Natalie and I went to school-WMU. How sweet is that?)

Honestly, the garage sale was a little bit disappointing. We were not able to find backpacks or shoes but we were able to find a pair of travel pants for me as well as a cheap pair of flip flops. We were also able to find Natalie a long sleeve travel shirt. Overall, it was a good experience and we were able to get fitted for backpacks (Natalie needs a backpack fitted for a small torso and I need one fitted for a large torso.)

We were also able to learn about REI’s sweet online purchase policy. Get this, if we buy it online, we can have it sent to the store without paying for shipping (the closes REI is about 3 miles from where we currently live). Also, if we do not like the item or items we purchased online, we can return it at the store. I am really excited about this because it means we can try out the backpacks we want without needing to worry about shipping them back to where they were originally purchased. Excellent!

Garage Sailing

REI Wandering

Published

Justin

on June 12, 2008

in Gear

. 0 Comments

Natalie and I spent several hours this evening wandering around REI looking at everything from backpacks to quick dry underwear (if you were going to wash your only pair of undies at night, don’t you think you would want them to be dry in the morning?). We have not purchased anything (yet) but it was good to simply look at the different gear we might need. This was also a bit of a reality check for me, both because we have currently not purchased any gear and because I think it may take more time than I thought to gather all of the “right” items.

To help with the purchasing of travel gear, Natalie and I are going to attempt to gather a few sponsors. The idea here will be to attract companies that are excited about what we will be doing and who can use that excitement to market their company/products. This weekend we are going to put together a small marketing strategy and next week (hopefully) we are going to begin soliciting a number of different companies and organizations. I want to believe that we will be able to find sponsors but I am a little nervous about the whole situation. If you have any great tips or thoughts on finding sponsors, post them here.

Nomad Backpackers

Tag Archive for 'travel gear'