So… Why Am I Happy That I Brought It?
While the iPad might not be ready to completely replace a laptop for someone like me, it does an excellent job in the following ways:
- Quick Emails and Web Browsing. Fast to turn on and type a note or get a quick bit of info. Immediate Gratification!
- Elbow Room. Let me tell you — the iPad is also much easier to use while sitting in an Economy airline seat or on a train.
- Reading E-Books. Instead of carrying a bunch of guide books along, I have them stored digitally in the Amazon Kindle app and in Evernote in some cases. Very handy!
- Evernote. Much of my travel information and research is stored in Evernote (there will be a post on this soon!). While I feel that the iPhone is the most useful platform to get your information into Evernote — I think the iPad is the clear winner when it comes to consuming that information. When a border guard wants to see a printed copy of my itinerary or a hotel clerk needs a copy of my confirmation, I just open up the iPad and show it to them. 1
- Bento. I am also using some custom-designed Bento templates to organize and collect hotel and expense information on this trip (another upcoming post) — and the iPad app makes updating my data incredibly easy.
The bottom line is this — If you’re a long-term traveler who works with computer code, images, or large amounts of text — I think you’re going to be packing a laptop for the near future. But it’s safe to say that, in the near future, your bag is going to be a whole lot lighter.
And if you’re a person whose needs are a little less demanding, I think that day may have already arrived.
The iPad for Travelers Kit
| Item Image | Item | Purpose | Dimensions | Weight (lbs. / kg.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Apple iPad Tablet | Laptop Replacement | 9.56 x 7.47 x 0.5 inches (242.8 x 189.7 x 13.4 mm) | 1.5 / .68 | |
Apple iPad Case | Protection / Stand for easier typing and viewing | 10.2 x 8.1 x 0.4 inches | .45 /.20 | |
iPad Camera Connection Kit | Photo Wallet, Digital Picture Frame, And Web Uploader. Also Can Use To Connect Skype Headset And Selected USB Devices. | N/A | N/A | |
Apple Wireless Keyboard | Typing Longer Documents And Ease of Use | 12.8 x 7.3 x 1.4 inches | 1.5 / .68 | |
Cocoon GRID-IT Organizer | Store Keyboard, Power Adapters, Cables, Airport Express, Etc. | 15 x 9.5 X .3 inches | 1.1 / .5 | |
Airport Express | Create Your Own Wi-Fi Network, Extend Existing Wi-FI, Plug into TV/Stereo for Streaming Music from iTunes | 3 x 1.1 x 3.7 inches | .42 / .19 | |
World Travel Adapter Kit | Charge your iPad / Power Your Airport Express. | N/A | .44 / .20 | |
BELKIN Retractable CAT5e Networking Cable | 36" Retractable Cable to Connect Your Airport Express to a Network If The Cable Is Not Provided | 8.8 x 5.5 x 1 inches | .12 / .05 | |
Scottevest Jacket | Jacket With iPad Pocket For Sneaky Carriage. | Depends On Size | N/A |
- Seriously — they love it! [↩]
Very useful and informative post. The most important sentence is that “every person has different needs” when it comes to travel and mobility, connectivity etc. Personally I spent a recent week on vacation, for the first time in more years than I can remember without my MacBook, only relying on the iPad. The reason it worked was that, unlike you, I didn’t have to perform any tasks I could only do on a laptop. It works extremely well for more leisure oriented tasks and less for strictly business ones. It is really a third screen and I have noticed I use the iPhone less but not the laptop. In summary, to each his/her own and enjoy the iPad for what it does great like listening to music, watch videos/movies, play games and many more things, but certainly not writing the great American novel or edit complex spreadsheets and such.
People still use Flash?
I’ve had adblockers and Flash blockers in place for a few years now, and apart from feeding my Bejewelled Blitz addiction, haven’t missed Flash at all.
For what it’s worth, I’m planning on pretty much the same kit as you’ve put together – I’m heading off to Europe for 6 weeks next year, and I’m already using Evernote to start collecting the various bits of “paperwork” that are going to make our trip a little easier to keep on track.
I’m looking forward to seeing your notes about using Evernote!
If I could make a suggestion, it would be to try LogMeIn Ignition on your iPad. I travel a lot, and was hoping to use my iPad for almost every computing task under the sun. I’ve had it for a month, and recognized a few situations where I needed a computer. I recently deployed LogMeIn Pro2 to provide tech support to my extended family, and downloaded LogMeIn Ignition on a whim. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I could get done from my iPad (and from my iPhone) when combined with Dropbox and Evernote.
I agree completely — LogMeIn is *fantastic* — especially for the iPad!
Part of my work is doing technical consulting — and I’ve been using LMI to help my clients while I travel… and, you know, it’s also nice to be able to make a little money to help finance the trip! đŸ˜‰
I couldn’t tell from your comment if this was the way you use it, but often times I have a server or a spare computer turned on at home which I connect to via LogMeIn. By being able to use it as a virtualized desktop as well as for remote support, it really justifies the price of the app. (Something I hope to cover in an upcoming “Apps for Travelers” series).