View Full Version : Laptops
Hi Beryl here.
We are arriving in Orlando in three weeks, has anyone from the u.k taken their laptops with them, are you allowed to use them on the aircraft, and are they o.k. to use in the villas although the electric is diffrent:):)
Beryl
all laptops run off dc power, so , as long as you have a ac/dc power supply you will be ok. All laptops manufactured for a number of years come with these power supplies as standard. You should have a small box that is inbetween the power socket and your laptop, check that this is rated as
110/240v + 50/60hz. Then all you'll need is a plug converter to allow a uk style plug to fit a us style.
As for using them on aircraft, i've seen 'em used in business class, but i would double check when you are at check-in.
Loads of people take laptops with them to Florida Beryl but you need to make sure that it's charged up before you leave home as sometimes security ask you to turn it on to prove it works.
You can use a laptop on the aircraft too.
You need an electrical adaptor in order to use it in Florida - you can get these from Dixons, Currys, PC World, etc.
If you're intending to use it for the internet, then you also need a connector for the telephone end of the modem. Suppliers as above or you can purchase these in Florida.
You also need an ISP in Florida but you can sign up easily for http://www.access4free.com before you go.
Have a great time!
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
14-03-2004, 17:50
The laptops are ok - I'm sat using my UK laptop in Florida as I type this [msnsmile]
Most laptops can automatically deal with 110 / 240v and all you really need are a plug adapter and a telephone socket adapter if you are going to use a modem to dial up to the net. These are readily available from places like Dixons and Currys.
Most airlines allow you to use your laptop on board.
steph_goodrum
14-03-2004, 18:58
You might also need to check with the villa owner if it is ok to use it as well. Most will have free local calls so you should be able to connect for free but if like our villa the owner has a monitored alarm then using the dial up for any length of time (or if you go out and forget to disconnect) it could trigger a false alarm to the security company as it may appear that someone has tried to bypass the phone system. Or so we were told by Brinks when they fitted our alarm 18 months or so ago, we decided to opt for wireless/cable to make sure it didn't happen but obviously could still happen if a guest went for the dial up option.
Thank you to John&Sarah, Blott,and Wilfy
Thank you for your help we have a ac/dc power supply. My daughter need it to finish her project for her a level, but since reading the above messages I think she and her sister have ideas of surfing the net, on their spare days. Thank you once again Beryl with two very happy daughters :):) What did we do on holidays when children before the pc
Thanks Babblin Boo
will check with the owner, bad enough the ice machine without alarm going off as well.
andycoll
15-03-2004, 03:45
Hi
Blott
This access4free is this a free dial up or do you have to pay for the call charges looked at there site and it doesn’t say
Or perhaps I am a bit thick and missed it
Try here http://www.access4free.com/rates.htm The maximum charge is $10 a month but only if you use 20+ hours. The first ten hours are free and then it's $1 an hour after that up to a maximum of $10 in a month.
Oh, sorry, no call charges if you have access to free local calls telephone as you can choose the nearest one.
andycoll
15-03-2004, 04:00
Thanks for that
Yep it was me being a bit thick dahhh lol
[msnsmile2]
I took my laptop to orlando a couple of weeks ago - with a view to catching up on some asssignments on the flights and being able to email home to the kids.
However, we were travelling economy class with BA and although the seats were quite roomy (for economy) I couldn't have the laptop on the tray or my knee and have the screen open properly - which became very uncomfortable- so I put it away after about half an hour...it was also quite heavy on the shoulder....when queing - so I wouldnt do it again.
Next time I will go to find an internet cafe...does anyone know of any ?? or Ill go to one of the hotels and ask to use their buisness facilities (dont know if they'll be open to non residents)
When we went through baggage check in I had to take the laptop out of its bag and send it through the scanner separately..dont know why?? ( we all did- it wasnt just me!!)
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Joolz
I took my laptop to orlando a couple of weeks ago - with a view to catching up on some asssignments on the flights and being able to email home to the kids.
However, we were travelling economy class with BA and although the seats were quite roomy (for economy) I couldn't have the laptop on the tray or my knee and have the screen open properly - which became very uncomfortable- so I put it away after about half an hour...it was also quite heavy on the shoulder....when queing - so I wouldnt do it again.
Next time I will go to find an internet cafe...does anyone know of any ?? or Ill go to one of the hotels and ask to use their buisness facilities (dont know if they'll be open to non residents)
When we went through baggage check in I had to take the laptop out of its bag and send it through the scanner separately..dont know why?? ( we all did- it wasnt just me!!)
[/quote]
You normally have to start them up to prove they are real laptops!
Joolz,
internet cafe's, there was a cafe in Beunaventura outlet palce , on the 535. or try any of the local libraries. They normally have free internet access, either a 15 minute or 1 hour slot per day. Depending on which one you try, you may have to make a small charge.
The new library just off orange blossom trail charge $7 for a week. The main library in Kissimmee was free.
I've taken our laptop for a couple of years and albeit we have to take it out of it's bag, we've never once been asked to power it up.:)
Floridalover
15-03-2004, 18:31
I have the pleasure of passing through US security at least twice a month on trips back to the UK and several times a month whilst doing internal flights.When passing through US security you will be asked to remove your laptop from your bag and pass it through the scanner seperately. You normally dont have to switch it on, although if your unlucky and get sent through for an 'advanced' search (where they go through your bags etc - normally because you set off the bleeper although you can be hand picked for these too) you may need to switch it on. Best to always have some power in the battery for this purpose, otherwise they will ask you to plug it in and switch it on.
Don't put your laptop into checked baggage, as you cannot lock your bags (they need to be left oopen for security searches) otherwise it will disappear!
andycoll
16-03-2004, 01:28
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Joolz
Next time I will go to find an internet cafe...does anyone know of any ?? or Ill go to one of the hotels and ask to use their buisness facilities (dont know if they'll be open to non residents)
When we went through baggage check in I had to take the laptop out of its bag and send it through the scanner separately..dont know why?? ( we all did- it wasnt just me!!)
[/quote]
There is a pay per surf on in the big flee market on the 192 next to the helicopter tours place
It’s about $1.00 per five minuets not that cheep but it’s very handy if you have some important stuff to do
Ray&Sarah
16-03-2004, 03:37
I travel regularly both to Europe and US, and further a field. Recently, it has got easier with you just having to remove the laptop from its case. I can remember flying into Northern Ireland every week, and being asked to turn the laptop on, then go into the check-in area, only to pass through the secondary security to be asked by the same customs/security guy to turn it on again. We got quite used to one another, as it was the same routine every week for six months! If you do take your laptop, have it out of your bag ready, it is always so annoying when the person in front has not read the numerous signs asking for laptops to be removed from bags, and overcoats to be removed. (not that you'll need an overcoat in Florida!:D[msnscared]
orlandobabe
17-03-2004, 00:53
We've used access4free now on several trips and it's always been great.
Until this time! I really experienced difficulty getting logged on at certain times of the day. It was usually ok before 10am and after 10pm-sometimes in the afternoon if we got back early it was fine too. There were loads of occasions however when I just couldn't get logged on at all.
That's neevr happened before. Has anyone else had these problems?
Yes, I think Sunlover did but he altered the connection number to a 407 one and it was fine after that.
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
17-03-2004, 06:40
We used access4free for the first night of our current trip with no problems at all. It was it's usual perfect service with very fast connect speeds.
Roger then got the wireless broadband activetd in his 6 bed so we are now using that [msnsmile2]
I couldn't use any dial up connection, including accessforfree. I think this was due to the quality of the line. We were told that if a house has alarm monitoring on the same line, this could cause this problem. Has anyone else heard this?
We've got alarm monitoring on the same line and it doesn't make any difference to our dial up internet connection, which we can use without problem.
Are you sure the problem wasn't due to the call blocking on the line you may have had? If you have a call blocking system which needs a credit card then this may have affected your use of the line for the internet.
All local calls were free and we had no problem making or receiving them. I assumed that as long as this was the case we'd be able to dial up on a local access no.
We did suffer faint crosstalk occasionally. Maybe this was more to with the prob than the alarm.
Ah, I wonder if the number you were trying to dial for the internet was within the local calling area? Sometimes numbers with the same prefix, ie 407, etc aren't within the local free call area as this is normally not extensive.