Laptops

[Fletch]

We have been considering buying a laptop for some time now, and we were wondering whether it would be better to buy one in the UK and take it with us to access our emails in the villa, or to buy one in the USA instead.

Also, our son is addicted to Bob the Builder, Postman Pat and Tractor Tom and life will be hell [msncry] if he can't watch them for 3 weeks - I know there is a different format for video in the states, but will I be able to play his DVDs on the player in the villa? As we don't have cable or sky at home, I don't know what kids programmes will be available on cable in the states. Can you get all the UK kids favourites?

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Fletch
We have been considering buying a laptop for some time now, and we were wondering whether it would be better to buy one in the UK and take it with us to access our emails in the villa, or to buy one in the USA instead.

Also, our son is addicted to Bob the Builder, Postman Pat and Tractor Tom and life will be hell [msncry] if he can't watch them for 3 weeks - I know there is a different format for video in the states, but will I be able to play his DVDs on the player in the villa? As we don't have cable or sky at home, I don't know what kids programmes will be available on cable in the states. Can you get all the UK kids favourites?
[/quote]

You wont be able to play UK DVDS on a US system, but if you have a laptop that plays DVDS you could watch them on that or you can pick up US copies of his favourites but they may have US voices????

[andrewmckay5]

Hi Fletch,
in march we bought a Toshiba laptop in Florida at Circuit City for $950-00. The same model when we got home was £950-00 in PC World. However it may be worth checking on the web because prices do seem to move up and down a great deal.
The laptop allows us to switch betwwen US and UK format DVDS but only 5 times after which it will "lock" into the format you last changed too. I know there is software that allows you to continue playing both formats.
DVD's are much cheaper in the US and it may be worth taking or buying a laptop to keep the little one happy. We are hoping this will be the case with our 2 year old on the flight over at xmas.

[MTP]

If you can make your UK home DVD multi-region then you could simply pick up some DVD's to watch while in the US and then bring them home and still be able to watch them. I think you would be able to get Bob the Builder over there, but I am not sure how Americanised it will be. If it is it may make it not the same for your son, from that point it may work better to see if you could persuade him to try something different while on holiday. Maybe Sesame Street, Bear in the Big Blue House, Wiggles, Stanley or Dora the Explorer?

It may also work in well then if he also meets some of the characters at the parks.

[floridadreamvilla.co.uk]

Bob The Builder has a US accent in the US (all the characters do) - as do the Telletubbies and most other UK made kids programs. I'm not sure how this will affect your kids watching it - I know it made ours ask a few questions when they were younger [msneek]

[Fletch]

Thanks for your replies everyone.

Andrew - can you use a laptop in any seat on the plane or do you have to request a seat with power socket? Please forgive my ignorance, but I don't know much about laptops or facilities on the planes.
I like the idea of taking a laptop with us 'cause the thought of such a long flight with no other means of entertaining our son is not one I relish. He has special needs and isn't interested in books, toys, games etc.

[andrewmckay5]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Fletch
Thanks for your replies everyone.

Andrew - can you use a laptop in any seat on the plane or do you have to request a seat with power socket? Please forgive my ignorance, but I don't know much about laptops or facilities on the planes.
I like the idea of taking a laptop with us 'cause the thought of such a long flight with no other means of entertaining our son is not one I relish. He has special needs and isn't interested in books, toys, games etc.
[/quote]

No Idea I'm afraid. We only got ours on the last visit and did not use overnight on the way home. I was presuming it would run on the battery and once this ran out that would be it. I am sure there are many people on the forum who use a laptop for work on flights and can help you out.
regards
andrew

[caroline]

I've used the laptop on flights, we bought a special power adaptor that plugs into a socket in the armrest, but I'm not sure if they are available on all airlines and in all classes.

[pieman790]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by caroline
I've used the laptop on flights, we bought a special power adaptor that plugs into a socket in the armrest, but I'm not sure if they are available on all airlines and in all classes.

[/quote]

We bought our on a US Airways flight but when we flew with American Airlines they were doing a similar model and deal. They cost around £60/US$100 but you can use the laptop for the whole of the flight.

[villainthesun]

Availability of at-seat power varies between aircraft and airlines. If you're travelling with US Airways, then their Airbus 330 aircraft used on most flights from the UK have power available at every seat on the aircraft.

A good site for checking such facilities is

www.seatguru.com