Laptop
The benefit to bringing a laptop
while backpacking is growing everyday. Hostels and Cafes are starting to provide free Wifi services to patrons. If you are the type of traveler that will be frequenting internet cafes, this could save you a lot of money.
A laptop is also a good way to store your digital pictures that you have taken on your trip. If you didn’t carry a laptop, you would most likely need to burn you digital photos to a CD at a photo shop. This could be quite expensive while traveling. Also, a laptop can help reduce boredom while waiting for trains, flights, etc.
The biggest downside to bringing a laptop is that is vulnerable to get stolen. We insist that if you bring a laptop, make sure you buy a backpack that has good security. The last thing you want is to get your laptop with the photos from your entire trip stolen. It does happen, so take precaution.
When selecting a laptop you want to look for a laptop that is thin so it doesn't take up as much space. Battery life is also important, as it might be a while between charges while backpacking. A laptop that fits these into this criteria is any MacBook made by Apple. These laptops are quite thin, and user friendly for the average traveler. As well, iPhoto is handy for organizing and editing your photos while on the go.
An great alternative to bringing a laptop is a Netbook. Netbooks are smaller and more power efficient versions of computers, with capabilities. The main advantage is that they are significantly cheaper than a laptop and will take up less space in your backpack.