High Tech Toy Questions

I am interested in how many people do or do not take a TV, a VCR, a DVD player and/or a laptop with them? How about another high tech device like a GPS, MP3 player or something else with you? How many of you just have to check your email when camping? Is the laptop for when you are bored or do you have to keep up with forums, news, weather and etc on the Internet? Do you just use the TV on rainy days or do you just have to keep up with your shows?

We do not take the first three, because our conversion van has a TV and a DVD player. We rarely use them and normally play games instead (mainly Skipbo, Scrabble and Yatzee). When my wife decides to read, I get out my PDA/cellphone out (Cingular 8525) and play Sudoko or Millsbourne. I also use the PDAcellphone with a bluetooth GPS unit and a street navigation program to get where I am going. When hiking or canoeing, I use the PDA/Cellphone and bluetooth GPS with a topographic navigation program.

I take my company laptop in case there is an emergency at work, but have no desire to use it otherwise. It just reminds me of work as I am a Network Engineer. I can teather the laptop to my PDA/cellphone to get Internet access in a campground that does not have wireless, but does have Cingular/AT&T data coverage. I have not had to do that on a camping trip yet thankfully. I have used a campground's 802.11 wireless to send a paper I needed to complete that I found out about an hour before I left work for the trip. I was not to happy about that either.

I have created a special email account for my PDA/phone on one of my personal domains. My family and the other Network Engineers I work with know to use that email address if they want a response from me before I get back. I never check my normal email accounts. I could set them all up in my PDA/cellphone, but I have no desire to deal with that much email. They also know I only guarenty I will check that account once or maybe twice a day. If it is real important, you better call me. I am on vacation or a weekend camping trip after all.

[grill-n-go]

For under a week: Satellite radio and cellphones.

A week+ we add a television and lap top pc because I still work for a living.

I wasn't too keen on the television, but I am even less keen on having an unhappy camper.

We take a laptop to watch DVDs. We use it at night to watch old westerns. Last camping season we watched Lone Ranger episodes! Don't use the laptop for emails though, we don't hook up to internet.

My 11 year old brings along his Nintendo DS handheld game but usually only uses it while we're driving.

We have a radio DH just installed in the TM that can connect to an MP3 player, so I will defiitely be bringing my I-Pod along too.

Also have cell phone just in case. That's about it for the electronic gadgets.

Sharon

Under normal circumstances we have a pair of cell phones between us.

DW sometimes takes her office laptop.

I prefer office desktops because then the boss can not suggest that I work while camping.

I have never taken a television, VHS player or DVD player camping in my life and don't think I ever will. Too hard to watch it while toasting marshmallows over an open fire.

If I was living in an RV fulltime then I might have a television for DW, but that isn't camping that is a motel on wheels.

Sometimes I take a telescope, does that count?

[Dagrip]

We have a second mounting kit for our Sirius Satellite radio unit so we just move the head unit from the TV to the TM. We can then listen to the satellite radio via the built-in stereo in the TM. We also take along a mp3 player and portable speakers for use outside of the trailer.

Scott and B

A television just in case in rains...

One cell phone that is TURNED OFF. The DW will check messages once a day.

As I work with technology for a living, when I go camping, I camp.

Books, walks, campfire, coffee, cooking, are the rule of the day.

No keyboards allowed....

( Well, except for the GPS, laptop and mapping software..... )

We have a 6 inch tv that has ac/12v capacity that we don't use much and a portable dvd player for watching a movie at night...and cell phones. That's it for us.
Cheri

If we are going away for 1 week or more we take a 13" TV, one video game (Wheel of Fortune), laptop (mapping software, games, & internet where available), cell phone. We also pack card games (Pinochle, Phase 10), dominos and Rummicube. DW is a "mean competitor!"

If it is a 3-5 day trip it is the cell phone and TV that goes, if TV reception is available. Cell phone is for road emergencies, primarily. We do call our 4 adult kids once a week when we're on the road to keep up with what they and the grandkids are doing.

Well this is interesting. I know there are people that take the toys with them, but most of them have not responded.

Ditto with Joseph. I use to be on my PC all the time after work. If not, I was helping people fix PC issues. I moved from the two-way/microwave radio shop to the networking group about 10 years ago. When I get home, I do not spend that much time on the PC anymore. Is is much harder to get my to help with a PC issue. When camping or on vacation, I do not want to touch a PC.

Like Paul, the wife and I play games with Skip-Bo being our favorite now.

We take:

Cell phones for emergencies.
Digital Camera
Laptop (mostly to download pictures from the camera)
GPS that hooks to the laptop in case we get lost

There are times that the office will call with a server issue, which necessitates staying in a CG with wireless internet so I login to the office network and resolve any issues (PITA!). But, it beats not going anywhere at all...

Bob