iPod, MP3 player or PDA ???

I use a PDA in my travels. With it I can watch videos, listen to music, play games, make calls with Skype and connect to the internet via WiFi. Best of all it's no bigger than a calculator. The best PDA currently on the market is the HP iPAQ hx2795 Pocket PC. More info can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/2sgzfa

Tim, I agree that it would be best not to have to haul a Laptop around Italy.

However, I'm not sure there's one product that will provide all the functions you need. Here's a few thoughts on some options:

Using a Net cafe to check E-mail every few days is a good method of keeping in touch as the cost is quite reasonable.

An IPod would be a good choice for walking tours, music and photos. The new IPod Touch units also provide Wi-Fi,so some web browsing is possible but working on such a small screen is not ideal. I can't comment on other MP3 players as I only use an IPod.

Photo storage - while the disk-based IPods are capable of photo storage, IMO this is not a good method. Transfer is often slow, and in my experience these can "crash" and all photos will be lost. The most appropriate method for photo storage will depend on what type of Camera you're using, etc. Memory is fairly cheap these days - perhaps just pack along extra memory cards?

Cheers!

The reason I prefer a PDA over an Ipod is that the size of the the video screen is twice as big as an Ipod. In addition lots of websites have special versions that are designed especially for mobile devices. Also, Ipods aren't able to run third-party software. For example on my PDA I can install the Tube 2 mapping software, which gives street/subway maps of the big cities. You get more flexibility with a PDA.

I, too, think the PDA is the best way to go. I gave up carrying around my laptop a couple of years ago because it was simply too much extra to carry...I usually travel with one 20-inch suitcase, and adding a laptop just about doubled my load. Like Michael, I use an iPaq that can do everything an Ipod can do, and more. I also enjoy using Skype Mobile to make free calls back home when I find a Wifi connection. And it can play music, too! ;)

I agree that a PDA can provide a lot of the functions required, as I also use a PDA when travelling (I use a Palm model, as Windows Mobile devices won't work with my Mac desktop). However, PDA's aren't really a viable option for photo storage, for a variety of reasons.

For those travellers not packing a Laptop and needing capacity for photo storage, a PHD is usually the best option.

One point to clarify though, is that the screen size of the new IPod Touch is equivalent to that of a PDA, and it is equipped with a web browser and Wi-Fi.

Cheers!

For photo storage, simply purchase a couple of high-capacity storage cards for your digital cam...far cheaper and far easier to cart around than any other storage solution, and less risk of all your photos being lost if something "goes bad."

Norm, I agree that using Memory Cards is often the simplest & easiest solution. However, as I mentioned in my first post, this depends to some extent on the type of Camera used and what type of "shooting" the user does? The OP didn't provide any details on that, so I was providing somewhat of a "generic" reply.

I normally travel with both a dSLR and P&S Camera, shooting jPEG + RAW. I can easily fill three or more 4GB Memory Cards in a one month trip. The 40GB PHD I use is only about 3-inches square, so it's not hard to travel with.

I've had experience with HD-model IPods and photo storage, and it was not a pleasant experience so that's not a method I will ever consider. As I use a Flash RAM type IPod (Touch), I don't have the memory capacity for photos anyway.

Flash Memory is cheap at the moment, so that's certainly a reasonable option for many people.

Cheers!

The most efficient way to get all of these in one is if you have a GSM-band phone with a lot of storage, an MP3 player and a nice camera on it. My phone has all of these except the storage, and it would be nice to have one device for all of these. You need GSM band so that you can use your phone in Italy.

Also remember that charging any batteries could be an issue, since you'll need an adapter and power converter to charge your 110-watt device in Europe.

The iPod Touch is a really tempting option if you're looking for something to play audio files, do web browsing and email checking over WiFi, and do some basic PDA-like tasks (eg, it comes with a calendar app).

I'm just waiting for the next revision until I buy one myself, since I don't quite need it yet.

Hello Tim. My reply here is for you, not for the people who already own a PDA or IPOD. There are now many electronic (digital) devices that are not needed by most travelers. And those devices are expensive to buy, and those devices will be obsolete a few years from now. I do not have any of those things, and I did not ask Santa Claus to give it to me. Your digital photographs : bring an extra memory card for your digital camera. Communication to the U.S.A.: send E-mail by using a computer that is available to the public : every big city in Europe has places for accessing the internet. Some inexpensive rooms in Italy have a Pc computer in evry room, for free access to the internet, for doing E-mail. And I am not aware of any reason for not using a public telephone, with a pre paid calling card, for long-distance telephone calls from Europe. You mentioned "walking tours". If that is the Rick Steves' "audio tours" of art galleries in Europe ... (continued in my next posting here) ...

.....the Rick Steves' "Audio Tours" of art galleries in Europe are recordings of a woman reading from a book written by Rick Steves. Will you really need that when you are in ITALY ? If you own the book, or if you can borrow the book from a public library, I think having a recording of a person reading from that book is not needed. Before going to Europe, a traveler could make photocopies of some pages in the book. The traveler could carry the photocopy pages to Europe, and read the pages there, and dispose of the pages (into a trash can) in Europe, because he has the book or other photocopy pages of it, at home. And, as Rick Steves says, when you travel to Europe, carrying less is best. Why carry expensive electronic equipment that you don't need, and you would worry about it being damaged or stolen.
I stopped carrying any electronic item for listening to music in an airplane or train, because I was not using it. And I do not need to be entertained by videos when I am in Europe.

I have a Toshiba gigabeat MP3 player which I bought 18 months ago(probably almost extinct now!!!)
I only use it to download photos (has a 40 gig storage which is great as I take LARGE file photos on a 10MP camera)
I really have no idea of the capabitities of the unit to store audio files --- BUT I was advised that the unit (at the time) was SO MUCH BETTER than the equivalent "I-Pod"

Ron, a PDA is only the size of a calculator, an ipod nano is smaller than that. I don't bring along a cell phone so I consider it a trade-off.They take up very little space/wieght. In fact I use my PDA to save space. I use it store all of my travel documents, rail schedules, and maps. I also store ebooks, ans yes I do like to watch videos especially when I'm on a plane; it helps relax me.
For me it's an essential travel tool.

Thanks for all the input about the different options......it really helped!!

Tim from Maui, HI

Tim, let us know which method you've decided to use? It might help others who are facing the same situation.

Cheers!

Here's the plan as it stands right now. I'm going to purchase a PDA a couple of weeks prior to departure, set it up for the trip and then sell it on eBay shortly after returning so that I won't be hanging on to rapidly changing technology. Most of the hotels seem to have WiFi but so far none have mentioned computers to use. Along with some translation software, maps and sites bookmarked for ease of use I think it will be the most useful yet compact solution for this trip.

Thanks for all the help!!!!!

Tim

For the best mapping software check out this site:
http://www.visualit.co.uk/
The "tube" line of maps is better than the Rough Guide maps.

I have a Garmin M3 that I took to Europe in 2007, what I liked was the abillity to use it as a GPS and PDA. I also bought a Spectec WiFi card to let me connect to the internet and send emails. I had music, a secure Vault to store my credit card, passport, airport, and hotel info in. Best thing now is I found on a site called Pocketdictionary.com Ricks 2008 books for download to the PDA (Rick Steves Travel Pack). Wish I had this when I went for added info. There should be a link on this site for it. I scanned my airline ticket, passports, eurail pass, and hotel tickets.

Hello Tim! I am travelling to Europe too in April, and I just downloaded the free audio guides onto my iPhone that Rick Steves provides in this website. And I also bought myself a Netbook....check this out http://www.pcconnection.com/IPA/Shop/Product/Detail.htm?sku=9185785 to use for checking emails/internet and for storing my pictures.

The netbook is light and works like a mini laptop.

Hope this helps.