Laptop, Ipad, Iphone?

[made2beme 119]

OK - I am so confused on what to take to use while in Mx. It seems that there is no point in taking our cell phones which will be so weird being as I do everything on my phone, but I dont want to get home to hundres of $ in roaming/international fees.

So, Ive heard take laptop because the hospital/hotel has wifi.....but we are trying to pack really, really light and a laptop although flat is heavy in weight (mine is anyway). And we are literally going to try and pack in 2 large backpacks or something we can just carry on. I am not sure we want to take up that space.

Ipad - much less space/weight and my brother in law has one he would let us borrow while we are there. But, I guess since I dont have one I am confused on how they connect. Is it just like the laptop and will use the wifi avail? I thought it would still use ATT towers and would be the same as the iphone correct?

Just need some insight as I know hubby will be bored and I am sure I will too when I just want to lay there and rest...It would be awesome to update my blog, make a vlog and post to here right after surgery.

Anyone?

[deltadawn817 106]

all I can say is pack what you want. ROLLER suitcase. (I took my phone just didn't use it while there. I used it as my alarm clock)

I packed 4 days worth clothes comfortable ones. If you have drain pack a safety pin...it was cold when I went so I put the drain bag think in my sweat jacket pocket.

I packed only one pair of shoes but that is because I have a bad knee.

I packed my laptop so that I could skype with my family and kids. used the free wifi at the clinic and hotel. Also my friend that went with me took it back to the hotel to use while I stayed my night in the clinic.

[cr354 15]

I have an iphone and travel quite a bit to Mexico. I simply disable the data portion and then just use the wifi. If you have an iphone it is pretty easy to do that. That way you will not incur expensive data roaming fees. You only get charged for voice if you answer the phone or check your voicemail. I simply do not do either unless it is an important call. Then it is not to expensive. If you call AT&T before you leave they can tell you but I think it is like 10 or 20 cents per minute. You can disable your voice service as well and essentially turn an iphone into an ipod touch which will only use wifi while you are down there. It certainly works at hospitals in MX that I have been to, mostly those in Cancun/tourist areas.

[Wheetsin 714]

My surgery was in the US. I took my phone and my Nook. I used my Nook pre-op, but that was it. Didn't touch my phone. More thoughts below in blue.

OK - I am so confused on what to take to use while in Mx. It seems that there is no point in taking our cell phones which will be so weird being as I do everything on my phone, but I dont want to get home to hundres of $ in roaming/international fees. I dont' take my cell phone when I go out of the country. I did once, and didn't realize that it sort of "automatically" switched to international/romaing and was constantly racking up charges. It was powered on, but I wasn't even using it. I figured it would only switch if I tried to make a call, or authorized it or something. Nope. I ended up with a $1300 cell phone bill (was out of the country for about 2 months). I was able to get the charges dropped, but it's just not worth the risk to me.

So, Ive heard take laptop because the hospital/hotel has wifi.....but we are trying to pack really, really light and a laptop although flat is heavy in weight (mine is anyway). And we are literally going to try and pack in 2 large backpacks or something we can just carry on. I am not sure we want to take up that space. Will you need wifi? If yes, you'll want a wifi device but it doesn't have to be a laptop. (I'm assuming you know this). I'm not sure you'll use a laptop much, unless you have something that will specifically require it, or something. Or maybe if you have a longer hospital stay. If your stay is one or two nights, I wouldn't even worry about brining it.

Ipad - much less space/weight and my brother in law has one he would let us borrow while we are there. But, I guess since I dont have one I am confused on how they connect. Is it just like the laptop and will use the wifi avail? I thought it would still use ATT towers and would be the same as the iphone correct? It depends on if the ipad has a data plan. The data plan gives you a certain amount of bandwith on the provider's 3G/4G network. Data plans have a monthly fee, so he'll know if he has it or not. If it doesn't have a data plan, it will still have wifi, you'll just need a network that you can access (free wifi, or a personal network, etc.) This might help. My iPhone has a data plan, so I can pretty much access the web whenever I want but when I access in a way that counts against my data plan, it shows "4G" at the top. And when I access in a way that's "free" (like our home wireless network) it doesn't. But if it didn't have a data plan, I'd only be able to access my home network, or a free "hotspot" or hijack onto an unsecured network or something like that.

Have a free wifi connection, you can do whatever you want for as long as you want without incurring any extra costs. You could even make phone calls around the world as long as you had something like a VOIP app.

Just need some insight as I know hubby will be bored and I am sure I will too when I just want to lay there and rest...It would be awesome to update my blog, make a vlog and post to here right after surgery. I wouldn't take my ipad into MX. I'm just saying.

Anyone?

[2bsmallagain 156]

I took my laptop and my phone. I just did not answer any phone calls. I texted some but did not accrue any charges on my phone for it. They have wifi so you can use your phone if you connect to it. My carrier is AT&T so that might make a difference.

[tonibugg 64]

I am actually in Mexico today waiting for surgery around 10am but I learned this handy tip from one of the docs here, if you have an Iphone you can download the app for magic jack!! I works great!! You just have to have wifi wherever you are making the call from, no charges or fees!! Awesome! I am in Juarez and just across from El Paso, he said that he lives in El Paso but works at the hospital here so he downloaded it to be able to call his family during the day. Great app!

I actually probably over packed but now that I'm here, I'm glad I did! I have my own blanket and pillow, I brought my computer (free wifi at the hospital) and my cell. And of course lots of PJ's and toiletries. My husband brought his Ipad and has made some face time calls (also free via wifi) so that has worked for him pretty well, I prefer not to be seen while talking to someone lol

anyway, hope that helps!! Good luck!!!

[thinmymind 107]

Follow all of the excellent advice above regarding the iphone. I would definitely take the iPad. It will use the wifi, same as your computer would. You will each want something, your husband especially. So, maybe one laptop and the iPad.