Reader Feedback to International Travel with PowerBooks

From reader Heinrich Berg:
"I'm an international consultant, at moment in Peru, but worked with different Powerbooks all over the world, mainly in poor developping countries, including Africa. In the 80's I even carried an Apple IIc with a small lead battery and a 12 volt monitor to Tanzania. The points that just come to my mind.

- Printing: I had an HP 310. Very nice and I recommend it if you need a printer yourself (it even runs on batteries if you need it). The model I owned had a serial port to connect directly to the Mac. I don't use it anymore, because nowadays you find printers anywhere. But most are PC parallel: my solution is Powerprint, and up to now I never had problems. (When you register you can access the different drivers via the company's Web site). Emergency solution in case you don't find a printer is printing via a fax machine. You can do it directy without using a public phone connection. Just hook the cable from the modem port to the fax machine, use manual dialing (with a fake number), press the receive (or start) button on the fax, click send on your computer and it should work. (Make sure you use highest available fax quality). I did this with GV fax software without problems.

- File transfer: No problem if you have Macs around (just use AppleTalk or Ethernet if the other side has it), but in developing countries this is often not the case. So what to do (until USB is more available)? It depends: Simple small file transfer - use floppies. Larger files, when floppies just become too small. Most will go for ZIP or Jazz, but I don't, because Mac Zips and Jazz are SCSI, most ZIPs on the PC compatible side are parallel, JAZZ are rare and need SCSI that most PC don't have. Much easier is finding a PC with a modem. Just use a modem to modem connection and transfer your files via terminal programs (I use Zterm on the Mac side and Windows machne has one too - don't remember). It's a bit of a trial and error game until you match the two programs speed and protocol - but once set (save the setting for the future!) you are up and transfer whatever size and quantity of files without any problems. Networking becomes a bit more difficult and depends on the other side but it usual works. Talk to the the system administrator. Most frecuent is Ethernet (carry your cable) and Windows NT (you must enable the Server side for the use of Mac - easy, but many administrators don't know how to do). Novell also has their Mac clients, and DAVE is another program that allows you all kind of server connections. However I found that in most cases, setting up a server costs time (from finding an open (Mac-) minded administrator - to having al the flaws eliminated) that isn't justified for simple occasional file transfer. I do it only if I have to work continuously for a longer period in one environment.

- Internet connection. Don't count on it in developing countries unless you are in larger cities. Best: use a friend's (or hotel's) internet connection. An ISP independant e-mail (@yahoo.com, etc) adress is useful but not necessary. Second best (if you cannot find a friend): Ipass, a dialer that allows you to connect in most countries. Some ISP have a contract with this company and you can acces your Internet just as you where at home (most ISP charge for this service extra, some don't). Another possibility is getting an acount with IBM.net - it works very well, connections are frequently better than local (developing countries) ISPs; however there is a monthly rate (if I am not mistaken 35$ per month). If you are lucky and work in University environments you can use the university's access - a beer for the administrator usually helps to get access within hours. Important: make preparations before you travel!

- Backups. Depends on you file size. I used Bernoulli's and other stuff. Zip' and the alikes are sure a good option, however my system doesn't fit anymore. You can do a mini start up system (I have one), but I don't carry a ZIP anymore and I'm not going to buy even an expansion bay drive, because too often the size is just not enough. (but it might be for many people). What I do is writing CD Roms at home. I do have a complete system, the programs and the files all backed up on CD's. For short trips I just carry the disks. The new work I'm doing during my stay is sent via the Internet home and a copy stays with somebody in the contry (in case something goes wrong). Be aware of moisture in many tropical countries - you must avoid fungus! Not only that all kind of disks will be useless, it also makes the heads (of floppy drives for example) often worthless and the usual cleaning devices are not sufficient!

- Repairs. This is a very dark side for Apple. Though the repair within the US works usually well (in spite of the recent problems), in developing countries you are often left alone. Even if you find an Apple repair facility, most stores don't carry the spare parts. Therefore your machine is without use during weeks and if they repair it locally, often it is done very badly. My advice: wait for the repair till you are back home. If you can't, sent it via Federal Express (or somthing similar to Apple directly in the US). Talk to Apple SOS directly and insist!!!! - follow up on your machine. I did it and it works, at best you have the machine back within 10 days, worst case could be a month or more. (I'm sorry to say, but Apple repair on an international basis does not work well at all! Apple should establish a smooth international repair service.)

- Security. Well, in Madrid they stole my Powerbook, my Bernoulli and my backups (two suitcases disappeared). Very bad and no recover in spite of police and other help. So I bought a new one during a stop over in Miami, and luckily my work still unfinished was with a friend in Cameroon. I got the files and with a lot of new investments I was going again (with one month delay of my final report). My general advice don't carry your computer in a computer case. On the street I usually use shopping bags, sometimes backpacks, on flights I put it in a regular carry on suitcase.

So, after many years roaming around, nowadays I carry just my Powerbook and: - one power adapter for the european plugs (that work also in Latin America and Africa) - one phone cable with the two US standard plugs - one phone cable, open at one end and a small screw driver (often I just open the wall outlet and connect the cable directly - avoiding all the different plugs) - an ethernet cable (just bought a cross over cable as well) - the Powerprint parallel to serial adapter (with software) for printing - about 8 CDs with my backups (and sometimes the drive itself).

Stephen Hildreth has been the Editor-in-Chief of PowerBook Central since its inception in 1996. When not working on his Mac, he shares his love of the outdoors with his family and can be found biking, snow skiing, or educating students on the internal & external processes of our planet.