I have decided to not bring my laptop on my trip, but that took away my expected photo backup option. I really love taking pictures. I will be bringing lots of memory cards, but I would like to back the photos up every couple nights just in case something happens. Could I do this quickly at an internet cafe, or do most cafes have bandwith limits that would make backing up a large amount of photos impractical or expensive or too time-consuming?
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32212 posts
Rachel, I don't have much information on the "bandwidth" of European net cafes, but I suspect this will vary between providers and perhaps countries?
Even with a high speed ADSL or cable connection, uploading photos (especially a lot with larger file sizes) is going to be VERY time consuming. The other "complication" is that the operator of the net cafe MAY not allow Card Readers to be connected.
Your best bet might be to use local photo shops or net cafes to burn DVD's. Be sure to verify that the photos were saved properly before you re-format and re-use the Memory Cards!
Another option would be to pack a small Portable Hard Drive, specifically designed for photo backup. These contain built-in card readers for various formats, so are very easy to travel with.
Happy travels!
Posted by
Wodonga, Australia
440 posts
Rachel, I would not plan for Internet cafes as being your best bet for uploading photos...possibly slow, possibly oldish equipment. I use my ipod for photo storage. The burn to CD/DVD suggestion is a valid one, but not inexpensive, and not always available. Good luck.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19092 posts
Rachel, I was in Germany in October and I found that Internet Cafes were few and far between. Now, mind you, I wasn't in big tourist areas, but in the towns I visited, I found 4 ICs (in 13 days). Two were sport's bars with one stand alone computer, only one had more than two computers. I never saw any opportunities to download picture cards.
That's in comparison to 2004, when I visited two towns and found two Cybercafes with the ability to download pictures.
In comparison, half the places I stayed had wireless Internet.
Unless you have some sort of gigantic, heavy, expensive laptop, I would say bring it.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
6788 posts
A laptop makes a very inefficient photo storage device. My advice is leave the laptop at home (unless you want your job to follow you on your vacation...). Get a dedicated portable photo storage device. These can be fancy or plain, expensive or reasonably cheap, but they are (generally) optimized for the task, are small, light-weight, and easy to use (some iPods can be used, ut theyre not ideal - you may find them slow and/or the photo downloads suck the battery).
I started using a PSD a few trips ago and now won't think of traveling without one. Every night before bed I spend 5 minutes offloading all the day's photos from my (2 cameras) memory cards, then start the next day with fresh, empty cards. And I take a LOT of photos. It's really nice to be able to shoot relentlessly with no worries about running out of space.
I would advise against trying to use internet cafes. Even if you can find places to do it, you would end up spending a big part of your trip sitting in front of a computer waiting for things to upload.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19092 posts
I guess a PSD is fine as long as all you want to do is store photos, but can it also store rail schedules and hotel addresses, keep a record of your expenses, and allow you to write your journal?
My computer can, and it also allows me to connect via my hotel's Wifi for email. At first I used a 2.4# NEC mobilepro (Handheld), then I upgraded to a 2.9# Toshiba Protege. There are a lot of very small computer out there. You don't need something big, heavy, and expensive. Look around. I am so happy I have all this capability in a small package.
Posted by
Newton, MA, USA
289 posts
I would do as others have suggested and get a storage device or bring a laptop. We brought a thinkpad and he had a blackberry (mobile blogging)- laptop was 3 pounds - didn't know it was there.
I'm glad we did since when we did find internet cafes (Swiss Alps, Germany - Bacharach/St Goar) almost all of them were just a keyboard and monitor(we were searching for them since almost all the places we stayed didn't have internet access).
We didn't have access to card slots or USB, if they even had them. Also, we found in Germany that if it rained the internet went very quickly..perhaps just along the Rhine? (and it was very very slow)
I would do your research around where you'll be visiting to understand what type of cafes are available if you can find that level of detail or just bring your laptop (we took 7000 pictures and we are so glad we had that laptop!)