What computing device do you use most while on vacation?
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Obligatory (Score:5, Funny)
The last two options seem somewhat redundant.
Re:Obligatory (Score:0)
Well everyones idea of vacation is different. I don't like being connected on vacation, but my wife does and my son definitely does.
Re:Obligatory (Score:2, Insightful)
If anyone on Facetwit@email.whatever can still get a hold of me I'm not really on vacation.
Re:Obligatory (Score:5, Interesting)
I sit at a computer 9 hours a day working - not just the normal "email and Excel" type stuff, but maintaining web servers, so I don't think I qualify as Amish. What that means for my vacation is that I'm going to spend all of my time looking at *anything* but a screen. I find it more fulfilling to experience the landscape and culture of the place I'm visiting instead of staying plugged in to the same Matrix I already spend the other 99% of my life in.
Another interesting note might be that a few years ago my power was knocked out for 2 solid weeks after a hurricane. Although I really missed the power for certain things like air conditioning, lighting, refrigeration, etc - computers/internet were not on that list. For a day I thought I missed them, then I started to enjoy the breather. Being outside, walking, reading on a swing, smoking a few joints... it was actually a very nice two weeks with zero internet.
Re:Obligatory (Score:5, Funny)
The power came on after an hour. You were just too stoned to notice.
Re:Obligatory (Score:4, Interesting)
I sit at a computer 9 hours a day working - not just the normal "email and Excel" type stuff, but maintaining web servers, so I don't think I qualify as Amish. What that means for my vacation is that I'm going to spend all of my time looking at *anything* but a screen. I find it more fulfilling to experience the landscape and culture of the place I'm visiting instead of staying plugged in to the same Matrix I already spend the other 99% of my life in.
Having only 9 hour days would *BE* a vacation for me.
Re:Obligatory (Score:3)
I agree, if I could disconnect and turn off the cell phone after 9 hours it would be like a vacation. Most of my vacation time gets used up for weddings, funerals, and family emergencies.
At work I support VDI servers, services, and users. {occasionally I'll have an opportunity for some development, patches for vdi or some web apps here and there}
I did take an actual vacation at the beginning of the year that consisted of me staying home and working on some foss, not the same as what I do at work and far more enjoyable. {Kind of like a mechanic driving a race car on his vacation... far more enjoyable than rotating tires and doing oil changes all day}
Re:Obligatory (Score:3, Interesting)
I sit at a computer 9 hours a day working - not just the normal "email and Excel" type stuff, but maintaining web servers, so I don't think I qualify as Amish. What that means for my vacation is that I'm going to spend all of my time looking at *anything* but a screen. I find it more fulfilling to experience the landscape and culture of the place I'm visiting instead of staying plugged in to the same Matrix I already spend the other 99% of my life in.
Having only 9 hour days would *BE* a vacation for me.
Since the tone of your post sounds like you don't love working more than 9 hours a day, you need to reexamine your career choices. Why do you put up with it? I don't work more than 8 hours/day normally, and only go to 10 or so hours when there's an actual business need. And I make sure the people who report to me don't get stuck in that trap of permanent emergency either.
Re:Obligatory (Score:2)
Since the tone of your post sounds like you don't love working more than 9 hours a day, you need to reexamine your career choices. Why do you put up with it? I don't work more than 8 hours/day normally, and only go to 10 or so hours when there's an actual business need. And I make sure the people who report to me don't get stuck in that trap of permanent emergency either.
Simple. Only job I could find a year ago and there hasn't been another available. Can't afford to move from the area and it's really difficult to emigrate from the small rural college town where I work. A lot of valid reasons. Trying to make the situation better, but that takes time. Right now it's Hell. Thanks for asking.
Re:Obligatory (Score:5, Interesting)
Once a week, I observe Shabbat by not using my computers or smartphone (except in case of emergency). It's partly religious observance, but if I'm really being honest it's mostly a time to force myself to unplug, spend time with my family, and not become a work-a-holic. There are times (especially when things slow down) that I feel the urge to whip out the old smartphone and check Twitter, but I resist and enjoy the time offline.
Re:Obligatory (Score:3)
Re:Obligatory (Score:3, Insightful)
Amen!
I want to actually observe the world around me on vacation. I noticed when I was in D.C. visiting all the memorials, so many people were staring at their phone claiming foursquare badges, etc.
Likewise, when I am outdoors doing something like skiing, I don't want to listen to music. I want to hear the world around me. Sometimes, the silence is deafening.
Re:Obligatory (Score:2)
When that occurs, I know it is going to be some great times. I remember the first time I experienced it, I was camping, at least a hundred KM from any form of civilization, and being in the tent, I couldn't get over how loud the silence was. It was unnerving for that first night, but now it is something that I really miss, and when I get the chance to encounter it again, it is something I truly cherish.
Only a few people that I've discussed the experience with have "got it." Sounds like your one that appreciates it.
Cheers
Re:Obligatory (Score:2)
Seems we both get it. Glad to find a kindred spirit. I enjoy the great outdoors in New Hampshire.
Re:Obligatory (Score:2)
Exactly.
I'm a sysadmin for both Windows and Linux and a hard-core gamer. When finally on vacation the last thing I do is to use the phone or laptop. For me free time is all about enjoying the company and myself in the new environment.
Re:Obligatory (Score:2)
The last two options seem somewhat redundant.
Not even a little. One can disconnect/unplug once in awhile without being a Luddite.
Re: Obligatory (Score:2)
Vacation? (Score:5, Funny)
What is this vacation of which you speak?
Re:Vacation? (Score:2)
Re:Vacation? (Score:2)
Vacations as in no work, schools, etc. ;)
Re:Vacation? (Score:0)
You mean like a jobless and homeless person drifting all day?
Re:Vacation? (Score:2)
I too am unfamiliar with this term.
From research, the term vacation and computing device seem incompatible.
Re:Vacation? (Score:2, Insightful)
A "vacation" is a work week wherein you're only mandated to do urgent things, like fix actual problems (usually: printers). You don't have to work on any long-term projects, and you don't have to sit at your desk certain hours just because it's that time of day. If you somehow manage to get all of the computers in the building working right, you can actually leave for a while, until they have another problem and call you.
Re:Vacation? (Score:2)
"Vacation" is what most people call it, but the technical name is "Unemployment"...
Re:Vacation? (Score:2)
Re:Vacation? (Score:2)
Android tablet + removable keyboard (Score:2)
Re:Android tablet + removable keyboard (Score:2)
Kind of needed a CD drive on my last vacation. It was a strange situation. Of course I was not expecting it at all.
My Android phone will happily use a CD drive if you manage to connect one to it. It just never occurred to me to have such a device with my on my last vacation.
Re:Android tablet + removable keyboard (Score:2)
Asus Transformer?
I often travel with just my phone and transformer tablet - but it doesn't work as a development platform, so if I think I might be cutting any code I need the real box. (It depends on the trip. This time I broght it along because I'm playing with some new simulations, and spending a couple of weeks away from home... and am really glad because I've been exposed to influenza a, and am quarantining myself for the day. But if I know I'm going to be doing martial arts 9.5 hours a day, usually the transformer and my phone are plenty.)
On vacations I sail (Score:3)
Phone goes in chart table and the only electronic device used is the depth sounder when I go gunkholing.
Re:On vacations I sail (Score:2)
gunkholing
What is that a euphemism for?
Re: On vacations I sail (Score:2)
Holing a gunk?
Re: On vacations I sail (Score:1)
Good guess but no. It is a boating term that means anchoring out in a shallow, secluded area.
Re: On vacations I sail (Score:2)
Good guess but no. It is a boating term that means anchoring out in a shallow, secluded area.
And "anchoring out in a shallow, secluded area" is a euphemism for......
Re:On vacations I sail (Score:2, Interesting)
Gunkholing [wikipedia.org]
Re:On vacations I sail (Score:2)
You equate a couple of things that I don't, it seems.
I've been off for about 10 days, and today's the first day of it that my wife and I have had to ourselves.
*Now* we might be starting to have a vacation.
Back to the subject: I take my smartphone for communication and navigation (and sometimes translation, depending on where we go), and my tablet for reading the news and listening to music. I have my laptop along to burn some CDs with wedding photos for various relatives, and because one dev team at work just couldn't stand not scheduling a release during my time off, so I'll have to spend one day working, but I've not yet so much as taken it out of my bag, and won't do so until 3 or 4 January, after which it'll get put away again until I go back to work on the 15th.
Being connected can be entertaining and/or useful while on holiday. Being connected to work while on holiday is right out, unless it absolutely cannot be avoided.
Netbook (Score:1, Interesting)
My 2008 Acer Aspire One netbook still serves me fine. A bit more performance would be nice at times, but apparently "small, affordable, with keyboard, runs Windows" is not something the market is all too interested in.
Re: Netbook (Score:0)
Wow, someone else who uses that model! Can you find any good games for it?
Re: Netbook (Score:2)
Re:Netbook (Score:2)
Tablet but for very specific use. (Score:0)
On the plane to/from my holiday destination i use the tablet as ereader and maybe play a game.
While I'm there I backup my photo's from the camera's SD card(s) onto the tablet.
And I use it as ereader in the evening a bit. (I like to read for 30-60 minutes before going to sleep.)
I may use it to browse some news-sites if I've got free Wifi in the hotel, but I have done many a holiday without doing that.
I've got a smartphone with me too, but that has data off during the holiday.
I usually don't use the phone at all, except as alarm-clock.
I only carry it for emergencies.
Either my own while hiking or to be reachable in case something happens to my parents (they are elderly and my father has a heart-condition).
The office can call but only if both my team-leader and a senior colleague agree they need my advice.
Happened once 4 years ago, while I was mountain-biking in Iceland. I had to talk my colleague through recovery of a database which had crashed.
Laptop: (Score:1)
That's what I'm on this vacation. It would have been my XP desktop mostly, but that had an electrolytic capacitor pop last Friday, and now fails to boot. I've been too lazy to take it apart and fix it. (I fix electronics, computers and lab gear for a living. So phooey on doing that until I go back to work January 2nd.)
Oddly, most of my laptops are far more powerful than any of the desktops I regularly use (I7s versus P4s).
What is a vacation? (Score:2)
I'd vote for "What is a vacation?"
Instead, I'll just use what I use on a weekend, which is usually my smartphone, secondarily a 7" tablet.
Re:What is a vacation? (Score:0)
This place is usually US centric. A question about how much vacation we get is definitely geared to other countries.
I'm 20 hours in to Christmas and haven't been paged yet. Which is a great gift. On Thanksgiving, I got to remotely fix air handler loggers during dinner. So that was nice.
If I get a vacation, it's spent sleeping or running errands since you can't get haircuts at 9:00PM or 2:00AM when you leave work.
But here I am, logged into my desktop PC in case I get called and have to remote in.
I need a vacation...
Re:What is a vacation? (Score:5, Informative)
In real countries with actual civilization and culture, vacations are mandatory by law.
Re:What is a vacation? (Score:2)
Re:What is a vacation? (Score:3)
On one business trip to Milan, the waiter told us about saving his vacation for a few years so he could ride a Harley across the U.S. For six months.
Re:What is a vacation? (Score:4)
I do enjoy my statutory 28 days a year holiday here in the UK, thank you (more than that even, as my employer increases holiday entitlement incrementally for longer serving employees). As I work in an information secure environment, none of my work is on any of my personal devices- so when I take time off, I lock my work laptop and work phone in my work locker, and don't take it out until I get back. If it were a total emergency my colleagues know my phone number, but they've had the good grace to never use it yet.
So I do things. I go abroad. I go on day trips. I spend time with my family, or with my friends. I have a life that does not involve a 22 inch panel of flickering lights. (Unless I watch a film or play a computer game in said time off, I suppose- but why ruin such a nice statement).
Someone's else computer/lappy. (Score:4, Insightful)
But I rarely go out on vacation UNLESS it is urgent. I am usually at home. If I go out, I am usually offline.
Alt answer: (Score:0)
CowboyNeal
Re:Alt answer: (Score:2)
Re:Alt answer: (Score:2)
Yeah .. i know .. scary ...
Re:Alt answer: (Score:2)
You are on CowboyNeal when you go on vacation?
No, silly. AC uses Cowboy Neal as a computing device. Beats me how ... maybe AC uses his toes for counting?
Vacation? (Score:0)
Vacation?
What the Hell is this Vacation thing you're talking about???
You NEED to take a vacation (Score:2)
my recent vacations have been where there are few phones. I'd occasionally manage to get a wi-fi connection to exchange a few emails.
From a highway, I've walked to where there is no cell service, in the Northeast US. On a sailboat, no land in sight
I worked in the cell phone industry in the '90's, starting in '90. I knew about being connected before it was popular.
Learn to let go.
Re:You NEED to take a vacation (Score:5, Funny)
This is ten feet from a highway in any direction, if you have T-Mobile.
Re:You NEED to take a vacation (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:You NEED to take a vacation (Score:1)
Re:You NEED to take a vacation (Score:2)
Re:You NEED to take a vacation (Score:1)
Re:You NEED to take a vacation (Score:2)
Re:You NEED to take a vacation (Score:0)
For the people that noted what's a vacation, you need to get a life. my recent vacations have been where there are few phones. I'd occasionally manage to get a wi-fi connection to exchange a few emails. From a highway, I've walked to where there is no cell service, in the Northeast US. On a sailboat, no land in sight .... I worked in the cell phone industry in the '90's, starting in '90. I knew about being connected before it was popular. Learn to let go.
Most of us aren't in corporate management or employed by the government.
Re:You NEED to take a vacation (Score:0)
Sucks to be you then
Re:You NEED to take a vacation (Score:2)
Sucks to be you then
That's cool. It's all good. I'm sure you've heard the saying, "Don't get mad, get even". I think Timothy McVeigh went one better, did both and then some.
.
And how did that work out for that pussy coward fuck, do you remember? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_McVeigh [wikipedia.org]
Re:You NEED to take a vacation (Score:0)
For the people that noted what's a vacation, you need to get a life.
Sorry dude... I made my hobby my work, now I am happy at work and I still got a great hobby.
Don't you tell me that I can't play with computers on my vacation.
Re:You NEED to take a vacation (Score:0)
Learn to let go.
I'd occasionally manage to get a wi-fi connection to exchange a few emails.
It sounds like you need to take your own advice. You've "let go" only by necessity because of a weak connection. But once you get that connection, you mainline it just like the people you're preaching to.
Re:You NEED to take a vacation (Score:1)
For the people that noted what's a vacation, you need to get a life.
Fuck you.
I literally cannot afford such luxuries and I can't imagine I'm alone. Not everyone gets paid time off, or even holidays. Even if I were to spend a week relaxing at home, I'd end up using my credit cards as a crutch, taking multiple months to pay them off again. To do anything else, I'd have to get a fucking loan.
Re:You NEED to take a vacation (Score:2)
In the UK, everyone has a statutory right to time off as long as they're on a permanent contract. For a full time employee on a normal contract, it's 28 days per year (including public holidays).
If your country does not have such a thing, I suggest you raise it on your political agenda. Write your congressman, etc, Protecting workers' rights is an important sign of being a civilized society. Or you could emigrate. Whichever is easier really.
Re:You NEED to take a vacation (Score:2)
For the people that noted what's a vacation, you need to get a life.
Fuck you.
I literally cannot afford such luxuries and I can't imagine I'm alone. Not everyone gets paid time off, or even holidays. Even if I were to spend a week relaxing at home, I'd end up using my credit cards as a crutch, taking multiple months to pay them off again. To do anything else, I'd have to get a fucking loan.
Judging from your attitude, I'd say you need to take the GP's advice. Even if you don't spend any money, find some way to unwind.
Re:You NEED to take a vacation (Score:3)
Re:You NEED to take a vacation (Score:1)
Re:You NEED to take a vacation (Score:2)
Take a vacation crewing on a sailboat crossing the Atlantic.
It your boss is willing to spring for an Iridium phone, you're reachable. Not that you could get back any faster.
The trip gives you a different perspective on the world, among other things.
Re:You NEED to take a vacation (Score:2)
I just don't want my vacation stories to include, "...and after the storm passed, we counted the crew and cut off what remained of the mast with a chain saw."
Missing options... (Score:0)
I'm sure that many people here use various gizmos on vacation only. In my case a chart plotter and depth sounder since I go sailing...
Retired (Score:0)
Since I am retired, most of the time when I travel one could / might call it a vacation.
I usually take my laptop with me when I leave home for more than a day.
Although most of my non-snow seasons traveling is done on a motorcycle.
This retired life is pretty good, you ought to try it.
GPS (Score:0)
A handheld GPS
Depends on the Vacation (Score:2)
When I'm on the motorcycle, I use the phone and camera for taking pictures and upload them to the tablet as a backup. I use the tablet to read ebooks at night when I'm in my tent. I have planned a motorcycle trip to Alaska for June so I'll be likely using the phone and tablet for the same purpose. Pictures, backup, and reading.
My last vacation back in October was a Rocksmith watch. The new 2014 was coming out on the 22nd so I spent a week on my desktop waiting for the game to become available or on the guitar or bass playing.
[John]
Vacation? (Score:1)
Vacation means little tech. (Score:0)
I don't spend my vacation sending everyone photos and video of what I am doing. Or doing any kind of work related stuff. I'll use a laptop or smartphone to check weather and look up vacation related information. I have seen plenty of people piss away their vacation trying to document it for others. Seriously, enjoy the here and now its so much better as it happens then seeing it in a picture or video later.
Desktop... (Score:3)
Because I'm to damn poor to afford a real vacation I have to fake one by lying on some beach in Second Life. While in real life I drop sand down my underwear, dump bucket of salt water over my head, and pretend to have fun.
Its all great until the flying penis show up....
camera (Score:3)
only device i take with me.
Depends on where I spend my vacation (Score:1)
Netbook (Score:2)
I require an operating system that isn't crippled, and a full-sized keyboard for typing.
I don't think I would mind a small tablet if it came with a decent OS and a USB port for my HHKB.
It depends on if you count maps & streaming au (Score:2)
When I'm on the road, I often I make heavy use of the smartphone to provide GPS w/ Google Maps and streaming audio to the car stereo. So strictly speaking, on a trip that's about 14 hours each way, the smartphone would win. But when I'm chillin' at my destination, I'll have the laptop on.
Missing option... (Score:3)
Answer : All of the above. I use all of them sometimes all in one day on vacation.
A physical map. (Score:1)
Re:A physical map. (Score:1)
We need multiple choice on this one (Score:1)
But my smartphone gets a lot of use too: mapping, GPS, quick info when there's no WiFi, and so on. And because my provider is no longer AT & T, I can even talk to other people on it.
is retirement a vacation? (Score:2)
I'm retired, disabled. But if I do go anywhere I take my laptop. Mostly to check out pics I took on a given day. Photography is the hobby that probably got me to travel in the first place.
Just my phone, with a tiny slice of desktop (Score:2)
Just my phone. It's my camera / music player / movie player / compass / satnav / videocamera / processing lab / editing room / maps / guide to strange places out of the beaten path, etc.
But this year's chistmas vacation, there's a piece of electronica that saw way more use than all of your list combined: My lcd projector.
I just binged on about 20 hours of Tiny Toons, the last two volumes that'd been held up forever.
My brain has stopped working. It's not aware that Monday I go back to work.
Aww, look at it. It had to type that last sentence and it's already bawling its eyes our in the corner. It's ok, brain -- I have all of Soul Eeater to kill whatever cells you have left. And if that's not enough, there's always a return engagement of Panty and Stocking..
A laptop is necessary for vacation! (Score:2)
I still look through our vacation photos and wonder why we kept some of them. The daily cull needs to be more severe.
Re:A laptop is necessary for vacation! (Score:3)
vacation? (Score:2)
Re:vacation? (Score:2)
Exactly. I'm retired. I don't get vacations!
I'm on Vacation now... (Score:1)
I lied. I'm not Amish. (Score:2)
but, I would, if I (and the Amish) could. Find a way to combine their lifestyle with a non-religious set of life values, that is. And a month a year without disruptive technology is the bare minimum.
(Note the difference between atheist ("not believing in an almighty super being") versus non-religious..)
Off the grid (Score:3)
I make sure that my vacations are out of cell coverage, so my cellphone is irrelevant. I turn it off for the duration. All the better to hear the wind rustling through the leaves, the birds calling, and so on. One favourite getaway includes howler monkeys whooping it up at dawn. So be it.
I take my iPad with me. I can read stuff on it if I want to. At the airport yesterday I checked the weather via the airport's WiFi, did my own forecast of the flight conditions and compared that with the airline's briefing on turbulence and stuff. Nailed it. :-)
My employers have emergency contact information, but they understand that if they call me it had better be an emergency. The one time they called me (in 14 years) it really was. My boss is of the same mindset on this stuff, so it's cool.
...laura
Depends (Score:2)
Google maps and an e-reader (Score:2)
When on vacation I don't use any other functionality of my phone but Google maps and Google star map for those clear nights away from the light pollution of civilization. And an e-reader.
My last summer vacation recapitulation:
- duration 3 weeks
- TV, newspapers, radio, Internet time - zero. I am not exaggerating - zero! I only said to my mom - call me if there is a war or a global disaster approaching; nothing else matters.
- books read - 12 volumes (5 of which were from the "saga of fire and ice", pretty thick...)
- star observation with binoculars and small telescope - every night
- sun baths in the garden while reading - every day
- visiting rock concerts, galleries and musea - plenty. Some would say that via Internet I'd get timely info for all cultural and entertainment events in the region; instead I just went to the organizers of the events and asked. Also, there are still those old-fashioned things called posters...
- satisfaction from the vacation - guaranteed (I consider vacation a success if I cannot immediately remember my logging password for the work PC when I am back. Bonus - if I have to think for a while in order to remember what project I was doing. I achieve that level of bliss consistently).
There was a time before all those gadgets were here. Everything was just as possible back then as it is now...although carrying 12 volumes can be cumbersome - but I have done it for decades, so I am used to it and could go without the reader if necessary...
Disclaimer: large portion of my aversion to the gadgets [exhibited not only during a vacation] is because of the way the industry screwed one of the best tech ideas ever. The whole locking, spying, paranoia shit that goes on on phones and e-readers...I hate it and it puts me off from adopting the tech in earnest, which was my original intention...
Re:Amish votes? (Score:2)