The Problem: We spend the first half of our lives escaping home and the second half returning to it.
For me, that would mean a return to 150 acres of Maryland farmland. And it’s true. I can feel the pull of my youth…But I wouldn’t want to live anywhere without a reliable high-speed Internet connection! The same applies to travel. I am eager to explore the most remote regions of the world and do without the modern conveniences of 21st life in the United States. Just give me Internet access and I’m happy. It is with this thought that I mark the last day of a two week family vacation through Europe. We started in Warsaw, Poland, spent a few nights in Vienna, checked out Florence, ate and drank our way through Tuscany, and fed the infamous pigeons of San Marco Piazza in Venice.
Writing from Krakow, Poland, let me tell you what it’s like over here - from a geek’s perspective. The Solution: I brought a 4-year-old Fujitsu P series Lifebook laptop (www.fujitsu.com), a headset for Skype (www.skype.com ) for voice over Internet calls and an extended battery. The laptop is a real workhorse. It offers 10+ hours of battery life, meaning it can get me through just about any transoceanic flight, and it has a small form factor, so it fits very nicely on those little trays in coach seating. I brought the laptop to send/receive email and to write a few columns. The primary purpose, though, was to make phone calls. Provided I had an Internet connection, I could easily check my voicemail, make international calls to family and friends, reserve hotels, reconfirm flights, etc. It worked perfectly. I was impressed with the quality of the calls, the ease of use and the low operating costs. The tough part is finding Internet access. It’s not as easy as you may think – even for Europe.
Italy is, by far, the least technologically advanced of the three countries—at least the beautiful Florence-Tuscany area is. Internet access is available at Internet cafes…when you can find one. Cell phones are common in Italy but I didn’t see any smart phones. There also seems to be good potential for computerized point-of-sale systems. Many hotels, for example, are still booking rooms the old-fashioned way: with paper and pencil.
Austria, on the other hand, has successfully integrated most technologies we’re accustomed to in the United States. I was especially impressed with the tiny LCD screens on the back of each seat at the Vienna State Opera House, translating the performance in three different languages.
Poland is by far the most avid user of computer technology. We could review train schedules on-line, book hotel rooms over the Internet, and enjoy free Wi-Fi at several public locations, courtesy of the Polish government. The trains don’t yet have Internet access, nor AC power for laptops, but there are quite a few people texting with fervor. Given the vitality of the Polish economy and the younger population’s upbeat outlook on their futures, I am confident Poland offers the greatest opportunity for technological development.
Planning a trip to Europe? Here are some useful sites for finding places to stay: www.Venere.com, www.LateRooms.com, www.HomeAway.com, www.Rentalo.com, www.eurocheapo.com.
These sites may help with cheap airfares: www.eurocheap.com, www.RyanAir.com, www.WizzAir.com. Questions? Feel free to call or email me anytime.
James Kerr is President/CEO of SuperGeeks, a Hawaii-based computer service and repair company (www.supergeeks.net). Send questions, comments and suggestions to help@supergeeks.net or on Oahu, call 942-0773. In Hilo, call 935-5000.
