Minimalist travel and devices

[Frank II]

I have a new portable back-up charger for small devices being sent to me next week. Very small, very lightweight. I'll try to put a review up as soon as possible on my website.

That is....after I do the Tom Bihn product reviews that need to get done.

[Just]

Frank, I read your review several weeks ago with great interest, and you've sold me on the PPU clip, which looks perfect for one of my upcoming trips. I meant to thank you earlier!

I could have sworn I posted this exact same post elsewhere but I can't find it now. Thanks from me as well, Frank! I now own a PPU clip which will serve me well on further adventures!

It depends on the trip. If it's for a conference, I bring my iPad and my Kindle. If it's for a holiday, maybe I bring an iPod Touch but often not even that. I'm a gadget freak but like to have breaks. I also tend to worry about my electronics when I travel so not having them makes me more relaxed.

[Badger]

Frank, I read your review several weeks ago with great interest, and you've sold me on the PPU clip, which looks perfect for one of my upcoming trips. I meant to thank you earlier!

[Frank II]

Here's a review I did of a few of them.

Gear Review: Brigade of the Light*Chargers

You might also want to check out the chargers made by Gomadic. Everything I've purchased from them has been excellent and their customer service is excellent.

http://www.gomadic.com/

[bltkmt]

Universal Charger for all of the above (except keyboard which runs on batteries).

Frank: could you post a link to this? I am always looking for more efficient charging devices, that work for multiple items. Thanks.

[Lani]

Lani - me too! Never heard of retractable USB cords! Please share the details!

You should be able to find them online at various places, but eBay is a great place to find them cheap. Do a search for the phrase "retractable USB cable" at eBay and you will find a ton.

[MaggieScratch]

I think some people who have rooted their Nook Colors have got the Bluetooth to work. It has Bluetooth in the wifi chip, but I think there's some issue in FroYo that prevents it from working. I'm holding out hope that if the NC software is updated to Gingerbread (dare we even hope for Honeycomb--hey, it's a tablet--or ICS?), they will get the Bluetooth working.

I have an older Palm-branded Bluetooth keyboard that looks like Frank's, but I can't get it to work with my brand-spankin'-new Samsung Galaxy SII. The software wanted me to put in a password, but there wasn't a password window and I couldn't call up the keyboard on the phone. The Palm keyboard was made for devices with physical keyboards, so I guess that's why. I have my eye on that Jorno--their website says March 2012. Fingers crossed.

I love my Nook Color so much--I tried several other eInk readers and never thought I would like reading on a backlit screen so well, but the screen's pixel density makes it comfortable. I could never go back to a D-pad device now. ;-)

[Frank II]

Tavapeak...sorry, I have you beat by about 10 years and an eye doctor's appointment in two weeks because I need new reading glasses. I, also need light, but find one too close does give off glare. I like mine a little off to the side. The other secret is to make the font as big as possible.

Off to the store to get some Geritol......just kidding.

[TavaPeak]

Frank - you are right. Nook Color doesn't have bluetooth. The Verbatim keyboard would be for my iPad 2 or iPhone. (Wish there was a driver for my old Targus keyboard, for any of the above!)

Many folks have commented about backlitness. Ironically, I found it hard to read Kindle (or the e-ink Nook) because I needed a reading light for it...which caused glare. So I prefer backlit, and turn the brightness down. ;-) I'm at that mid-40s age of needing a little help from reading glasses and lighting, much as I hate to admit it. Was frustrated when my backup pair of readers was stolen (or lost) from my checked luggage when it was searched in Addis Ababa. Hated to admit that, too.

[Frank II]

TavaPeak....remember, the Nook does not have bluetooth. The folding keyboard needs bluetooth to work and not necessarily on every device. I couldn't get it to synch with my Blackberry.

The folding Keyboard does take a little bit of time getting used to but it's amazing. It even has controls for playing music on the Ipod. Between the Touch and the keyboard I can do just about everything I need. I'd just like a larger screen.

I have the Kindle 1 and I'm happy with it. I especially like the fact it takes SD cards. I can download tons of audiobooks to play on the Kindle without taking up any of it's built in HD memory which I use strictly for books. I'm also not fond of reading devices with backlights. It hurts my eyes after awhile.

I had trouble with the Nook when I tried it in the store. I couldn't get it to work.

RabergNC and misterN....thanks for the info on the retractable cables. I had purchased one from Amazon awhile back and it was garbage. I saw the ones I need on Monoprice for a good "price" and I'm going to order them. Seidioonline had limited offerings.

[TavaPeak]

I got a Nook Color last year, before all the new tablets came out. It's a great size, decent price, easy to read (much easier to navigate than my Kindle), has a web browser that shows half a page at a time with WiFi. I was thrilled when it started playing Angry Birds in April. Used free ebooks from the library, before Overdrive came out with an iPad version. I took the Nook to Africa this summer, and it was small enough to fit in any bag. Terrific size, and the battery lasted for a 14-hour flight. Didn't have to worry about it in a hotel room the way I would have for an Ipad. I didn't take a laptop with me, just my iPhone (which didn't have a carrier in Uganda) and the Nook.

I did hanker after the iPads everyone was using...and DH surprised me with iPad for my bday. I use the Nook much less now, because it doesn't run my Logos software like the iPad does. But for ultralight travel, the Nook is great for trips when I don't need a keyboard. It seems more durable & less fussy than iPad. (tho Ipad 2 and Nook Color seem roughly the same weight.)

Frank, I've had my eye on that foldable keyboard. Miss the days when I could use a Targus foldable with my Palm T3! I have a Bluetooth Apple keyboard, but think the foldable keyboard would be more practical, even if a little less comfy for typing than the Apple.

[misterN]

For my cables--I picked up 1 foot version of them on monoprice.com. I carry 3 of them with me in a clear mini pouch. USB to Micro, USB to Mini, and USB to USB-B

[rabergnc]

It will depend on the device but you can find some at seidioonline.com (chargers and cables by device) as well as on amazon.com (search on retractible usb).

[Maria]

Lani - me too! Never heard of retractable USB cords! Please share the details!