Travelling to India with a laptop?

Hi I am generally unfamiliar with laptops. But I was thinking of
travelling
with an old 486DX laptop to India. I need to use word, outlook, and FTP to
transfer files from my laptop to internet.

My questions:

1. Would the power supply for US laptops work in India? Do I need to buy
additional equipment?

2. Would my 56k modem and rj11 jack work in Indian telephone lines?

3. Finally what sort of protective casing should I take to put the laptop
in, as I'll be travelling through trains and perhaps buses?

You have made a wise choice with you laptop. I don't think even the poorest
person in the world with nick it.

In article , (Miguel
Cruz) writes:

In hotels and modern buildings this is probably the case, but in older homes
and offices the phone jacks are different (great big knobbly things).

miguel

Exactly, there a modular to alligator clip rig and a small screwdriver would be
invaluable. I was wondering when somebody would mention this or does everybody
stay in 5* hotels?
edwardseco

In article , "JMS" writes:

Yes it will but don't expect that you will get anywhere nearthe 56K you
currently enjoy.


I got much better speed in India on dial up than I ever had in SoCal. A lot
depends on your ISP and the condition of the lines.
edwardseco

In article m, Chuckles
writes:

Warning: the power sockets come in two pin sizes and
three spacings, so take a variety

Can't resist responding to my favorite poster. There should be a type of
collecting specialty with Indian electric sockets much like stamp collecting.
There are a number of major types (and note voltages so skip the mammoth ones)
as well as so many individual varieties. Sometimes the pins unscrew a bit and
that may offer some extra flexibility. Its part of the adventure especially if
located near the shower. It might be a good idea in passing to suggest a surge
protector.
edwardseco

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. The power adapter says 110-240v input
so I guess it might work there as well. I don't know how the plug sockets
are there, but the notebook adapter plug is 2-pinned. I do hope the modem
works though, I will have files I would need to transfer from the laptop to
the internet on a daily basis from there


"Rohit" wrote in message
news:2EJqb.22$J3.157@testbox...
Hi I am generally unfamiliar with laptops. But I was thinking of
travelling
with an old 486DX laptop to India. I need to use word, outlook, and FTP to
transfer files from my laptop to internet.

My questions:

1. Would the power supply for US laptops work in India? Do I need to buy
additional equipment?

2. Would my 56k modem and rj11 jack work in Indian telephone lines?

3. Finally what sort of protective casing should I take to put the laptop
in, as I'll be travelling through trains and perhaps buses?

Thanks
Rohit

angelbiatch wrote:

1) You can sort out the power issues when you get here. Converters are
available very cheap from any electronics shop.

2) Yes

3) Any decent laptop carrying case will do, but for trains I suggest
getting yourself some sort of a locking mechanism on it.

On Fri, 07 Nov 2003 04:30:50 -0500, Rohit wrote:

Hi I am generally unfamiliar with laptops. But I was thinking of travelling
with an old 486DX laptop to India. I need to use word, outlook, and FTP to
transfer files from my laptop to internet.

My questions:

1. Would the power supply for US laptops work in India? Do I need to buy
additional equipment?

2. Would my 56k modem and rj11 jack work in Indian telephone lines?

3. Finally what sort of protective casing should I take to put the laptop
in, as I'll be travelling through trains and perhaps buses?

Thanks
Rohit


India uses the International standard! 230 V 50 Hz, no problems
whatsoever.

Standard European plugs work fine, no need for any plug adaptors.

A modern Laptop power supply usually works from 90-230 V, check it up, I
am sure it works just perfect, but check it up before connecting.

/Anders

--
Remove the obvious part before replying by mail please!

Rohit wrote:

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. The power adapter says 110-240v input
so I guess it might work there as well. I don't know how the plug sockets
are there, but the notebook adapter plug is 2-pinned.

By two-pinned, I assume you mean the North American standard. You will
therefore need a simple adapter plug, which typically costs less than
$5. They are often available at some airport shops, luggage or travel
accessory shops, or Radio Shack. You can probably get by with the round
two-pin type used in Europe, rather than the three pin type with the
grounding pin.

Here is a drawing of the two-pin plug:

http://www.kropla.com/!c.htm

And some photos of the typical receptacles in India:

http://www.kropla.com/india_electric_outlets.htm

As far as phone connections go, you should be able to use the standard
US connector (RJ-11). Some phones may not have it, but they will be the
minority, particularly in hotels or offices.

"Rohit" wrote in news:OVHrb.26$J3.169@testbox:

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. The power adapter says 110-240v
input so I guess it might work there as well. I don't know how the
plug sockets are there, but the notebook adapter plug is 2-pinned. I
do hope the modem works though, I will have files I would need to
transfer from the laptop to the internet on a daily basis from there

Where are you getting your internet service?

You can go to vsnl.net and sign up for an account at a modest price for x
hours of usage. Much easier/cheaper than international dialing or some of
those ripoff roaming services offered by western ISPs.

VSNL is not the best ISP in the world, but they do have local dial-in
numbers in most cities; other Indian ISPs have less comprehensive coverage.

"Rohit" wrote:

Hi I am generally unfamiliar with laptops. But I was thinking of travelling
with an old 486DX laptop to India. I need to use word, outlook, and FTP to
transfer files from my laptop to internet.
....
3. Finally what sort of protective casing should I take to put the laptop
in, as I'll be travelling through trains and perhaps buses?

The world's best bags for carrying laptops (IMHO) are made by Hedgren.
(www.hedgren.com). Not cheap, but fantastic stuff.

I use the hup02l (Utopia collection) backpack which has exactly the
pockets you need for travel or work. Places to hold cellphone, keys &
change, passports, cables, mouse, etc. The key is the padded thin
(abt 3 cm) compartment close to your back where you carry the laptop.
Fits snugly, well protected etc. They have enough space (and enough
styles) that you can get one to act as your only carry-on bag.

Having a separate "briefcase style" laptop bag is a bad idea for
several reasons:
1) it is a bulls-eye for muggers
2) it's annoying to have to carry something in your hand
3) it likely won't be big enough to carry everything you want,
so you also need a separate knapsack anyway.

This one you can sling over your front when you want to keep
close eye, and will always pass as carry-on. Nasties won't
generally suspect you have a computer in a knapsack. You can
get one of the larger styles if you also want to carry a day
or two's worth of clothes or whatever. You can quickly zip
open the laptop compartment and slip out the laptop without
having to dig around through all your other stuff, when you
need to make some quick clicks.

Anyway, obviously I can't recommend them enough.

--
Ken Tough

In article ,
says...

The world's best bags for carrying laptops (IMHO) are made by Hedgren.
(www.hedgren.com). Not cheap, but fantastic stuff.

Oh well, you probably have never heard of Dicota (www.dicota.com). Has
all the hedgren has and even more (an integrated rain cover for
instance).
--

Alfred Molon
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