Should I bring my laptop on vacation to Helsinki?

[Matt C.]

I'll be in the city for 10 days, will need to send/receive email, etc. Is it a pain to bring your own computer (thievery, hotels/restaurants without wireless, electricity conversions from US, etc.) and best to use the cafes, or is it not such a bad idea? Basically, my life is on this machine so I'd love to have it, but hate to lose it. I'd just like to hear your experiences/opinions. Thanks!

(And yes, of course my data is backed up)

[Karhunkoski]

I'm wondering why anyone would want to surf the net whilst dining?


I can't answer your question, but could you please answer one for me.

Is this your first trip outside of the US?

[sinikala]

You are unlikely to have your laptop stolen in Hki, WiFi is widespread, don't know about yours but my PC power supply accepts 100-240V 50/60Hz, check the sticker on the underside.

I suspect all you need is either a plug adaptor, or you can buy yourself a cable with an EU plug on it.

Don't know of many internet cafes here, perhaps there isn't much call for them... most people have their own PC. I think there used to be one behind the Yle part of Lasipalatsi.

[Hank W.]

Depends on what kind of a mailbox system you have. If you can access your email through the web, and its only email you want to use and not do any work-work, then its really just a major pain in the ass hauling a laptop with trying to guesstimate which wifi says hello. Theres a few internet cafes around.

[Matt C.]

thanks for the help. it's a mac, so it should find just about every wifi node around; plus, i carry it nearly everywhere now, so it shouldn't be all that bad.

-Suud. - now that you say it and i reread it, i have no idea why i would want to have a computer at a meal. it's been a long week.

[Hank W.]

Finding a wifi node is not the problem. Can you answer the stupid question re. password and whatnot is the irritation...

[Jukka Aho]

Finding a wifi node is not the problem.

The official City of Helsinki website appears to have some information about public WiFi/WLAN access points.

As for plugs and voltages and whatnot, there’s a fairly comprehensive guide here.

[CH]

I would guess that quite a lot of the hotels should have an internet connection, either by wifi or by a plug (they may or may not provide a cable, so bring your own just to be sure). But check with the hotel in advance.

I like taking our laptop along when traveling, but that's a matter of taste. But one can manage fine without, too. At least bigger hotels have business rooms or an area with computers for internet usage (again, check with your hotel in advance). And although there aren't that many Internet cafés, there are some. For instance the Stockmann department store, which is right down town, has a couple.

The one place not to leave the laptop is inside the car, it may very well be stolen (the trunk would be ok), but otherwise you would be very unlucky to get it stolen (well, don't leave it anywhere... the hotel room is fine though).

[raamv]

Okie,
I understand being brought up on the other side of the atlantic, you would like to take your work with you even on vacation. But make it the first time without the laptop and find out how easy-difficult it is without those things especially on a vacation..
mostly, If you are in the Helsinki area, you should not have a problem finding a net cafe where you can use web based emails ( like yahoo, hotmail gmial etc) or free internet access in the hotels..if you decide to bring your laptop.
Try to leave it behind and see what a difference it makes without being connected to work email ( as personal email can be done using web based email)
my 2 cents worth

[buldozr]

I like taking our laptop along when traveling, but that's a matter of taste. But one can manage fine without, too.

Yes, I can now.

[Hank W.]

but otherwise you would be very unlucky to get it stolen .

Except from the hotel breakfast room. Theres an "epidemic" of this going on.

[CH]

but otherwise you would be very unlucky to get it stolen .

Except from the hotel breakfast room. Theres an "epidemic" of this going on.

Really? Haven't heard about it (only the old one involving tourist from a certain country and plastic bags of breakfast food ).

Well, it goes under the "don't leave the laptop unattended". But why would one bring it to the breakfast room, anyway? Well, having a cup of coffee while reading your emails, I guess. But I still wouldn't do it.

And to Raamv: At least I don't have any work on my laptop, and I like to take it with me on vacations. It's just convenient. Can easily check emails & download pictures from the camera. And really convenient as entertainment for a little kid.

[Hank W.]

Well, people leaving their stuff in a bag or table hanging while they go to the buffet. There were a lot of headlines, I think they caught a few "of South American Origin" types. But with the tourists there come also pickpockets - its foreigner-on-foreigner crime, so treat yourself suspicious looking in the mirror in the morning

[Matt C.]

Okie,
I understand being brought up on the other side of the atlantic, you would like to take your work with you even on vacation. But make it the first time without the laptop and find out how easy-difficult it is without those things especially on a vacation..

No, the last thing I want to bring is the office. I work part time while studying here, so it's not a problem. This is our first real vacation in about 5 years since having kids, and they are staying home with the grandparents for the first time. We'd just like an easy way to communicate, upload photos to Flickr, etc. But those are not likely to outweigh the risks and added stress of brining it (US airports!), so it'll likely stay here.

Is this your first trip outside of the US?

No. But it is the first to Europe. Guatemala a bunch.

[Karhunkoski]

Finland isn't such a crime hotspot IMO, I think the decision whether to bring it or not depends more on whether you can get by without it, rather than the machine's security.

Enjoy your time here.