Comments on: Windows CE Graphics Packages Review http://the-gadgeteer.com/2000/04/10/windows_ce_graphics_packages_review/ Gadget reviews and news by Julie Strietelmeier and friends since 1997 Fri, 25 May 2012 04:14:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Timo http://the-gadgeteer.com/2000/04/10/windows_ce_graphics_packages_review/comment-page-1/#comment-14048 Timo Tue, 25 Feb 2003 12:42:36 +0000 #comment-14048 Misconceptions: (i) "Power plugs in the UK: BIG 3 pronged, square plugs. …………..Why so big? Every plug has a fuse built into it. Why? Because they don't have fuse boxes or circuit breakers in their homes' electrical system."… Not true. Every electrical system in the UK has a fuse box or circuit breakers (in the case of my 1819 house, both). I think the "giant" UK plug evolved when this wasn't universal. Now it's really just overkill (if that's the right word in the context). (ii) "The food is bad." Again wrong. London has some of the best eating in the World; if you've never tried Ethiopian, Nepalese, Swedish or Argentinean cuisine and want to, London will have at least one restaurant catering exclusively to your obscure choice. But it's not compulsory! It's worth looking out for a new breed of eating place – the "gastropub". These are typically stripped out drinking pubs devoted mainly to serving freshly-cooked restaurant quality modern English or European food in informal settings. Often you have to order your food, then find somewhere to sit down and the kitchen will be open behind the bar. Other reliable good value standbys are Pizza Express, Japanese/Chinese/Thai noodle soup restaurants, shushi/sashimi conveyor-belt bars (Sushi Sushi is the best known) and non-branded sandwich shops. However, eating out in London tends to be pricey. I'm afraid the £1=$1 rule applies here particularly. (iii) "The weather's always terrible". It's certainly variable, it will probably rain when you are here and it's rare that the sun is out for a whole day at a time. However, you don't have the extremes of heat, humidity and freezing cold that you find in, say, Chicago. If it's raining in the morning, it'll probably have stopped by lunchtime. In fact generally it's not a bad climate with which to explore a big city. (iv) "You'll look out of place in a teeshirt, jeans and trainers (sneakers)." Rubbish – that’s pretty much a uniform for most Londoners away from work. Certainly it's worth smartening up a little for a smart restaurant and you won't get into the coolest of bars dressed like that but that's about it. Smartening up really needn't mean much – for a man I'd say swap the tee for a tee with a collar(d'you say "polo shirt"), the jeans for chinos and the trainers for loafers. The female equivalent is I expect almost the same. The correct dress code for the coolest of bars ghas probably changed whilst I was typing this. (v) "It's expensive". Sorry, not a misconception. Tim Misconceptions:
(i) “Power plugs in the UK: BIG 3 pronged, square plugs. …………..Why so big? Every plug has a fuse built into it. Why? Because they don’t have fuse boxes or circuit breakers in their homes’ electrical system.”…
Not true. Every electrical system in the UK has a fuse box or circuit breakers (in the case of my 1819 house, both). I think the “giant” UK plug evolved when this wasn’t universal. Now it’s really just overkill (if that’s the right word in the context).
(ii) “The food is bad.” Again wrong. London has some of the best eating in the World; if you’ve never tried Ethiopian, Nepalese, Swedish or Argentinean cuisine and want to, London will have at least one restaurant catering exclusively to your obscure choice. But it’s not compulsory! It’s worth looking out for a new breed of eating place – the “gastropub”. These are typically stripped out drinking pubs devoted mainly to serving freshly-cooked restaurant quality modern English or European food in informal settings. Often you have to order your food, then find somewhere to sit down and the kitchen will be open behind the bar. Other reliable good value standbys are Pizza Express, Japanese/Chinese/Thai noodle soup restaurants, shushi/sashimi conveyor-belt bars (Sushi Sushi is the best known) and non-branded sandwich shops.
However, eating out in London tends to be pricey. I’m afraid the £1=$1 rule applies here particularly.
(iii) “The weather’s always terrible”. It’s certainly variable, it will probably rain when you are here and it’s rare that the sun is out for a whole day at a time. However, you don’t have the extremes of heat, humidity and freezing cold that you find in, say, Chicago. If it’s raining in the morning, it’ll probably have stopped by lunchtime. In fact generally it’s not a bad climate with which to explore a big city.
(iv) “You’ll look out of place in a teeshirt, jeans and trainers (sneakers).” Rubbish – that’s pretty much a uniform for most Londoners away from work. Certainly it’s worth smartening up a little for a smart restaurant and you won’t get into the coolest of bars dressed like that but that’s about it. Smartening up really needn’t mean much – for a man I’d say swap the tee for a tee with a collar(d’you say “polo shirt”), the jeans for chinos and the trainers for loafers. The female equivalent is I expect almost the same. The correct dress code for the coolest of bars ghas probably changed whilst I was typing this.
(v) “It’s expensive”. Sorry, not a misconception.

Tim

]]> By: Timo http://the-gadgeteer.com/2000/04/10/windows_ce_graphics_packages_review/comment-page-1/#comment-14047 Timo Tue, 25 Feb 2003 12:41:55 +0000 #comment-14047 My thoughts, for what they're worth: Transport London is really big – several times the size of any other European city and on a par with, say, New York or LA. However, the tube is really extensive and there's hardly anywhere you'd want to go in London that it doesn't cover and you'll be sticking to the centre (well inside Zone 1) for most/all stuff. An absolute priority in my opinion is avoid getting on the tube (or buses for that matter) during the rush "hour" – say 8 to 9.30 am and 5.30 to 7pm. If you find yourself outside a tube station at these times and are tempted, I suggest just chilling out for a bit in a nearby coffee shop (millions everywhere) and watching us wage slaves battling to work! The buses are very good and fun, but the routes are harder to work out. It's really worth spending five minutes studying the maps at the stop(s) nearest your hotel because there's nothing nicer than sitting on the top deck and trundling off to a bit of London you've got to know. At the moment, with the start of the charge to bring cars into the centre, the buses are really fast too. Taxis – easily recognisable black cabs although not all are black! Five passengers (you don't sit next to the driver in London black cabs) if you are friends, plus a big boot (trunk) and more luggage space where the front passenger seat should be. Black cabs are licensed by the police and the drivers are supposed to know every street in London – at the very least they know every street in the centre. It is extremely rare for passengers to be ripped off on the fare (even American tourists!). Just don't worry about it. As someone said previously, avoid unlicensed minicabs in London, unless you a visiting a local who calls one for you or you are in a flash restaurant and they get you one. Black cabs are a bit of a luxury – they're not cheap, but very convenient and safe. If you're coming in from Heathrow airport, a cab will cost you about £40-50. The alternative is the tube is about £3.50! Driving in London – don't bother if you are here to have fun. It's on a par with Manhattan and parking is impossible. Safety It's hard to be objective here as I've lived in London on and off for 20+ years and don't spend much of my spare time around the tourist sites. Who knows what defensive behaviour I've unconsciously adopted in that time. However, I reckon London is very safe. As a tourist, you are unlikely to stray into a dodgy area. People ripping you off will be very rare – the prices are all quite high enough to make that unnecessary! There are nuisances such as begging, but much less so than New York. Pick pocketing is a problem as are thefts of unwatched handbags etc from pubs and cafes. It is very rare indeed that these crimes and problems involve violence or threatening behaviour. Keep your cash and travel documents in zipped (even velcroed?) inside pockets. I suspect the worst you will see is closing time mayhem. Stupidly in England all the pubs close at 11pm unless they have a special licence. That means that on a weekend in every English town or city centre there are throngs of young drunk people milling around at about 11.30pm not really wanting to go home. It can be a bit intimidating and is often not a pretty sight, but shouldn't be a problem in central London. Scotland is much more civilised about these things (I mean closing times rather than drunkenness). Money Compared to the US, the UK and particularly London is expensive. Although the exchange rate is about $1.59 : £1 or £0.63 : $1, for most stuff you might as well reckon on £1 : $1. It's not really a place to pick up a bargain, but you can probably buy just about anything you can think of somewhere in London. If you do want to shop, or window shop, here are some ideas: Designer clothes, jewellery, watches etc – Bond Street (Piccadilly end), Sloane Street (Knightsbridge end). Both are beautiful streets with beautiful people. All the famous names. Hippish/funky/secondhand clothes and much else – Camden Lock market and/or the top end of Portabello Road at the weekend. Both get very crowded, but are fun. Antiques – junk to high end: first section of Portabello Road Consumer electronics – Tottenham Court Road Department Stores: Harrods – does have just about everything but is sooooo tacky Selfridges – well worth a visit Harvey Nichols – trendy clothes, cool bar and restaurant on the top floor. Whatever the guidebooks say, avoid Oxford Street (except Selfridges) and Petticoat Market. Parks The parks are very good, plentiful and safe – St James's Park : behind the Ritz and adjoining Buckingham Palace. Beautiful. Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens. Huge, great for a walk. The Serpentine Gallery is a small modern art museum on its own in the centre of the park. There is always something worth seeing there, even if you come away saying "interesting, but is that really art" or "I could have done better blindfold" etc. Hamptead Heath : enormous, parts are really wild. Read the guidebooks, and maybe go to a concert at Kenwood House. Greenwich Outside the very centre of London i.e. the West End (theatre, restaurant, gallaries and shopping district) and the City (the financial district – note the upper case "C" in City), people generally talk of London as a series of separate villages that have joined up over the centuries. It's a cliché, but a useful one. One corner with a real village atmosphere, as Jeremy says, is Greenwich on the river south east of the centre. A really good trip is to take the Docklands Light Railway out of the City (financial district) to the southern end of the Isle of Dogs (real name!), cross under the river by the foot tunnel and emerge in Greenwich. After sampling the atmosphere and a beer or coffee or two, take a river bus upstream under Tower Bridge and back to the City or Westminster. The Docklands Light Railway is a different system from the tube or overland rail and runs east and south-east mostly elevated through the former industrial docklands (including the Isle of the Dogs). Now the area has been transformed by the creation of huge financial district and chi-chi apartment blocks. There's not much to do on the ground, but it's a nice way to get to Greenwich. Other "villages" worth a trip if you have the time/a good excuse: Richmond – quite a way out to the West between the Thames and a huge deer park.. Actually at the very end of a tube line! South Kensington – very smart, good shops and restaurants, the museums nearby Hampstead – a really nice area as well as having the Heath Galleries/Museums etc Like most Londoners, I'm so lazy when it comes to making the most of the huge number of sites, museums and galleries around me every day, so I'll definitely miss some places (and have ignored must-see places such as Westminster Abbey which you'll go to without my help). The following are some of my favourites: The Tate Modern – a converted power station by the river showing the national modern art collection. A truly stunning space, and the art is very very good. Usually the central hall is taken up with an exhibition of oversize sculpture. A nice way to get there is the new footbridge over the river from St Paul's Cathedral. It has a proper name but Londoners just call it the "wobbly" bridge, because that's what it did when it was first opened. St Paul's Cathedral – one of my favourite London churches. Designed and built by Christopher Wren – it transformed ideas in England about how churches should be. The light and space is wonderful. Hint – if you pass a building by Christopher Wren or his former apprentice, Nicholas Hawksmoor, stop and have a look around. The Science Museum and Natural History Museums These are magnificent cathedrals to the wonder of science, created mid-19th century at the height of the Victorians' power and confidence. They still work to educate and inspire wonder. I suspect originally they weren't as much fun. National Portrait Gallery The adjoining National Gallery is very good (although Paris equivalent, the Louvre, is better), but the NPG comprises simply of portraits of people – ancient and modern. In some ways I find it more fun as the art is less important than the story behind each person portrayed. London particularly is such a historic place, the NPG is a great place to get a feel for the great and the good who, inevitably, have lived or passed through. There is so much more that I will remember as soon as I post this, but I should stop sometime. Tim My thoughts, for what they’re worth:

Transport
London is really big – several times the size of any other European city and on a par with, say, New York or LA. However, the tube is really extensive and there’s hardly anywhere you’d want to go in London that it doesn’t cover and you’ll be sticking to the centre (well inside Zone 1) for most/all stuff.

An absolute priority in my opinion is avoid getting on the tube (or buses for that matter) during the rush “hour” – say 8 to 9.30 am and 5.30 to 7pm. If you find yourself outside a tube station at these times and are tempted, I suggest just chilling out for a bit in a nearby coffee shop (millions everywhere) and watching us wage slaves battling to work!

The buses are very good and fun, but the routes are harder to work out. It’s really worth spending five minutes studying the maps at the stop(s) nearest your hotel because there’s nothing nicer than sitting on the top deck and trundling off to a bit of London you’ve got to know. At the moment, with the start of the charge to bring cars into the centre, the buses are really fast too.

Taxis – easily recognisable black cabs although not all are black! Five passengers (you don’t sit next to the driver in London black cabs) if you are friends, plus a big boot (trunk) and more luggage space where the front passenger seat should be. Black cabs are licensed by the police and the drivers are supposed to know every street in London – at the very least they know every street in the centre. It is extremely rare for passengers to be ripped off on the fare (even American tourists!). Just don’t worry about it. As someone said previously, avoid unlicensed minicabs in London, unless you a visiting a local who calls one for you or you are in a flash restaurant and they get you one. Black cabs are a bit of a luxury – they’re not cheap, but very convenient and safe. If you’re coming in from Heathrow airport, a cab will cost you about £40-50. The alternative is the tube is about £3.50!

Driving in London – don’t bother if you are here to have fun. It’s on a par with Manhattan and parking is impossible.

Safety
It’s hard to be objective here as I’ve lived in London on and off for 20+ years and don’t spend much of my spare time around the tourist sites. Who knows what defensive behaviour I’ve unconsciously adopted in that time. However, I reckon London is very safe. As a tourist, you are unlikely to stray into a dodgy area. People ripping you off will be very rare – the prices are all quite high enough to make that unnecessary! There are nuisances such as begging, but much less so than New York. Pick pocketing is a problem as are thefts of unwatched handbags etc from pubs and cafes. It is very rare indeed that these crimes and problems involve violence or threatening behaviour. Keep your cash and travel documents in zipped (even velcroed?) inside pockets. I suspect the worst you will see is closing time mayhem. Stupidly in England all the pubs close at 11pm unless they have a special licence. That means that on a weekend in every English town or city centre there are throngs of young drunk people milling around at about 11.30pm not really wanting to go home. It can be a bit intimidating and is often not a pretty sight, but shouldn’t be a problem in central London. Scotland is much more civilised about these things (I mean closing times rather than drunkenness).

Money
Compared to the US, the UK and particularly London is expensive. Although the exchange rate is about $1.59 : £1 or £0.63 : $1, for most stuff you might as well reckon on £1 : $1. It’s not really a place to pick up a bargain, but you can probably buy just about anything you can think of somewhere in London. If you do want to shop, or window shop, here are some ideas:

Designer clothes, jewellery, watches etc – Bond Street (Piccadilly end), Sloane Street (Knightsbridge end). Both are beautiful streets with beautiful people. All the famous names.

Hippish/funky/secondhand clothes and much else – Camden Lock market and/or the top end of Portabello Road at the weekend. Both get very crowded, but are fun.

Antiques – junk to high end: first section of Portabello Road

Consumer electronics – Tottenham Court Road

Department Stores:
Harrods – does have just about everything but is sooooo tacky
Selfridges – well worth a visit
Harvey Nichols – trendy clothes, cool bar and restaurant on the top floor.

Whatever the guidebooks say, avoid Oxford Street (except Selfridges) and Petticoat Market.

Parks
The parks are very good, plentiful and safe –
St James’s Park : behind the Ritz and adjoining Buckingham Palace. Beautiful.
Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens. Huge, great for a walk. The Serpentine Gallery is a small modern art museum on its own in the centre of the park. There is always something worth seeing there, even if you come away saying “interesting, but is that really art” or “I could have done better blindfold” etc.
Hamptead Heath : enormous, parts are really wild. Read the guidebooks, and maybe go to a concert at Kenwood House.

Greenwich
Outside the very centre of London i.e. the West End (theatre, restaurant, gallaries and shopping district) and the City (the financial district – note the upper case “C” in City), people generally talk of London as a series of separate villages that have joined up over the centuries. It’s a cliché, but a useful one.

One corner with a real village atmosphere, as Jeremy says, is Greenwich on the river south east of the centre. A really good trip is to take the Docklands Light Railway out of the City (financial district) to the southern end of the Isle of Dogs (real name!), cross under the river by the foot tunnel and emerge in Greenwich. After sampling the atmosphere and a beer or coffee or two, take a river bus upstream under Tower Bridge and back to the City or Westminster. The Docklands Light Railway is a different system from the tube or overland rail and runs east and south-east mostly elevated through the former industrial docklands (including the Isle of the Dogs). Now the area has been transformed by the creation of huge financial district and chi-chi apartment blocks. There’s not much to do on the ground, but it’s a nice way to get to Greenwich.

Other “villages” worth a trip if you have the time/a good excuse:
Richmond – quite a way out to the West between the Thames and a huge deer park.. Actually at the very end of a tube line!
South Kensington – very smart, good shops and restaurants, the museums nearby
Hampstead – a really nice area as well as having the Heath

Galleries/Museums etc
Like most Londoners, I’m so lazy when it comes to making the most of the huge number of sites, museums and galleries around me every day, so I’ll definitely miss some places (and have ignored must-see places such as Westminster Abbey which you’ll go to without my help). The following are some of my favourites:
The Tate Modern – a converted power station by the river showing the national modern art collection. A truly stunning space, and the art is very very good. Usually the central hall is taken up with an exhibition of oversize sculpture. A nice way to get there is the new footbridge over the river from St Paul’s Cathedral. It has a proper name but Londoners just call it the “wobbly” bridge, because that’s what it did when it was first opened.
St Paul’s Cathedral – one of my favourite London churches. Designed and built by Christopher Wren – it transformed ideas in England about how churches should be. The light and space is wonderful. Hint – if you pass a building by Christopher Wren or his former apprentice, Nicholas Hawksmoor, stop and have a look around.
The Science Museum and Natural History Museums
These are magnificent cathedrals to the wonder of science, created mid-19th century at the height of the Victorians’ power and confidence. They still work to educate and inspire wonder. I suspect originally they weren’t as much fun.

National Portrait Gallery
The adjoining National Gallery is very good (although Paris equivalent, the Louvre, is better), but the NPG comprises simply of portraits of people – ancient and modern. In some ways I find it more fun as the art is less important than the story behind each person portrayed. London particularly is such a historic place, the NPG is a great place to get a feel for the great and the good who, inevitably, have lived or passed through.

There is so much more that I will remember as soon as I post this, but I should stop sometime.

Tim

]]> By: Jackfrost http://the-gadgeteer.com/2000/04/10/windows_ce_graphics_packages_review/comment-page-1/#comment-14046 Jackfrost Mon, 24 Feb 2003 18:11:47 +0000 #comment-14046 I aims t'please... I aims t’please…

]]> By: JohnKes http://the-gadgeteer.com/2000/04/10/windows_ce_graphics_packages_review/comment-page-1/#comment-14045 JohnKes Mon, 24 Feb 2003 17:37:28 +0000 #comment-14045 Julie and Judie will be able to haul all kinds of gadgets! Thanks for the info. It was useful and interesting to those of us who have never been to England. Julie and Judie will be able to haul all kinds of gadgets!

Thanks for the info. It was useful and interesting to those of us who have never been to England.

]]> By: Jackfrost http://the-gadgeteer.com/2000/04/10/windows_ce_graphics_packages_review/comment-page-1/#comment-14044 Jackfrost Sat, 22 Feb 2003 13:03:16 +0000 #comment-14044 Nope, Black cabs aren't normal cars - they hold about five people (three on the back seat, two on fold out seats) with legroom and space for bags. in the North we can ride beside the driver at a push, but I don't know if London Cabbies allow this. They have huge Boots (sorry, Trunks ;) ) and are also able to clip on ramps so that wheelchair users can get in - plus there are anchor points to stop the chairs moving once in. You know, this may be the least exciting information I have ever imparted? :o Nope, Black cabs aren’t normal cars – they hold about five people (three on the back seat, two on fold out seats) with legroom and space for bags. in the North we can ride beside the driver at a push, but I don’t know if London Cabbies allow this. They have huge Boots (sorry, Trunks ;) ) and are also able to clip on ramps so that wheelchair users can get in – plus there are anchor points to stop the chairs moving once in. You know, this may be the least exciting information I have ever imparted? :o

]]> By: JohnKes http://the-gadgeteer.com/2000/04/10/windows_ce_graphics_packages_review/comment-page-1/#comment-14043 JohnKes Fri, 21 Feb 2003 17:45:50 +0000 #comment-14043 Someone told me that Black Cabs were very roomy and had large trunks for luggage. Is that true, or are they just typical cars with signs and meters? Someone told me that Black Cabs were very roomy and had large trunks for luggage. Is that true, or are they just typical cars with signs and meters?

]]> By: Fitzer http://the-gadgeteer.com/2000/04/10/windows_ce_graphics_packages_review/comment-page-1/#comment-14042 Fitzer Fri, 21 Feb 2003 17:10:41 +0000 #comment-14042 Darn, just thought of another, re. your comment about cabs, in London try to only use Black cabs (some of them aren't black any more but they're all much the same shape). They are licensed and inspected and are responsible to the London Cab Office which is at police HQ so they don't mess you about. They're also always a source of cheery opinion about current affairs ;) Darn, just thought of another, re. your comment about cabs, in London try to only use Black cabs (some of them aren’t black any more but they’re all much the same shape). They are licensed and inspected and are responsible to the London Cab Office which is at police HQ so they don’t mess you about. They’re also always a source of cheery opinion about current affairs ;)

]]> By: Fitzer http://the-gadgeteer.com/2000/04/10/windows_ce_graphics_packages_review/comment-page-1/#comment-14041 Fitzer Fri, 21 Feb 2003 17:04:07 +0000 #comment-14041 Guys just a few thoughts straight off the top of my head as I work in London and live near Cambridge (another tourist hotspot) 1. If you haven't got Metro installed on your Palm OS devices then do it now! It is accurate and fast for London (install the London Tourist database) it also gives you the ability to disable certain lines which is good as the Central Line on the Underground is out of action 'til they modify the trains. 2. You will look like tourists :cool: Everyone from out of town does, (who knows what I look like when I'm on holiday) just try not to look like vulnerable tourists, all the stuff as above PLUS when you a see a sign warning of pickpockets DON'T pat your wallet to check its still there, that's what they're waiting for! 3. If you order a cold drink in a pub or cafe and you aren't asked if you want ice then ask for it as it isn't automatic over here and I've found that whenever I've been out with Americans over on business that they tend to want ice (excuse the stereotyping if this is not true in your case) 4. A (relatively) little known and interesting attraction in London is Tower Bridge which is just round the corner from the Tower of London (by the way they're called Yeoman Warders not Beefeaters and are all ex-army guys who've put in at least 20 yrs service) ;) , you can get up onto the gantries at the top of the bridge and it gives a great view up and down the river Thames (:) we think of the Thames as being a 'big' river when it wouldn't even feature in the top 100 rivers of the US, please leave us our illusions) 5. If you drink beer and want to try British Real Ale try to look for pubs with the Good Beer Guide sticker on the door and you're pretty well assured of a good pint; but not necessarily a 'beautiful' pub as it isn't a good pub guide 6. Unless you can't possibly avoid it don't go to McDonalds or Burger King, Brits don't do fast food well, we take what's good about it ie. its fast and then do it at our own pace :rolleyes: 7. Have a great trip, if there's anything specific you want to ask then feel free Ian Guys

just a few thoughts straight off the top of my head as I work in London and live near Cambridge (another tourist hotspot)

1. If you haven’t got Metro installed on your Palm OS devices then do it now! It is accurate and fast for London (install the London Tourist database) it also gives you the ability to disable certain lines which is good as the Central Line on the Underground is out of action ’til they modify the trains.

2. You will look like tourists :cool: Everyone from out of town does, (who knows what I look like when I’m on holiday) just try not to look like vulnerable tourists, all the stuff as above PLUS when you a see a sign warning of pickpockets DON’T pat your wallet to check its still there, that’s what they’re waiting for!

3. If you order a cold drink in a pub or cafe and you aren’t asked if you want ice then ask for it as it isn’t automatic over here and I’ve found that whenever I’ve been out with Americans over on business that they tend to want ice (excuse the stereotyping if this is not true in your case)

4. A (relatively) little known and interesting attraction in London is Tower Bridge which is just round the corner from the Tower of London (by the way they’re called Yeoman Warders not Beefeaters and are all ex-army guys who’ve put in at least 20 yrs service) ;) , you can get up onto the gantries at the top of the bridge and it gives a great view up and down the river Thames (:) we think of the Thames as being a ‘big’ river when it wouldn’t even feature in the top 100 rivers of the US, please leave us our illusions)

5. If you drink beer and want to try British Real Ale try to look for pubs with the Good Beer Guide sticker on the door and you’re pretty well assured of a good pint; but not necessarily a ‘beautiful’ pub as it isn’t a good pub guide

6. Unless you can’t possibly avoid it don’t go to McDonalds or Burger King, Brits don’t do fast food well, we take what’s good about it ie. its fast and then do it at our own pace :rolleyes:

7. Have a great trip, if there’s anything specific you want to ask then feel free

Ian

]]> By: JeremyPryce http://the-gadgeteer.com/2000/04/10/windows_ce_graphics_packages_review/comment-page-1/#comment-14040 JeremyPryce Sat, 15 Feb 2003 04:10:43 +0000 #comment-14040 Just a hello from London! (Love your website btw) Sorry, this is a long post (but not patronising, I hope)! London is just like any other big city. It's a great place (been living there for the past 9 years)! Just a few things which they don't tell you. If you're staying in London over a weekend, get a weekend travelcard, it saves pennies and it lets you travel for cheap on the ferry on the Thames (nice when it's sunny, as it goes from Westminster to Greenwich - where the Cutty Sark is, and there's lots of nice cafes, walks and pubs there). There's also a family travel card (for 2 adults and 2 children) which is also much cheaper. There are 6 travel zones in London and I assume you won't be moving out of zone 1 (at the most zone 2), which is where the Westend is. I don't advise going out of zone 2 unless you're sure where you're going and keep to zone 1 particularly late at night. Some of the tube stations do attract trouble. Try not to stare at people on the tube (as some take this as challenging behaviour and use it to cause you all kinds of problems). Don't plan to drive in London. As of Monday the 17th there are Congestion Charges for travelling through zone 1 which costs you £5 per day, doubling if you don't pay by midnight and then going up to £80. There's also loads of speed cameras around now and if you're not careful you can get a hefty bill (my brother notched up £200 in the space of 4 hours). If you're flying to Gatwick trains run often to London Bridge (dead easy to navigate from there to your desination) and costs about £12 for an open return. Flying to Heathrow is easier as it's a tube trip to Central London (costing about £3.70 for a single). Camden Town is nice on a Sunday for shopping but notorious for pickpockets as it's so crowded (and it does have a rather bad drug element particularly in the evenings). Covent Garden is a trendy (if touristy) place to spend a few hours, and there are lots of galleries near by, including the London Opera House. For kids, going to South Kensington is great, as there's lots of museums which are free, including the science museum (which even now is a right laugh - gosh that makes me feel old)! All the theatres (I mean for plays not movies ;) are in the West End and there are some good ones at present, I heartily recommend Umoja which was excellent. There are some theatres (including Shakespeare's Globe) for the old world experience, as long as you don't mind standing up for the whole performance!. Anyways, London is great. Just be careful and with regards to using your PDA in public, just watch over your shoulder! From personal experience, someone tried to nab my nice Tungsten T from me the other day, to which I didn't respond to in a happy way (but I was a gentleman-ish, I am British)! Oh and completely ignore the guys who hang around cash machines (oh and on the tubes, particularly those with a baby) asking for spare change! A recent survey showed that some earn lots of money! If you want to give homeless cash then give it to those who sell the Big Issue. The government is really trying to help out homeless at present in London (so 'they' tell us ;). And NO NO NO! Do not have one of those pull-out maps in public! Buy a nice discrete A6 one as it fits in your pocket/bag and the world won't know that you're lost - plus it has a tube map on the back (remember the map is all about the colours)! Have fun, the UK is great. Any questions or anything before you go, give me a shout! I can recommend some lovely Welsh Villages plus some excellent restaurants/night life in London! Just a hello from London! (Love your website btw)

Sorry, this is a long post (but not patronising, I hope)!

London is just like any other big city. It’s a great place (been living there for the past 9 years)! Just a few things which they don’t tell you. If you’re staying in London over a weekend, get a weekend travelcard, it saves pennies and it lets you travel for cheap on the ferry on the Thames (nice when it’s sunny, as it goes from Westminster to Greenwich – where the Cutty Sark is, and there’s lots of nice cafes, walks and pubs there). There’s also a family travel card (for 2 adults and 2 children) which is also much cheaper. There are 6 travel zones in London and I assume you won’t be moving out of zone 1 (at the most zone 2), which is where the Westend is. I don’t advise going out of zone 2 unless you’re sure where you’re going and keep to zone 1 particularly late at night. Some of the tube stations do attract trouble. Try not to stare at people on the tube (as some take this as challenging behaviour and use it to cause you all kinds of problems).

Don’t plan to drive in London. As of Monday the 17th there are Congestion Charges for travelling through zone 1 which costs you £5 per day, doubling if you don’t pay by midnight and then going up to £80. There’s also loads of speed cameras around now and if you’re not careful you can get a hefty bill (my brother notched up £200 in the space of 4 hours).

If you’re flying to Gatwick trains run often to London Bridge (dead easy to navigate from there to your desination) and costs about £12 for an open return. Flying to Heathrow is easier as it’s a tube trip to Central London (costing about £3.70 for a single).

Camden Town is nice on a Sunday for shopping but notorious for pickpockets as it’s so crowded (and it does have a rather bad drug element particularly in the evenings). Covent Garden is a trendy (if touristy) place to spend a few hours, and there are lots of galleries near by, including the London Opera House. For kids, going to South Kensington is great, as there’s lots of museums which are free, including the science museum (which even now is a right laugh – gosh that makes me feel old)! All the theatres (I mean for plays not movies ;) are in the West End and there are some good ones at present, I heartily recommend Umoja which was excellent. There are some theatres (including Shakespeare’s Globe) for the old world experience, as long as you don’t mind standing up for the whole performance!.

Anyways, London is great. Just be careful and with regards to using your PDA in public, just watch over your shoulder! From personal experience, someone tried to nab my nice Tungsten T from me the other day, to which I didn’t respond to in a happy way (but I was a gentleman-ish, I am British)! Oh and completely ignore the guys who hang around cash machines (oh and on the tubes, particularly those with a baby) asking for spare change! A recent survey showed that some earn lots of money! If you want to give homeless cash then give it to those who sell the Big Issue. The government is really trying to help out homeless at present in London (so ‘they’ tell us ;) .

And NO NO NO! Do not have one of those pull-out maps in public! Buy a nice discrete A6 one as it fits in your pocket/bag and the world won’t know that you’re lost – plus it has a tube map on the back (remember the map is all about the colours)!

Have fun, the UK is great. Any questions or anything before you go, give me a shout! I can recommend some lovely Welsh Villages plus some excellent restaurants/night life in London!

]]> By: doteltech http://the-gadgeteer.com/2000/04/10/windows_ce_graphics_packages_review/comment-page-1/#comment-14039 doteltech Fri, 14 Feb 2003 19:22:20 +0000 #comment-14039 Don't forget the most important item to bring to scottland. ME! I'm travel sized, gadget lover, with red hair. ;) isn't that all you really need? -Drew Don’t forget the most important item to bring to scottland.

ME!

I’m travel sized, gadget lover, with red hair. ;) isn’t that all you really need?

-Drew

]]> By: plainsong http://the-gadgeteer.com/2000/04/10/windows_ce_graphics_packages_review/comment-page-1/#comment-14038 plainsong Fri, 14 Feb 2003 12:06:17 +0000 #comment-14038 About security, I've had some friends on audio forums stopped and questioned for long periods of time over things like portable headphone amps (nevermind that x-raying it shows it's not a bomb).. but that mostly seems to happen on the West coast of the US. As for gadgets in European airports, I've been to Helsinki/Vantaa (obviously), Frankfurt, Stockholm Arlanda, and Amsterdam, and they seem a good bit better trained about gadgets than they are in the US... I suppose there's lots of reasons why that is, but that's for another forum. So delays in Europe because of gadgets shouldn't be so bad. Now of course now that I've said that - I've jinxed you to every gaurd who has never seen an Ipaq. ;) About security, I’ve had some friends on audio forums stopped and questioned for long periods of time over things like portable headphone amps (nevermind that x-raying it shows it’s not a bomb).. but that mostly seems to happen on the West coast of the US.

As for gadgets in European airports, I’ve been to Helsinki/Vantaa (obviously), Frankfurt, Stockholm Arlanda, and Amsterdam, and they seem a good bit better trained about gadgets than they are in the US… I suppose there’s lots of reasons why that is, but that’s for another forum. So delays in Europe because of gadgets shouldn’t be so bad.

Now of course now that I’ve said that – I’ve jinxed you to every gaurd who has never seen an Ipaq. ;)

]]> By: Cornelis http://the-gadgeteer.com/2000/04/10/windows_ce_graphics_packages_review/comment-page-1/#comment-14037 Cornelis Fri, 14 Feb 2003 07:58:15 +0000 #comment-14037 Hi Girls, I thought I would throw in some thoughts on Europe too. My wife and I organized a bus trip with 17 of our clients through Scotland in Spring 1999. Needless to say it was great country-wise! The people were fairly nice - aside from elder english or scottish persons. The older ones turned out to be somewhat stiff and very much to themselves - this was especially so in hotels with breakfast rooms. This does not mean that they were really unfriendly - just different and not as open. Food Food turned out to be somewhat difficult for all of us since we noticed a lot of it is not thoroughly cooked and turned out to be mixed (on the plates) in mysterious ways. Typical scottisch dishes turned out to be pea or potato soups, cooked meat (yes cooked not roasted), vegetables and sauces which were partially luke-warm or even cold, also fatty food. After three experiences of that kind, we started heading for restaurants. What really baffled us was that they were very expensive (restaurants)- and hey we were a group from Switzerland (we live in an expensive country and thought we were used to it), but that was downright shocking at times. So check the prices on the menus outside the restaurants! Money Try and get used to the currency right away so that you will have a feel for it when you get there - the whole of the country still uses English Pounds and the coins are in very different sizes and shapes. When you get to the "mainland" Europe then you will be dealing with Euros (aside from Switzerland) which is roughly 1 to 1 in US dollars right now. Crime I found crime to not be an issue. But the I would advise you to use common sense. Scotland is - all in all - a somewhat poor country (this is not meant to sound condescending) so you shouldn't run around flashing stuff or have on loads of expensive jewelry or flash bills when paying. As far as your gear bags are concerned, tuck the stuff away, always close your bags in very dense places (subway, crowds, at historical sights, etc.) and have loose change and small denominations in your pockets handy. Also try and not take too much stuff - it could get heavy logging around, because (someone already mentioned it) you will be in and out of hotels and possibly seeing so much stuff, that you will curse yourself for bringing along so much gear that you may not even have used. As for Paris, when in the subway or on buses or streetcars, be aware of pickpockets and people getting too close to you - that is somewhat difficult since lots of people cram into public transportation in the rush hours. Behavior We brief our customers on behavior a bit before each trip, since this is a big plus while in other countries when wanting to get along with other cultures (we have been planning group trips since 1995 every year in different countries - Egypt, Malta, Scotland, Austria, the Azores, United States, Finland, Italy [this year]). Rule of thumb: don't be loud, wear appropriate clothes (jeans and sneakers aren't welcome in all (restaurant) hotels and nightclubs), ask rental car or hotel personnel which parts of the city you need to stay away from. Security This major issue - especially in the last few days - is most important. Don't take along anything that is far out of the ordinary. especially at airports, if you have gear out of the ordinary, you could be stopped and checked more closely which will result in frustrated officials and time lost. If you take in your hand luggage, objects that you think are precious (gear of course) then be prepared to have to show the airport officials how they work really quick and of course to take it out of your hand baggage quickly. SO be familiar with your gadgets and I would suggest you don't take "exotic" gear with you at all. Transportation I would advise you to take public transportation in large cities. Renting a car can get frustrating, since in Europe we do not go by east, west, north and south routing. The streets here have names and you get anywhere by checking on the landmarks on the way to your object of desire. For americans usually very difficult and awkward.. A rental car is only usually very good on the trips through the countryside itself. Aside from that: common sense is the most important factor. Oh, and don't forget to have fun too! Hi Girls, I thought I would throw in some thoughts on Europe too.
My wife and I organized a bus trip with 17 of our clients through Scotland in Spring 1999.
Needless to say it was great country-wise! The people were fairly nice – aside from elder english or scottish persons. The older ones turned out to be somewhat stiff and very much to themselves – this was especially so in hotels with breakfast rooms.
This does not mean that they were really unfriendly – just different and not as open.

Food
Food turned out to be somewhat difficult for all of us since we noticed a lot of it is not thoroughly cooked and turned out to be mixed (on the plates) in mysterious ways. Typical scottisch dishes turned out to be pea or potato soups, cooked meat (yes cooked not roasted), vegetables and sauces which were partially luke-warm or even cold, also fatty food.
After three experiences of that kind, we started heading for restaurants. What really baffled us was that they were very expensive (restaurants)- and hey we were a group from Switzerland (we live in an expensive country and thought we were used to it), but that was downright shocking at times. So check the prices on the menus outside the restaurants!

Money
Try and get used to the currency right away so that you will have a feel for it when you get there – the whole of the country still uses English Pounds and the coins are in very different sizes and shapes.
When you get to the “mainland” Europe then you will be dealing with Euros (aside from Switzerland) which is roughly 1 to 1 in US dollars right now.

Crime
I found crime to not be an issue. But the I would advise you to use common sense.
Scotland is – all in all – a somewhat poor country (this is not meant to sound condescending) so you shouldn’t run around flashing stuff or have on loads of expensive jewelry or flash bills when paying. As far as your gear bags are concerned, tuck the stuff away, always close your bags in very dense places (subway, crowds, at historical sights, etc.) and have loose change and small denominations in your pockets handy. Also try and not take too much stuff – it could get heavy logging around, because (someone already mentioned it) you will be in and out of hotels and possibly seeing so much stuff, that you will curse yourself for bringing along so much gear that you may not even have used.
As for Paris, when in the subway or on buses or streetcars, be aware of pickpockets and people getting too close to you – that is somewhat difficult since lots of people cram into public transportation in the rush hours.

Behavior
We brief our customers on behavior a bit before each trip, since this is a big plus while in other countries when wanting to get along with other cultures (we have been planning group trips since 1995 every year in different countries – Egypt, Malta, Scotland, Austria, the Azores, United States, Finland, Italy [this year]).
Rule of thumb: don’t be loud, wear appropriate clothes (jeans and sneakers aren’t welcome in all (restaurant) hotels and nightclubs), ask rental car or hotel personnel which parts of the city you need to stay away from.

Security
This major issue – especially in the last few days – is most important.
Don’t take along anything that is far out of the ordinary. especially at airports, if you have gear out of the ordinary, you could be stopped and checked more closely which will result in frustrated officials and time lost.
If you take in your hand luggage, objects that you think are precious (gear of course) then be prepared to have to show the airport officials how they work really quick and of course to take it out of your hand baggage quickly. SO be familiar with your gadgets and I would suggest you don’t take “exotic” gear with you at all.

Transportation
I would advise you to take public transportation in large cities. Renting a car can get frustrating, since in Europe we do not go by east, west, north and south routing. The streets here have names and you get anywhere by checking on the landmarks on the way to your object of desire. For americans usually very difficult and awkward..
A rental car is only usually very good on the trips through the countryside itself.

Aside from that: common sense is the most important factor. Oh, and don’t forget to have fun too!

]]> By: plainsong http://the-gadgeteer.com/2000/04/10/windows_ce_graphics_packages_review/comment-page-1/#comment-14036 plainsong Fri, 07 Feb 2003 08:35:26 +0000 #comment-14036 Oh yeah, cars are smaller in Europe. I forgot about that one. Oh yeah, cars are smaller in Europe. I forgot about that one.

]]> By: Judie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2000/04/10/windows_ce_graphics_packages_review/comment-page-1/#comment-14035 Judie Wed, 05 Feb 2003 22:11:56 +0000 #comment-14035 YIKES! Now I know I'll have to rethink my packing strategy...:eek: YIKES! Now I know I’ll have to rethink my packing strategy…:eek:

]]> By: JohnKes http://the-gadgeteer.com/2000/04/10/windows_ce_graphics_packages_review/comment-page-1/#comment-14034 JohnKes Wed, 05 Feb 2003 21:54:31 +0000 #comment-14034 When we were in France, we rented a Ford Ka. The trunk was big enough to fit just 2 roller-type carryon bags! Luckily that was all my wife and I brought, aside from her purse and my small camera bag. When we were in France, we rented a Ford Ka. The trunk was big enough to fit just 2 roller-type carryon bags! Luckily that was all my wife and I brought, aside from her purse and my small camera bag.

]]> By: Judie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2000/04/10/windows_ce_graphics_packages_review/comment-page-1/#comment-14033 Judie Wed, 05 Feb 2003 20:17:54 +0000 #comment-14033 Roberto - that was an excellent post and you really made me stop and think. I usually travel with a HUGE Halliburton and a carry-on. I have no idea what the cabs will be like or what floor our apartment will be on - I may need to pack a bit lighter than I was planning on... Judie :0) Roberto – that was an excellent post and you really made me stop and think. I usually travel with a HUGE Halliburton and a carry-on. I have no idea what the cabs will be like or what floor our apartment will be on – I may need to pack a bit lighter than I was planning on…

Judie :0)

]]> By: Roberto http://the-gadgeteer.com/2000/04/10/windows_ce_graphics_packages_review/comment-page-1/#comment-14032 Roberto Wed, 05 Feb 2003 18:42:33 +0000 #comment-14032 Several Years ago I had the opportunity to take a "whirlwind" tour of Europe. It was with a school group on an educational tour. In ten days we went from Rome, Assissi, Florence, Pisa, Paris and London. The information packet said we could bring one suitcase and one carry-on (or something like that), so that's what I packed. Little did I realize how many times I'd be lugging that thing to the bus, from the bus, to the hotel, from the hotel... Then I noticed this one guy who apparently had done this before. His baggage consisted of one and only one Garment Bag! Inside it he had about 3 pairs of Dockers, 2 T-shirts, 1 dress shirt, a pair of brown loafers, a couple pairs of socks and underwear and a small bottle of liquid laundry soap (Tide, if memory serves me correct). That's it! When we'd check into the hotel, he'd change into a fresh set of clothes, and wash the old clothes in the sink and let them dry in the room while we were out seeing the sites. If he bought any souveneirs that wouldn't comfortably fit in his garment bag, he had them shipped home. His thinking on his packing was that he was their to enjoy himself and not to worry about looking a certain way. He looked presentable everywhere he went and everytime I lugged my bags to the bus, I'd see him strolling along with the one lightweight, easy to throw over his shoulder garment bag... Several Years ago I had the opportunity to take a “whirlwind” tour of Europe. It was with a school group on an educational tour. In ten days we went from Rome, Assissi, Florence, Pisa, Paris and London. The information packet said we could bring one suitcase and one carry-on (or something like that), so that’s what I packed. Little did I realize how many times I’d be lugging that thing to the bus, from the bus, to the hotel, from the hotel…
Then I noticed this one guy who apparently had done this before. His baggage consisted of one and only one Garment Bag! Inside it he had about 3 pairs of Dockers, 2 T-shirts, 1 dress shirt, a pair of brown loafers, a couple pairs of socks and underwear and a small bottle of liquid laundry soap (Tide, if memory serves me correct). That’s it! When we’d check into the hotel, he’d change into a fresh set of clothes, and wash the old clothes in the sink and let them dry in the room while we were out seeing the sites. If he bought any souveneirs that wouldn’t comfortably fit in his garment bag, he had them shipped home. His thinking on his packing was that he was their to enjoy himself and not to worry about looking a certain way. He looked presentable everywhere he went and everytime I lugged my bags to the bus, I’d see him strolling along with the one lightweight, easy to throw over his shoulder garment bag…

]]> By: Jackfrost http://the-gadgeteer.com/2000/04/10/windows_ce_graphics_packages_review/comment-page-1/#comment-14031 Jackfrost Mon, 03 Feb 2003 14:51:39 +0000 #comment-14031 Okay, let me state my bias right away - I live in the North East of England, which is where you'll find Newcastle Upon Tyne. It's only a couple of hours drive from Edinburgh (I often go up there to Scotland for the day), and easily accessible on the motorway. You can do it in about 90 minutes on the train, right into the centre of town. It's the regional capital of the North East, and currently favourite to win the position of European Capital of Culture in 2008. within five minutes walk of the city centre you've got a 1000 year old castle, museums, art gallerys, the Centre for Life Genetics centre, the spectacular quayside with the historic bridges and the new multi award winning Millennium bridge (erm.. how do you STOP spelling Millenniumminum?), the Baltic art centre, more shopping than you can shake a stick at, and it was also voted into the top 10 party cities in the world. Tons of stuff, basically. If you go farther afield into northumberland, you've got Hadrians wall, etc, etc, amazing countryside and coastline. check out <a href="www.visitnewcastlegateshead.com">www.visitnewcastlegateshead.com</a> , and click on the 'Links' section, and explore a bit... oh, and if you need a guide - I'm available (and housetrained). Okay, let me state my bias right away – I live in the North East of England, which is where you’ll find Newcastle Upon Tyne.

It’s only a couple of hours drive from Edinburgh (I often go up there to Scotland for the day), and easily accessible on the motorway. You can do it in about 90 minutes on the train, right into the centre of town.

It’s the regional capital of the North East, and currently favourite to win the position of European Capital of Culture in 2008.

within five minutes walk of the city centre you’ve got a 1000 year old castle, museums, art gallerys, the Centre for Life Genetics centre, the spectacular quayside with the historic bridges and the new multi award winning Millennium bridge (erm.. how do you STOP spelling Millenniumminum?), the Baltic art centre, more shopping than you can shake a stick at, and it was also voted into the top 10 party cities in the world.
Tons of stuff, basically. If you go farther afield into northumberland, you’ve got Hadrians wall, etc, etc, amazing countryside and coastline.

check out http://www.visitnewcastlegateshead.com , and click on the ‘Links’ section, and explore a bit… oh, and if you need a guide – I’m available (and housetrained).

]]> By: Sneezer http://the-gadgeteer.com/2000/04/10/windows_ce_graphics_packages_review/comment-page-1/#comment-14030 Sneezer Sat, 01 Feb 2003 21:21:31 +0000 #comment-14030 The healthy back bag is pretty cool. I have seen them before in various iterations, all well designed. Over here I know you can find them at the Container Store. When I was over there last year It was cold enough to warrant wearing my long rain/overcoat on a daily basis, which had more than enough interior pockets for my wallet, PDA and whatever guidebook I decided to carry around that day. I carried my camera in an M-Rock zoom camera bag. Great design, one of the best I have run across in a while. Can be worn as a backpack or shoulder bag, with a great deal of utility. As far as a gadgets go, It was amazing the number of people walking and on the tube that had PDAs, MP3 or CD players, and small laptops. Significantly more than what I see here in the US, although that is somewhat skewed by our lack of decent and reliable mass transit where I live. I took my PDA at the time, a Diamond Mako, along with my Toshiba Libretto, and was fine. Above all, have fun. Plan your days accordingly so you can hit attractions clustered together. If you plan on going to Westminster Abbey, go on Wednesday evening. This is amateur photography night, and is the only time pictures are permitted within the abbey. If you like pizza, you have to eat at Pizza Express. Some of the best pizza available, IMO. Check out the location in SOHO, and catch some excellent live jazz downstairs. Also, internet cafes are plentiful and very reasonable throughout the UK. I never once felt the need to use my laptop from the room, even though I had previously signed up with some of the UK free ISPs. The healthy back bag is pretty cool. I have seen them before in various iterations, all well designed. Over here I know you can find them at the Container Store. When I was over there last year It was cold enough to warrant wearing my long rain/overcoat on a daily basis, which had more than enough interior pockets for my wallet, PDA and whatever guidebook I decided to carry around that day. I carried my camera in an M-Rock zoom camera bag. Great design, one of the best I have run across in a while. Can be worn as a backpack or shoulder bag, with a great deal of utility.

As far as a gadgets go, It was amazing the number of people walking and on the tube that had PDAs, MP3 or CD players, and small laptops. Significantly more than what I see here in the US, although that is somewhat skewed by our lack of decent and reliable mass transit where I live. I took my PDA at the time, a Diamond Mako, along with my Toshiba Libretto, and was fine.

Above all, have fun. Plan your days accordingly so you can hit attractions clustered together. If you plan on going to Westminster Abbey, go on Wednesday evening. This is amateur photography night, and is the only time pictures are permitted within the abbey.

If you like pizza, you have to eat at Pizza Express. Some of the best pizza available, IMO. Check out the location in SOHO, and catch some excellent live jazz downstairs. Also, internet cafes are plentiful and very reasonable throughout the UK. I never once felt the need to use my laptop from the room, even though I had previously signed up with some of the UK free ISPs.

]]> By: plainsong http://the-gadgeteer.com/2000/04/10/windows_ce_graphics_packages_review/comment-page-1/#comment-14029 plainsong Sat, 01 Feb 2003 03:13:34 +0000 #comment-14029 Oh right, you're allergic to velcro.. well, that's one of the things that immediately made me like this site. I was getting tired of all these cases hailed as "great" when they used velcro. Apparently the Gadgeteers agreed. :) The gear bag I'm in love with is the Waterfield small cargo, but maybe just for summer out-n-about use, Velcro won't be so bad, at least for me. Thanks for the heads-up. At least now I know to be prepared for "riiiiiiiiip". :eek: Oh right, you’re allergic to velcro.. well, that’s one of the things that immediately made me like this site. I was getting tired of all these cases hailed as “great” when they used velcro. Apparently the Gadgeteers agreed. :)

The gear bag I’m in love with is the Waterfield small cargo, but maybe just for summer out-n-about use, Velcro won’t be so bad, at least for me.

Thanks for the heads-up. At least now I know to be prepared for “riiiiiiiiip”.
:eek:

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2000/04/10/windows_ce_graphics_packages_review/comment-page-1/#comment-14028 Julie Sat, 01 Feb 2003 02:46:48 +0000 #comment-14028 I had one of these bags for awhile. It was ok. I ended up selling it though. The pockets on the outside used velcro :x I had one of these bags for awhile. It was ok. I ended up selling it though. The pockets on the outside used velcro :x

]]> By: plainsong http://the-gadgeteer.com/2000/04/10/windows_ce_graphics_packages_review/comment-page-1/#comment-14027 plainsong Sat, 01 Feb 2003 02:39:45 +0000 #comment-14027 I still don't really go for wearing tourist gear like passport pouches, and I'd be naked without my ipod, tungsten, digital camera, and some decent headphones, but hey I guess we're all different. :) But speaking of carrying gear, have you ever heard of the Ameribag healthy back bag? My back isn't bad, but there's something this bag apparently has.. comfort and pockets. Lots of pockets. PDA-sized pockets. ;) I wanna get one for myself for the summer, but if you haven't heard of them already, I thought I'd let you know of a perhaps a potential gear-bag. :) I still don’t really go for wearing tourist gear like passport pouches, and I’d be naked without my ipod, tungsten, digital camera, and some decent headphones, but hey I guess we’re all different. :)

But speaking of carrying gear, have you ever heard of the Ameribag healthy back bag? My back isn’t bad, but there’s something this bag apparently has.. comfort and pockets. Lots of pockets. PDA-sized pockets. ;)

I wanna get one for myself for the summer, but if you haven’t heard of them already, I thought I’d let you know of a perhaps a potential gear-bag. :)

]]> By: Vickie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2000/04/10/windows_ce_graphics_packages_review/comment-page-1/#comment-14026 Vickie Fri, 31 Jan 2003 16:02:48 +0000 #comment-14026 <blockquote><em>Originally posted by plainsong </em> [B]I've been seeing some crazy suggestions here about safety, and the fact is it's safer in Europe than in many parts of the US. Yeah, there are pickpockets, but those are everywhere. I'd say, try to go as native as you can and still stay comfy. Just try to blend in as much as you can and you'll be able to carry as many gadgets as you like with no problem. Wearing travel vests and passports around your neck just screams "tourist". :P [/B]</blockquote> Wow, it seems like I need to come back and clarify my post because I guess I didn't make things clear enough for some people. :) Okie dokie! First off, I don't know why anyone would try to debate that it's safer in Europe than the US. I personally don't feel "unsafe" in either place. I also don't see any "crazy suggestions" in anything I wrote. The point is to be able to <u>relax</u> and enjoy yourself knowing that you've taken some precautions. It would be my luck to be that one in a thousand to not be cautious and having something bad happen, but it would be my fault for not preparing. :o Again, if you re-read my original post, you'll see that crime wasn't the only reason I don't carrying lots of gadgets when traveling. Aside from the obvious stated in my previous post, they take up valuable room that could be used to carry souveniers, and often at the end of a busy day, I wanted to look at my travel books or hang out with friends and discuss what we did and saw that day, not play Scrabble or read an ebook. I can do that at home anytime. I suppose I could download that map of London's tube system...that would justify taking my color Palm, wouldn't it? ;) Instead, I found a nice plastic credit-card version over there that I could just shove in my pocket. Re: the neck pouch...maybe you missed some of what I said about that as well, Plainsong. We are all gadget lovers here and I think if someone was developing x-ray glasses, J & J would have posted about it on the page. ;) Since they haven't, I think we're safe wearing a neck pouch <u>under our clothes</u>. Same with a travel vest...it fits nicely <u>under a jacket</u>. Surely this time of year, the tourists aren't the only ones wearing some type of jacket or coat? No one is saying that you have to lose sleep at night worrying about imaginary hoards of criminals just waiting for the innocent American to get off the plane. That's not how it is, nor how we, with our "crazy suggestions" are presenting it. I hope I've cleared up some things in my original post that were not blatantly obvious before...have a great trip ladies! :cool:

Originally posted by plainsong
[B]I’ve been seeing some crazy suggestions here about safety, and the fact is it’s safer in Europe than in many parts of the US. Yeah, there are pickpockets, but those are everywhere. I’d say, try to go as native as you can and still stay comfy. Just try to blend in as much as you can and you’ll be able to carry as many gadgets as you like with no problem. Wearing travel vests and passports around your neck just screams “tourist”. :P
[/B]

Wow, it seems like I need to come back and clarify my post because I guess I didn’t make things clear enough for some people. :) Okie dokie!

First off, I don’t know why anyone would try to debate that it’s safer in Europe than the US. I personally don’t feel “unsafe” in either place. I also don’t see any “crazy suggestions” in anything I wrote. The point is to be able to <u>relax</u> and enjoy yourself knowing that you’ve taken some precautions. It would be my luck to be that one in a thousand to not be cautious and having something bad happen, but it would be my fault for not preparing. :o

Again, if you re-read my original post, you’ll see that crime wasn’t the only reason I don’t carrying lots of gadgets when traveling.

Aside from the obvious stated in my previous post, they take up valuable room that could be used to carry souveniers, and often at the end of a busy day, I wanted to look at my travel books or hang out with friends and discuss what we did and saw that day, not play Scrabble or read an ebook. I can do that at home anytime.

I suppose I could download that map of London’s tube system…that would justify taking my color Palm, wouldn’t it? ;) Instead, I found a nice plastic credit-card version over there that I could just shove in my pocket.

Re: the neck pouch…maybe you missed some of what I said about that as well, Plainsong. We are all gadget lovers here and I think if someone was developing x-ray glasses, J & J would have posted about it on the page. ;) Since they haven’t, I think we’re safe wearing a neck pouch <u>under our clothes</u>. Same with a travel vest…it fits nicely <u>under a jacket</u>. Surely this time of year, the tourists aren’t the only ones wearing some type of jacket or coat?

No one is saying that you have to lose sleep at night worrying about imaginary hoards of criminals just waiting for the innocent American to get off the plane. That’s not how it is, nor how we, with our “crazy suggestions” are presenting it.

I hope I’ve cleared up some things in my original post that were not blatantly obvious before…have a great trip ladies! :cool:

]]> By: plainsong http://the-gadgeteer.com/2000/04/10/windows_ce_graphics_packages_review/comment-page-1/#comment-14025 plainsong Fri, 31 Jan 2003 01:45:09 +0000 #comment-14025 I've been seeing some crazy suggestions here about safety, and the fact is it's safer in Europe than in many parts of the US. Yeah, there are pickpockets, but those are everywhere. I'd say, try to go as native as you can and still stay comfy. Just try to blend in as much as you can and you'll be able to carry as many gadgets as you like with no problem. Wearing travel vests and passports around your neck just screams "tourist". :P Now I'm in Helsinki which isn't like Paris or London, but I'd say the biggest thing is eye contact. When you're walking around, try to avoid making eye contact with strangers. Where I'm from, if that happens, you maybe do a little smile and nod...now here in Europe that's just plain weird, and you'll stick out like a sore thumb rather quickly. As for clothes, in Helsinki we just ask that you please remember to wear them. Just take it easy and enjoy. Take the same precautions about your gear that you would in the US, and just try to blend in. Try a little bit to speak the language in France, and remember to smile, that goes a long way. Have fun! :D I’ve been seeing some crazy suggestions here about safety, and the fact is it’s safer in Europe than in many parts of the US. Yeah, there are pickpockets, but those are everywhere. I’d say, try to go as native as you can and still stay comfy. Just try to blend in as much as you can and you’ll be able to carry as many gadgets as you like with no problem. Wearing travel vests and passports around your neck just screams “tourist”. :P

Now I’m in Helsinki which isn’t like Paris or London, but I’d say the biggest thing is eye contact. When you’re walking around, try to avoid making eye contact with strangers. Where I’m from, if that happens, you maybe do a little smile and nod…now here in Europe that’s just plain weird, and you’ll stick out like a sore thumb rather quickly. As for clothes, in Helsinki we just ask that you please remember to wear them.

Just take it easy and enjoy. Take the same precautions about your gear that you would in the US, and just try to blend in. Try a little bit to speak the language in France, and remember to smile, that goes a long way.

Have fun! :D

]]> By: mp2100zaurus http://the-gadgeteer.com/2000/04/10/windows_ce_graphics_packages_review/comment-page-1/#comment-14024 mp2100zaurus Fri, 31 Jan 2003 00:47:57 +0000 #comment-14024 Take a GSM mobile phone. I have a t-mobile here in the US. The coverage is . . . well . . . spotty. But in the UK, it is so great. I realized how it was supposed to be. Every area in the southern UK had a strong signal. I used 4 different cell providers (that showed up on my bill). And, $0.99/minute in a foreign land. That's for calls to the UK and to the US. What a deal. Power plugs in the UK: BIG 3 pronged, square plugs. Buy a converter in the airport. Don't get a 220/110 voltage converter, all my power supplies already work with either voltage. You just need to convert to the BIG plug. (Why so big? Every plug has a fuse built into it. Why? Because they don't have fuse boxes or circuit breakers in their homes' electrical system.) Allen Take a GSM mobile phone.

I have a t-mobile here in the US. The coverage is . . . well . . . spotty. But in the UK, it is so great. I realized how it was supposed to be. Every area in the southern UK had a strong signal. I used 4 different cell providers (that showed up on my bill). And, $0.99/minute in a foreign land. That’s for calls to the UK and to the US. What a deal.

Power plugs in the UK: BIG 3 pronged, square plugs. Buy a converter in the airport. Don’t get a 220/110 voltage converter, all my power supplies already work with either voltage. You just need to convert to the BIG plug. (Why so big? Every plug has a fuse built into it. Why? Because they don’t have fuse boxes or circuit breakers in their homes’ electrical system.)

Allen

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