Over the past few months, our fellow backpackers have sent us a ton of questions concerning all aspects of backpacking, vagabonding and round-the-world travel (as if we know more than the next Lost Girl!). Well, we're hardly experts but we figured that it might help to start responding to these great reader queries right here on the blog. This new section is meant to encourage group discussion, not provide hard and fast answers...feel free to tell us we're right, on the right track or on the wrong planet entirely (but don't forget to make a few suggestions of your own!)--TLG
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Q. My girlfriend and I are in the planning throes of a year-long trip to South America and I've just started to worry about the technical aspects...mostly to do with the laptop we'll need and how durable it has to be. Do you suggest we get aToughbook, or would a regular laptop with a good case have cut it? --Degan Beley
A: We actually brought two laptops on the road--a five-year old Mac iBook and the Panasonic Toughbook PC. Both computers held up really well, but towards the end, became SO stuffed with media files that they slowed down significantly. If you're shopping around for a new computer, don't settle for one with less than a 100 gigs of memory and an ultra fast processor speed. Nothing's more frustrating than getting the hourglass (PC) or the "pinwheel of death" (Mac) when you're trying to upload photos and type a blog entry at the same time!
The greatest benefit of the Toughbook is its extremely light and slim--at 2.2 pounds, people pick it up and are amazed that it barely weighs everything! Since every single ounce counts when you're on the road, you may want to go with a newer, lighter PC rather than taking your old standby.
As far as durability, we think you'd be fine taking along any light laptop loaded up with ton of memory (80 gigs minimum!) and keeping yourelectonics safe from scatches and bumps with a neoprene laptop sleeve. Companies such as Body Glove and Case Logic make them in basic colors, but you can find ones in funky designs...we love this striped one from Built NY.
No matter what, be sure to lock up you computer and the rest of your electronics with a PacSafe whenever they're out of your sight. The smaller and lighter the compuer, the more motivated you'll be to take it with you!--The Lost Girls
Have a burning backpacker question? Need an opinion on wardrobe choice? Want to share your own travel tips? Send queries and comments to lostgirlsworld@gmail.com
