I’m off to Beijing soon… what should I take?

By on August 11, 2008 in News

Img214070916Once this month’s warm-up event in Beijing is tidied away some of the most exciting sport you’ll see will be coming to you from Beijing… the Paralympic element of the 29th Olimpiad.  Your intrepid reporter will be with Team GB’s medal-winning wheelchair basketball team reporting live – I’ll also try to give you the low-down on  the other sports going on.

However, right now the question is what mobile tech should I take to use and test?  On the list so far:

  • Truphone and Rebtel for cheap international calling
  • A local China Mobile SIM possibly with some mobile data
  • A SIMable chip so I can swap SIMs into any phones I like
  • iPhone for music and a simple Mandarin language course
  • Some offline maps with Olympic venue POI such as Garmin’s
  • An N82 for pictures
  • Several Proporta backup batteries
  • A netbook for mobile blogging (which one?)
  • The Macbook Air for proper computing
  • A decent gadget bag – something that doesn’t scream ‘laptop’!
  • Some high quality headphones for the flights – perhaps Entymotics?

Any other recommendations / options?  Have you been to China and what was useful / rubbish?

About Ben Smith

View all posts by Ben Smith →

, , , , , , , ,

  • Simon

    I’m off to China in a couple weeks too, not in Beijing long though, mainly at the Great Wall, X’ian, and some national parks. I’ve traveled in the past and like to keep my luggage as light as possible, so the only gadgetry I’m taking is my N82 and a spare battery (should suffice between chargings), which I’ll use mainly for it’s camera and GPS (will use Nokia Maps for navigation), I don’t expect to be making many phone calls or texts (although that China Mobile article was VERY helpful), and I might upload some tunes on to it but don’t want to sap the battery so won’t listen very often.

    Didn’t realise Garmin provided China maps though, are they better than Nokias?

  • AJ

    In addition to the tech stuff, take lots of toilet roll. Keep it in the fridge for when things get really bad. I am still very jealous though.

  • http://www.kcjhdesign.co.uk Kip Hakes

    I've just got myself a Celly Laptop case – love it, and it doesn't scream 'laptop' lots of pockets – and waterproof too! Ideal for random rain showers! Lots of cubby holes too..

    K

  • http://twitter.com/EricE51 Eric in Cupertino

    A little stovetop coffeepot because the local stuff is terrible. When you see the ladies selling the thing that looks like a giant egg roti get it! The fermented red date tofu on it too if your stomach can take it. I think the name is something like jen-ming-gwa-za. Man it’s incredible. Sometimes all you have to say is “ebay” for an 80% discount. I stayed in Yizhuang, around the 5th ring on the south side, last year. It’s beautiful. Technology? If needed you’ll see a China Mobile kiosk before you exit the Airport. I never noticed if the prices are inflated.

  • http://www.mobileindustryreview.com smstextnews

    Are those Entymotics any good?

    You also might want a FlipVideo? Quick, cheap easy video recording — and it uses batteries.

    Solar charger? Might not be that sunny though.

  • http://whatleydude.vox.com James Whatley

    I'd tap up our mate LJ Rich too – I know she's just got back…

  • http://www.smstextnews.com/author/Ben.Smith Ben Smith

    The ones I tried were – have some coming (hopefully) for review.

    Yes – flip would be good.

    May go for a solar charger, although I will be inside the stadiums a fair bit so majoring on battery solutions.

  • http://freshplastic.vox.com Anthony

    Ben, it's a shame both you and my sister aren't single – she'll be in Beijing at the same time and you could've compared iPhone 3Gs or something. ;-)

  • http://www.mobileindustryreview.com smstextnews

    oh baby

    2008/8/26 Disqus <>

  • http://www.smstextnews.com/author/Ben.Smith Ben Smith

    Ant, Rumour has it it is possible to talk to girls without romance being a pretext :-)

  • http://whatleydude.vox.com James Whatley

    Lies I tell you.

  • http://www.kcjhdesign.co.uk Kip Hakes

    Romance isn't a pretext, sex is. ;)

  • Mike42

    Isn't pretext the nervous feeling something is about to go beep in your pocket?

  • http://www.smstextnews.com/author/Ben.Smith Ben Smith

    Taxi for Mike!

  • http://www.smstextnews.com/author/Ben.Smith Ben Smith

    Apparently they do, although I won't be able to tell you about it as Garmin PR ignored my request to try it out… :-( I will have some other GPS gadgets hopefully to play with tho'

  • http://www.smstextnews.com/author/Ben.Smith Ben Smith

    Eric – many thanks for the tips!

  • gargouri2001

    Nice write up and blog , Thanks for sharing all those good info

    best regards
    John
    http://xtupload.com

Switch to our mobile site