[pdsphil]

I'm hoping to get this post in before the Macworld news hits and the resulting flood of messages.

I am planning a backpacking trip to Europe (Rome, Venice, Innsbruck, and Munich) in a few weeks and was thinking about bringing my Rev. A 12" PB with me. I have the power supply issue figured out – I’m going to buy the Apple World Travel Adapter Kit for my iPod and PowerBook, but the wireless issue has me guessing.

How is the wireless access availability in Europe? Here in the US, pretty much any large city has an open network on every corner, and if not, you can always find a Starbucks or something similar. Is the coverage similar in large cities in Europe (specifically the ones I listed)?

I am planning to upload pics as I go, email friends and family, and maybe use my iSight.

What should I expect? Do cyber cafes offer wireless (I am willing to pay, I just need access in some high-speed fashion)? Or can I bring my notebook to a cyber cafe and plug in?

Thanks for the help.
Phil

[ASIMO]

Advice: Good luck.

[TETENAL]

San Francisco Coffee Company in Munich has an AirPort Access Point.

[Spheric Harlot]

http://80.146.239.232/tcomhsl/

for a start in Germany.

There's plenty of providers in big cities (not nearly enough free ones, mind you), and many cafés offer wlan.

have you tried googling for "wlan hotspots" - that's what they're called here in Germany.

-s*

[Mastrap]

Do not buy the Apple World Travel adaptor kit. It is hugely overpriced. Your power supply is multi voltage out of the box. All you need to get is a $5.00 adaptor at the airport and you're up and running.

Otherwise to what Spheric said.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally posted by Mastrap:
Do not buy the Apple World Travel adaptor kit. It is hugely overpriced. Your power supply is multi voltage out of the box.

The Powerbook's supply, yes.

Recent iPod power supplies ARE NOT MULTI-VOLTAGE. BEWARE. Check the fine print on the power brick - it will say exactly.

[voodoo]

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:
The Powerbook's supply, yes.

Recent iPod power supplies ARE NOT MULTI-VOLTAGE. BEWARE. Check the fine print on the power brick - it will say exactly.

You are sure??

I can't imagine why that would be the case. You can always power the iPod from the FireWire connection.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally posted by voodoo:
You are sure??

I can't imagine why that would be the case. You can always power the iPod from the FireWire connection.

See the "Apple Canada madness" thread also.

Apple has recently begun equipping PowerMacs, iMacs, and iPods with single-voltage power supplies (after taking AGES to finally switch them all to multi-voltage in the 90s) to discourage people from buying them abroad, where they're usually drastically cheaper, especially with the current dollar exchange rate.

[pdsphil]

Thanks for the heads-up on the power issue. I kind of figured the Apple power adapters were overkill.

ASIMO, you say "good luck." Do you speak from experience?

[Goldfinger]

Originally posted by Mastrap:
Do not buy the Apple World Travel adaptor kit. It is hugely overpriced. Your power supply is multi voltage out of the box. All you need to get is a $5.00 adaptor at the airport and you're up and running.

Otherwise to what Spheric said.

Indeed. If you don't buy them at the Airport but at a normal electronics store you can get one for like €1,50. That's less than a sandwich