Hit the Road!
Most of the gear worked pretty well. If the Nintendo charger, Nikon battery charger and the one cell phone had supported switching power adapters, we wouldn’t have needed the step-down transformer. You can buy cables and kits that use USB chargers to charge a variety of devices, including the Nintendo DS and DSi.
I mentioned earlier that the IOGear 57-in-1 flash memory reader wasn’t all that useful. That’s because the Dell M1330 directly supported SD cards, including SDHC, so the photos from both Jan’s Pentax and Elizabeth’s D90 could be loaded into that. The D300 uses compact flash, but I have much smaller CF readers that would have done the job. So I didn’t really need a somewhat bulky 57-in-1 reader.
There wasn’t much I could do about the plethora of cables, though I probably had two USB cables too many. Also, curse Nintendo for requiring different chargers for the DS Lite and DSi.
So if you plan on traveling for an extended vacation, plan out carefully what tech gear you want to lug around. Most importantly, if you can use switching power supplies for everything, then all you need are much lighter power plug adapters rather than bulkier transformers.
Now, what are you waiting for? Pack your stuff up and head out!
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4 comments
Moggraider
August 7, 2009 at 1:47 pm (UTC -7)
I sympathize. I carry tons of gear on my trips too, though I then inevitably end up just reading a paperback. Heh. Good work with Fire Emblem. I couldn’t struggle through; I’ve grown too impatient.
The Shure SE210s are good enough, really. I own SE310 and SE530 buds too (don’t ask), and ironically end up using the 210s the most because I don’t want to mistreat the pricier models during my frequent trips to the gym. But the 530s are amazing for a plane ride. I’ve found that most flight attendants don’t ask me to take Shures off even when electronics aren’t allowed. Maybe they mistake them for earplugs. If they do ask me to take them off, I just disconnect them instead.
Bryan
August 10, 2009 at 1:53 pm (UTC -7)
Hey Loyd, have you check out the books by Naomi Novik, I think I remember you saying you are a fan of the Napoleonic Wars. She writes about this but with a twist, they have an air force of dragons. Stephenson is a good read and enjoyed the two books I have read from him.
Enjoy reading your blog.
YS
August 10, 2009 at 8:05 pm (UTC -7)
Hey Loyd, long time reader of your various articles over the many publications you’ve been at. Great to see you doing a blog!
Anyway, I want to comment on the Nikon battery charger: I’m certain that the MH-18a is a world charger. It should accept both 230 and 110 voltages, and 50/60hz frequencies.
Also, it’s also good to do research prior to the trip on the plug type. There’s a good reference on Wikipedia.
Loyd Case
August 12, 2009 at 12:16 pm (UTC -7)
Looks like you’re right.
Most of the universal chargers I have show the switching capability in one specific text box. But the MA-18 puts the info in a different little box labeled “Foreign”, which I completely overlooked. Anyway, that’s good to know, thanks!