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Travelling abroad - questions re: modems, keyboard, etc.

Hi there; I'm a journalist who's prepping for a trip to Iceland and lamenting the fact that I won't have a laptop while I'm there.
I do, however, have a Visor Deluxe and I'm thinking I could get away with using it for e-mail/word processing while in my hotel room. Only problem is, I'm not particularly familiar with any of the Handspring add-ons. Additionally, I'd like to keep things as cost effective as humanly possible.

I'm assuming that I'm basically going to need two things: a proper keyboard and a decent modem (the place we're staying in has an Internet connection and I'd like to be able to take advantage of that). So, basic questions then:

* Are some keyboard modules better than others? Are there any that I should absolutely stay away from?

* Aside from portability and speed, are there any factors that I should take into considering when purchasing a modem? Are the some modems that only work in North America? Do I have to subscribe to any sort of ISP? And, further to that, how exactly does your average International Internet hookup work? Any recommendations for cheap, relatively speedy modems? (I'm not terribly concerned with size, so if a bulkier model can save me money, then great...)

* Are there any other add-ons/utilities out there that might make my life abroad even easier?

Lastly, I'm in Canada, so any suggestions on where to get the cheapest prices for the recommended items would be positively wonderful.

Thanks in advance for the help, guys.

AK

Re: Travelling abroad - questions re: modems, keyboard, etc.

If you want a proper keyboard, go for the Targus Stowaway, which is what I use (journalist too here..) I also have WordSmith, which is great.

As for modems, I usually just use the IR-link to my mobile phone, but if you'll be doing a lot of online stuff, maybe a modem module would be best.

Most modern modems will work in different countries, but you may need to change the init string. And of course you'll need the appropriate adaptors for foreign phone sockets. Check too that the hotel phones are compatible - some only have digital phones in the rooms, which isn't much good.

Using the hotel's own net connection with your visor would only be possible if they had a wireless LAN, unfortunately.

Find yourself an ISP - either a US one that offers global roaming via its own dial-in ports, or through a co-op type system like GRIC (www.gric.com) that lets customers dial into partner ISPs in other countries.

Alternatively, see if you can find an ISP in the country you're visiting that doesn't charge - there are usually plenty of free ones around, but it might take some tracking down.

Nigel.

I agree about the Stowaway. I travel around SE Asia and America, and use it all the time. Grafitti is great, but not for tons of input.

I have a Xircom modem that uses the same batteries as my Startac. It's pretty cool; I have about 5 Li-ion batteries to use between the two. You can also use AAA batteries in it. If you decide on one of the modems that doesn't use it's own batteries, I've heard that they have a rather significant drain on the Visor's batteries. The Xircom is the only one I've used, so it's the only one I can comment on. GRIC is great.

I travelled to New Zealand recently for a month and every 2-3 days wrote a few words, added a few pictures from my digital camera and put all this on my website.
All this using the following setup:

* Handspring Visor DLX
* Handspring 33k Modem
* Stowaway keyboard (Excellent product !!!)
* Memplug Compact Flash Adapter Springboard
* Canon Digital Elph camera ( using Compact Flash cards )
* A pre-paid internet access account from a local NZ provider ( 1000 minutes for like 5 USD, toll-free number (important!!! - save a LOT of money in hotels and easier to ask people use their phone jacks )
* Torpedo 2.0 HTML editor for PalmOS + FTP software
* Eudora mail client for PalmOS
* VFSMail sw - to email/ftp JPGs from the Compact Flash:
http://www.tsol.fsnet.co.uk/ninesof...il/vfsmail.html

everything worked like charm and my friends got so addicted
reading those reports online that they almost sent me back
to NZ when I returned home

once I took a picture of my 'desktop' and attached it to the report:
http://63.105.78.99/travel/nz/palm.jpg

Enjoy your trip!

Bo.

Some Thoughts

From what I've read here, the HS modem module is probably the cheapest. I'd do a search here or at EBay to find someone trying to sell one.
The Stowaway is probably the only keyboard solution you want to consider. The others are all smaller than standard, and if you're putting together stuff for work, I don't think you want to be dealing with a cramped keyboard.
Wordsmith is probably necessary, if you're going to be using your Visor as a substitute for a laptop. It seems to be the most popular word processing app.
If you are going to be doing your work on your Visor, you may need to buy a memory module, but that depends on how much you've got on it already. That's not going to be cheap.
It would be fun to read something from you once you're up there. Bon Voyage.

One more thought

I agree with the Stowaway, and I use a ThinModem. You might also consider a telephone coupler. I traveled to certain parts of Montana where the telephone lines could not handle the digital connection. It's more expensive, ~$100, but if you need to get through, this is an alternative.

http://www.konexx.com/products/index.html

Re: Some Thoughts

quote:

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Originally posted by jazzlover

If you are going to be doing your work on your Visor, you may need to buy a memory module, but that depends on how much you've got on it already. That's not going to be cheap.

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I just purchased a 33.6 Visor modem at staples, I picked it up for only $28 US. It works fine. I use the Free Eudora Internet Suite and Free Avant Go. They work OK. I have a Gotype keyboard and I do not like it for the simple fact that it is not a full sized Keyboard, Also It does not fit into a normal sized pocket

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