Easiest way to connect.: do I need a computer?

Hi everyone.
I'll spend 4 months travelling around India. Do you think I'll need a netbook/tablet to connect to the internet or you think it's not necessary (I don't know how many internet points there are or how easy-hard it is to connect)?
I just need it to book some trains and accomodations and send few emails home: I don't know whether it's easier in India to find a public computer or it's easier to connect with my own...any advise?

In almost every town you can find an internet café, and most of them have now a good connection.

aale, I've been ruminating on the same subject myself, since I am all but surgically joined to my netbook. After reading the nightmares of finding a 3G connection, let alone 4G, I finally admitted that bringing it is just not worth the trouble, and it'll be one less thing I have to worry about damaging/losing/getting stolen.

Having made the decision, however, I feel a little...odd, as though I were heading to a job interview without any underwear. Or something like that.

Poke nightmares in the eye: Never wear underwear to job interviews!

I don't even know how other countries compare, but since I joined the ranks of smart-phone owners (not smart phone owners, of course) I have found data charges to be ridiculous. It cost me over Rs100 to track my journey from Chennai to Alleppey on Google Maps . Once we got there, the necessary checking of our waitlisted return ticket was further inflated by roaming charges.

However, if one can afford all that, and, assuming of course that one finds connectivity, then why bother to carry around anything bigger than a phone?

Actually, when I travel I make a point of not being attached to the internet. I do that the other fifty weeks of the year! For those who need to be connected to family abroad though (hopefully not work, but not everybody is that lucky) I guess it is a different matter.

Thank you guys. I got the point, better to leave the computer home I know Sixrivets, I feel exactely the same! That's why I wanted to buy the smallest and cheapest computer ever to at least have my little friend with me, my phone can also connect but.. if there are plenty of interent cafes, let's be light

Ahem ! Ahem ! How does it feel ? Never done that

I have taken my 5-1/2 year old macbook nearly a million miles on the road, from Rio Solimoes to Rio Negro, rain forests, caribbean beaches, Arizona desert, snow swept log cabins, found net connections, in remote bus stations, train stations, catamarans, slow boats...Its still healthy.

You know, people take their one year old babies to India for a six month backpacking - Treat it like a silicon child !

I did not pack my netbook on my recent trip as I was most certain I would be just fine on the hotel computer or finding myself an internet cafe.

Problem was is 80% of the time the hotel computer never worked and when I was wanting to use the computer it was in the evenings....so I wasn't out and about looking for an internet cafe.
I am giving some serious consideration to bringing my netbook to India with me on my next trip.

Hi, a smartphone isn't a bad idea. I'm still in the 2G age and there's no roaming except in places like Delhi where you are charged for some network provider. They can be handy for accessing email. Just texted this message using one!

I have been traveling in India for two years with my Asus eeepc netbook and with my iPhone 4 and I wouldn't imagine traveling without them. Fortunately I've never had any trouble at all

But it all depends on what your needs are. I write a blog while I'm traveling, that's why I need a computer and a smartphone with me. But if all you need is to check trains and answer emails then you can certainly rely on internet cafes, they are basically every where, and four months is not that long anyway it's maybe a good opportunity to temporarily "disconnect" from the world. For booking trains I usually just go to a tour oparator, it's easier and they charge a very small commission.

But if you are still thinking about a netbook or tablet then this might help:

What you can do with a netbook?

You can bring all your personal programs, files, browser bookmarks with you which is more efficient when trying to get your work done.

You can also manage your photos and videos from your camera and save them in your hard drive or in the netbook itself. You can't do that with your tablet unless it has a USB port and the right software

You can connect to the internet through wifi, USB data card or using your phone as a router (internet tethering).

What you can do with a tablet? This will depend on which table you have.

Read e-books, probably one of the best usages.
Browse easily the internet
Watch videos that you have previously stored on your tablet.
You can connect to the internet through wifi but not with data card unless your tablet has a USB port.

What can you do with a smartphone?

Basically the same as what you could do with a tablet but you can also make calls, take pictures, make videos and then just put it back in your pocket. Very practical! By the way, I have use my iphone many times to check train schedules and to book trains as well.

One thing for sure, don't rely on wifi connection cause it is not available everywhere, of course it all depends where you are traveling. I have hardly every use the wifi but I always use the internet on my phone, that's why I would prefer a smart phone to travel instead of a netbook

You can find more information in these links:

http://path2yoga.blogspot.com/2011/0...th-mobile.html

http://path2yoga.blogspot.com/2011/0...dget-ever.html

Marco

That was very useful information. I would appreciate if you could let us know the internet service provider (is it Indian?) that you use for the smart phone & netbook.

Cheers

Nattusbs

Hi Nattusbs, I have used sim cards from Aircel, Airtel and Tata Docomo. These are all Indian mobile companies and they all offer a mobile internet plan which is around 98 or 95 rupees a month for unlimited internet (actually 2GB of data plan). They have other plans as well and as far as I remember Aircel and Airtel offer specific plans for the iPhone but they are more expensive.

The sim card that have worked the best for me is Airtel cause it has very good reception in most places that I've been. But still sometimes you really need to be patient because the connection might be not so good but thinks like e-mails or browsing the web is always possible.
Cheers,

Marco

Ok. Thank you everyone, very usefull advises. As I will probably not need much internet so the cafes should be enough...in case, I'll try find a connection for my phone....and experiment this computer-free experinece (probably with plenty of withdrawal symptoms )

ouch!!! i have post-paid airtel gprs that costs 199 per month (plus taxes) for unlimited data usage. i also have prepaid bsnl gprs that costs 99 rs for upto 2GB within 1 month. neither of them charge anything extra for national roaming.
btw, for checking PNR status, you can just use 139 from any indian SIM - it costs 2 rs per min. works from landline too.

Marco

Thanks for the info. I also have a Blackberry and have not really made use of it . Which internet provider should I use to get the Rs 95-98 monthly plan -nationwide with no roaming - I need e-mail (Y and G), IM (), Cricinfo (I currently use Airtel for my Nokia mobile).

Cheers

Nattusbs

Data on a Blackberry is thru completely separate packages which are more expensive than regular data plans. Thats one reason why I don't prefer Blackberry.

Also, though the operators dont charge for Roaming for data, the pulse rate changes when roaming. While in the home circle they charge you on a per KB basis, in Roaming they charge on a per 10 KB basis.