An Ode to My Travel Computer
I have had many travel companions over the last 5 years. I have traveled with friends, with family; I’ve traveled with partners, with strangers; in groups and with organizations. One particular travel companion however has traveled with me since the beginning, and has been by my side throughout every international adventure. We even spent the day of my wedding together before I walked down the aisle! I’m sad to announce that this travel companion will be traveling with me no more. I’m speaking, of course, of my computer!
If you’re a technology addict you’ll understand. Over the years my computer has been my rock – and it’s as heavy as one trust me! My computer saw me through 32 countries, and I’m known to have never traveled anywhere without it. It didn’t matter if I was 4WD-ing through the Australian Outback, camping in the Solomon Islands or on Safari in Africa – my computer came with me where-ever I went. I did, however, leave it behind at the hotel in Tanzania for the Mt Kilimanjaro Climb!
A ThinkPad Laptop purchased way back in 2007, it’s finally run it’s course. After extensive research and advice from all of my amazing friends on the best travel laptops, family and followers on the latest technology I have gone ahead and upgraded to an ASUS Zenbook Prime Ultrabook – a much younger, sexier and thinner version of my old computer. It’s so incredibly lightweight, fast and easy to use that I can’t wait to start traveling with it! Before that happens though, I would like to take this moment to pay my respects to, and remember, my old travel companion.
This is an ode to my travel computer, and all of the countries it has seen me through.
What can you not travel without?
I wasn’t kidding – my computer came with me on African Safari!
Writing my University thesis while camping in the Australian Outback!
Volunteering in Sweden; I was Editor in Chief of the World Scout Jamboree Magazine!
Google translating the ingredients of my microwave dinner!! – France
Spanish Lessons in Costa Rica.
In the Costa Rican Jungle! … I spent too much time in a Hammock hence the strange patterns on my back!
Blogging from my wedding day in Hawaii. Check out the Video Blog from the day!
Upgrading to a younger, sexier and skinnier model!
What do we think of the new computer? Two thumbs up!
What can you not travel without?
18 Comments
Super excited for you to have your new computer! Now it’s my turn! Before the screen doesn’t work, anymore.
Thanks!!! Definitely your turn now…it’s so nice to have something which actually works well for a change :D!! … as much as I do still love my old brick of a laptop!
I agree. I am lost without my computer! Just invested in a MacBook Pro for our upcoming RTW. My old one was on it’s last leg! My other must have is my camera. :)
Nice! We were tossing up between the ASUS I got and either Macbook Pro or an Air. Came down to cost and not wanting to have to convert all of my windows files to Mac – also learning a new operating system :D But they’re good computers! Everyone was recommending them when I was asking for advice so you’ve made a good choice!
My husband can’t travel without his camera either…lol he cant even leave the house without it :D
Wow, your old laptop lasted quite long. As mentioned on FB I am about to buy a new laptop too, but I can’t decide whether to get a netbook or 11″ laptop. Decisions decisions! Those hammock marks look painful by the way. :-)
It lasted so long! Around 5 years in the end – it’s still going it just takes 30 minutes to power up lol. How I looked at it was what I would be using it for. The majority of the Ultrabooks were cool but ultimately I use my computer for my blog and creating content so I wanted a laptop :)
…lol thats what you get for falling asleep for too long (hammock) :D
I am with you, no way I can travel without my laptop! It is my baby. I also have to have my phone and a camera. Doesn’t have to be a fancy camera. Lastly, I always, always, ALWAYS have charging bricks with me for my phone batteries.
Glad I’m not the only one! If they told me I could travel with either my laptop or my husband it would be a close call lol!! I too have a stock of charging bricks for my phone batteries…I freak out if it dies lol! Sounds like we’re very similar :D
Haha all I can say is I’m not suprised you wrote a tribute to your laptop! You were connected at the hip with that thing!
Lol I was devastated at it’s death! When I got my new computer it actually sat there untouched for a day while I kept typing away on my comfortable old one :D
Hate to travel without my wine aerator, my travel kite and a lavender candle.
You’ve just reminded me I have a bottle of wine in the fridge which I haven’t opened yet!! I love the idea of a travel kite!
I used to bring a thinkpad into the press room at Carolina Panthers games, and younger writers looked at it like it was a typewriter.
It was an old pro, and now, it serves some worthy sailor as an anchor to his ship, I’m sure.
I cannot travel without my Rockies cap. No matter where I go, I take my allegiance with me.
Lol I got those same looks when I would pull it out of my bag in public places; people viewed it as a dinosaur but I loved it! It lasted 5 years – pretty reliable computer!!
My husband can’t travel without his cap either; you guys have that in common!
Ohhhh, would you believe – I have just finally bought myself a MS Surface for my travels too, just preparing to head off without my big, lumpy (but oh so trusty) laptop – although like you, I am still playing on old faithful before I commit to the change!
Congrats!! Mine got incredibly slow before I committed to the change lol I probably should have done it a lot sooner to be honest – but I loved that old thing!!
Have fun with your new MS!!
Ok, I wish you would have gone with the 13″ MacBook Air, but Asus isn’t too bad. ;)
Lol Ive been told by many I need to change over to the dark side and convert to Mac :D Will potentially get there eventually – i think I’m going to buy an iphone as my next replacement phone lol so thats a start. Baby steps :D