[cyberhippie]

So the last shopping has been done for the upcoming trip, After seeing the list of gadgets I intend to take to India, you may well ask where am I going to pack my clothes  
A list that will have member hyderabadi glowing I'm sure. In the way only tech junkies understand     

All this came about since my promised Laptop will not be delivered until the 24 of March, after a series of events that would have the lawyers amongst you spitting teeth. Precisely 21 days after I leave.
With this in mind I had to find solutions for my music and photography collection whilst on the road.
These were the options I chose and I'll be happy to relate how they do "on the road" at some later date.
This is of course shared between two rucksacks!!     

Cameras & Lenses

Nikon D50 SLR
Tamron Lense  AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical

Sumsung Digimax Cyber 530

10 GB memory cards

Music and speakers

Archos Gmini 500 multi media player

Specs
80 GB hard Disk
Display: 4" LCD 480x272 pixels, 262 000 colours and TV output
Battery life: Up to 15 hours for music. Up to 5 hours for video on built-in LCD.
Video playback: MPEG-42 SP with B-Frames with stereo sound. Near DVD quality up to  720x480 @ 30 f/s (NTSC), 720x576 @ 25 f/s (PAL), AVI file format. WMV9 (including protected files) up to 352x288 @ 30 f/s, and 800 KBit/s.
Music recording: From an analog source (with optional adapter) in stereo sound in WAV (PCM & ADPCM) format or with voice recorder.
Music playback: Stereo MP3 decoding @ 30-320 kb/s CBR & VBR, WMA (including protected WMA files), WAV (PCM & ADPCM).
Photo viewer: JPEG (except progressives) or BMP.
Download photos from computer through USB 2.0 port.
AV connections: Earphones / Audio & Video line out.
Speaker: Built-in speaker.
Built-in microphone.
Interfaces: USB 2.0 high-speed device, compatible USB 1.1, PC & Mac. USB Host port   compatible Mass Storage Device.
Removable battery (additional battery optional).
Scalability: Download firmware updates from www.archos.com
Minimum system requirements: • Minimum computer configuration:

Philips Sound stage speakers

Built-in speakers featuring XSL Acoustics for dynamic sound
Dynamic Bass Boost electronically enhances the low tones
Incredible Surround " enhances the sound stage
Universal use with all portable entertainment equipment
Ultra slim mono body fit easily into pockets and bags
Carrying pouch protects your speakers when not in use
Cable neatly stored when not in use

Creative Labs Headphones EP630

Driver Units: 9mm Neodymium magnet transducer
Frequency Response: 6Hz ~ 23kHz
Impedance: 16ohms
Sensitivity: 106dB
Input Plugs: 3.5mm stereo gold plated miniplug

Kensington Liquid FM transmitter

Play MP3s through your car stereo
ClearFM technology delivers superior sound
QuickSeek technology finds the clearest station in seconds
USB Pass-through charges your MP3 player or any USB powered device (cable sold separately)
Includes 3.5 mm adapter for all MP3 players. PLUS: 2.5mm adapter for MP3 cell phone compatibility
3 station presets for instant tuning
Tune to any FM station: 88.1--107.9
Convenient on/off switch--so that you can turn it off without unplugging it

Sony Walkman Mp3

Other needless gadgets

Hama memory card reader
Cruzer Crossfire 2 GB pen drive
Cables and power step down transformers.

[Hyderabadi]

Nice list CH!

May I add one or two?

I assume you will be carrying spare batteries, charger?
I took a charger that would also hook up to a car cigarette lighter socket.

I'm a strong supporter of a 18 - XXX lens. But that's just my style of photography influencing me. Anything less than 18mm would be 'fisheye' imho, which I don't like either.  

[john.sw]

You forgot to pack a GPS Data Logger!

My data logger records your exact position, altitude and speed using Satellites.

When you transfer your photographs onto your computer it then writes the coordinates into the EXIF information on the photographs so you know exactly where each one was taken.

You can then view the location on Google Earth or Google Maps, and also build your own travel map to put on your web site!

Oh - and when you upload your photos to Flickr, it automatically places them on the Flickr Map!

It also allows you to show your tracks on GE and Google Maps - how could you travel without one?  

Here's mine - you'll have to look at the pictures to get the idea, unless you speak Chinese!

http://udn.monday.co...asp?gdid=781733

[Petrov]

john.sw, on Feb 26 2008, 09:07 AM, said:

You forgot to pack a GPS Data Logger!

My data logger records your exact position, altitude and speed using Satellites.

When you transfer your photographs onto your computer it then writes the coordinates into the EXIF information on the photographs so you know exactly where each one was taken.

You can then view the location on Google Earth or Google Maps, and also build your own travel map to put on your web site!

Oh - and when you upload your photos to Flickr, it automatically places them on the Flickr Map!

It also allows you to show your tracks on GE and Google Maps - how could you travel without one?  

Here's mine - you'll have to look at the pictures to get the idea, unless you speak Chinese!

http://udn.monday.co...asp?gdid=781733

This thing looks amazing!!! I've got four days till I leave... time to track one down with ultra fast delivery!!!

[crvlvr]

I assume most of ths will carried as hand baggage, leaving you lots of room for clothes.. Although, the airlines have been cutting back on max allowed baggage limits.

Rechargeble batteries, as hyderabadi suggests, are a must. What a about an external flash for your camera? Those in built flashes on SLRs do not do the camera justice.

BTW, what's your back up startegy for the media? I have know cases where equipment was stolen, the owner regretted not making copies of the photos. Since you won;t have a laptop, may be some writeable media like CDs or DVDs?

[Hyderabadi]

john.sw, on Feb 26 2008, 04:07 AM, said:

Here's mine - you'll have to look at the pictures to get the idea, unless you speak Chinese!

http://udn.monday.co...asp?gdid=781733

My wallet is beginning to itch John..

Looks like it's about US$ 55.00 :
http://www.ecrater.c...php?pid=1925911

[cyberhippie]

Nice John but my missus will hang me if I buy any more hardware this year!!

Crvlvr I'll back up as I go onto Cd and I´ll have the memory cards, plus a further back up on the Archos. So I´m as covered as I can be no!

Recharables I´m not going to bother with, all the kit above also works on 12 volt tranfomers, so I´ll take a 3 plug adaptor, with a 20cm power lead, fit an Indian plug and I´m ready to go.
I even have a bayonet connector somewhere, for those rooms without a power point. Just plug it into a light socket and hey presto, power!

[crvlvr]

Now, you are making the assumption that India has power available 24/7...

[cyberhippie]

Never heard of power cuts in India.


Outages, load shedding and rationing yes