Preparation: Great Technology Companions for a Walkabout

Another relatively long lead time item in our preparations was making sure we had the right technology tools for our trip. Of course we will take our laptops, and of course we will need access to the Internet -- we considered getting some kind of laptop connect card, but we're opting to stay at hotels with free Internet and to make-do with free WiFi at places like Panera during the day. The question is, what other tools will help us stay connected?

Our most important purchase was a GPS system with a great database of restaurants, hotels, gas stations, etc. We wanted to make this purchase well before the trip, so we could test it on several mini-trips before hitting the road for the actual walkabout. Learning the new features and testing the quality of the database is easier when you do it in places you are familiar with; we tested ours on short trips to familiar cities: Pittsburgh, Flint MI, Columbus. Every experience so far has made us increasingly pleased with our choice.

After some research, we purchased a Garmin Nuvi 750, a recently discontinued model that is being sold at great prices in a variety of locations. We picked ours up for $198 at Sam's Club, but I've seen it as low as $175 at Amazon -- this for a model that sold for as much as $500 when it was new. It's still a great purchase; it has the larger 4.3 inch touch screen and nice features such as 'where am I', which shows nearby hospitals, police departments and other emergency resources with a single button touch. The points of interest database is huge and current, and it's already saved us time and effort in places we thought we knew pretty well. It will be invaluable on the road.

Another purchase I've made that I'm thrilled with is the new Kindle 2 from Amazon. I can't say enough about this 'new toy'; it is really transforming my approach to reading. Its value on the trip will be this: I can fit my library in my purse; I can get my New York Times and other publications delivered to me through my free wireless connection anywhere I can get cell reception. No more stopping the newspaper delivery while on vacation; your newspaper follows you wherever you go! And the cost is less than the actual paper delivery - how can you beat that?