Europe with a Macbook Pro - am I crazy?

Emily, You'll probably find that a MacBook Pro is a bit "cumbersome" to travel with, mostly due to it's size and weight. Is it the 17" model or 15.4" model? If that's your only option you'll have to make the best of it. I'm typing this reply on a 15.4" MacBook Pro, but there's no way I'll travel with it in Europe, due to the cost as well as the size and weight. I've found that a Netbook is much easier to travel with (although a few "compromises" are necessary). Does your carry-on have adequate space for the Macbook? If you were going to buy a case, I'd suggest having a look at the Brenthaven line of cases. They're excellent quality and they have a good ion of products for Macbooks. I believe the factory outlet store is in Bellingham, should you happen to be up that way (I'm aware that's a significant drive from Longview - I've been past there many times on the drive from Seattle to Portland). Don't forget to buy one or two Plug Adapters. The UK style (three large rectangular pins) is different than that used in continental Europe (two round pins). Happy travels!

Since I go over on business a couple of times a year, I do carry my Macbook Pro 13" and have no problems other than the additional 2kg I have to carry. It's never been a problem as it is in my Jansport computer backpack as I tossed my rolling computer bag 4+ years ago after the first trip lugging it and a roll-a-board up and down train station stairs.
Never had any problems anywhere in the EU(including PL and It) with it being secure as it looks just like a normal backpack.

I would definitely not wrap it in clothing and hope for the best. Take it in your carryon. I always take a computer and wrap it in my pashmina. However, given the weight, etc. if there is any way to pick up a small Acer ($300) depending on what you need it for, life might be easier. If you need it for images, Photoshop works the same in a mac or a pc. I ditched my heavy laptop a number of trips ago.

Why should anyone consider you crazy for taking your machine with you...it is 2011 after all? Many of us travel with laptops for business or leisure travel all the time...no problem. Sure, it adds some weight, but that only becomes an issue if you're trying to do carry-on only with all of your stuff. Especially on the foreign carriers, weight limits are quite restrictive. As for protecting your MacBook, you can get a very good padded case at Apple for around $50...you can buy cheaper ones just about anywhere else. If you're really tight on cash, get a cheap one at Target. Don't just wrap it in clothing. Some will argue that you should only use the hard-sided cases to better protect your MacBook if dropped, but I personally don't think they're necessary...soft-sided has been fine for us. A padded bacpack or messenger bag is another good option. Also, forget buying a netbook just to save space...you don't have the money anyway, and your MacBook is far superior IMHO. Just be careful, and don't drop it. Happy travels!

Emily, I used to take my 13" Dell laptop, but it and the CHARGER, were just too much weight, and too cumbersome. (weigh your combination!) So this year I sprung for a Toshiba netbook, and couldn't have been happier. They are cheap and powerful; with long battery lives. and I bought an extended three year warranty that also includes theft. (Yes< I know that I am taking about something from the Evil Empire...but it is sooooooooo portable, and cheap. ) My carry-on is a back pack, with a padded place for my laptop or netbook. It works great. At the very least, if you want to lug that boat anchor, get some trip insurance and don't worry if it gets lost or stolen.

Take it. Took my 2010 13" MacBookPro with me for the first time this past May. Had an overhead carryon and a Timbuk2 laptop bag I bought 2 years ago that worked perfectly for my under the seat carryon. It had a padded compartment so the MacBook was protected. Bag could be carried like a briefcase, over the shoulder or even as a backpack. LOVED having it as there was wifi in each place I stayed so I was able to upload pics, get my emails, follow the news, search for local restaurants and get directions, etc. Also kept me entertained during layovers in airports. Kept it in the hotel room safes. Easy Peasy.

Thanks for the replies! We are trying to be faithful followers of the Rick Steve's way and take only one midsize bag each to europe. But I won't have to worry so much about weight limits because we aren't using the discount charter airlines at all (we're traveling around europe by train until the trip back to the united states). My Macbook pro is 15.4 inches btw. The macbook sleeves on Brenthaven.com are the kind of thing that I was thinking of, thanks! But you guys are right, my computer is heavy and the charger doesn't help much. I was planning to use the computer to blog, book train tickets and sort photos. Maybe a $200 netbook would be a worthy investment?

Second reply, but if you can swing the netbook for what you want to use it for, it is perfect. I have taken my larger laptop about 15 times and lugged it around and since I have the Acer I would NEVER do it again. So much easier. I also grab my Acer when I am home if I just want to run down to Panera and check email. You don't only have to use it for travel. Weight of my little computer...about 2 lbs! It can fit in some of my purses. I guess I would be curious to hear from people who have gone the netbook route and than chosen to go back to the big computer abroad. I try not to take my whole life with me on vacation....I want to leave most of it at home.

Emily A previous poster mentioned buying travel insurance. However, typical policies either do not cover computers, cameras, and other tech toys or they have a low limit on what they will pay. The obvious reasons are easy to break or get stolen. And other threads have mentioned the IPad2 is a hot item. Just read the fine print as you research travel insurance. Bobbie

In 2000, I made a trip to Europe for the first time in 10 years with a brand new digital camera. In those days, 16MB of memory cost over a hundred dollars and would only last a few days, so I dusted off my old Compaq LTE and took it along to download pictures. That's when I discovered how useful a computer was for all sorts of things when traveling. After a week, that 7# Compag felt like 70#. When I came home I started my search for lighter computers. Since then I have had a 2# NEC Mobilepro, which I liked but it didn't use Window programs, a 2.8# Toshiba Protege, and my current 2.2# Acer netbook. I would never trade a 5# laptop for a 2# netbook.

Emily: "Maybe a $200 netbook would be a worthy investment?" I wasn't going to post a reply since your initial post said you can't afford to buy a cheaper netbook, but this later comment opens the door. I'm pretty sure the Macbook won't fit in the in-room safes in many European hotel rooms. A netbook would. That is at least one consideration. Personally, I'm sold on less weight and bulk. I've taken a netbook and, yes, it was useful but I got tired of carrying it. I can't even imagine lugging around a real laptop and charger. This last trip, I took only a smartphone. I was able to do everything I had to do. I wasn't blogging, though. But if I was, I'd still use the smartphone, but would take a bluetooth keyboard. That would be the only concession I'd make to added equipment. How do you feel about Internet cafes? If you are going to worry about the laptop, will that worry interfere with your enjoyment of the trip? That is another consideration.

Emily, Since you've now mentioned the possibility of taking a Netbook rather than the MacBook, I have a few additional comments. After much research, I decided on a Toshiba NB-305 and have been really pleased with it. The Toshiba Netbooks seem to routinely get top rating on Consumer Reports, which is also true in the most recent reviews. The current issue of C.R. has ratings for various Netbooks. I had a brief look at the Best Buy Website and they currently list the NB-505 (newer model) for $229. That's supplied with 1 GB of RAM and a 250 GB Hard Drive. I'd suggest upgrading the RAM to 2 GB. One of the big advantages of Netbooks is LONG battery life, however they don't have the "horsepower" for processor-intensive tasks such as PhotoShop. The speakers in most Netbooks leave a lot to be desired, but external speakers or Headphones can be connected. As I mentioned in my previous reply, Netbooks are a bit of a compromise in some ways. The smaller keyboard requires some "adjustment" if you're used to typing on a full-sized keyboard, as does the smaller screen (more scrolling required). I didn't find that to be a huge problem. Netbooks are ideal for travel, as most are equipped with a built-in SD Reader (great for loading photos), Mic. & Camera for Skype, Wi-Fi, etc. I assume you're reasonably familiar with Windows as well as the Mac OS? You shouldn't have much trouble adjusting to Windows 7. I also purchased MS Office Home & Student (got a good deal on it), so have everything I need. If you have a birthday coming up, perhaps you could "drop a hint" to family members! Cheers!

Emily, I followed Ken's recomedations, did a bunch of research, and bought a lightweight Topshiba NB 305, but I got the beefier N600 model; so we can use if for everything here at home. I immediately upgraded to 2 gigs of RAM, and bought a Square Trade 3 year warranty. I got it about a month before our trip to Spain this May/June, and it was awesome. Great for pics, used it a bunch for Skype, research, emails to friends with pics, etc. I also took my IPhone, but Data is switched off. The IPhone is just too darn small for these old eyes; the netbook was just perfect.

Buying a netbook 3 years ago was a good investment as I have taken the netbook all over europe and when traveling in the USA. No more having to find an internet cafe and using the european keyboard. Just about every hotel has wifi especially in France and Italy. In Switzerland a lot of the hotels made you purchase a 5 euro card good for 24 hours.

I thought you couldn't afford a netbook and wanted to know if you could get by with what you already own. The answer, of course, is yes it's possible. On the other hand, if you're now able to afford and would prefer something else just for blogging, buying tickets, and sorting photos, a used netbook is all you need. If you want something much more robust that's also very light, you can drop a $500 bundle on an iPad2. On business and domestic trips, I always carry a laptop...not worried about carry-on restrictions. However, I travel extremely light when on pleasure travel to Europe with nothing more than a small backpack. A laptop is out of the question due to the tight weight restrictions on the carriers I use. At most, we'll have our mobile devices...phones, iPod Touch, etc. If needed, we'll use the hotel's lobby PC if staying in a place that has one. Otherwise, a WiFi spot and the iPod Touch will have to do. If weight/size isn't an issue for you, why would you spend $200 or more for another machine when you have a much better MacBook already that will work just great? Sure, a netbook is lighter, but couldn't that $200 be better spent on experiences, dinners, hotels, or something else in Europe? I won't argue the advantages/disadvantages of a laptop/MacBook versus a netbook or iPad2...just curious to know why you would spend that much when you really don't need to.