In the US, we’re definitely attached to our gadgets and technology. What technology can’t you live without when you make your international move?
Besides the computer (of course!), I need my Amazon Kindle and my iPod. Here’s why.
Create an Untethered Life Overseas
To be honest…I had never heard of the Kindle…although now, I think I’d be interested. I like the level of portability. I’m wondering if it would be feasible to use it at the gym on the treadmill or if the text would be too small and jiggly? Can you change the text size to fit your needs?
I know I could truly not live without my Ipod nano…which has a screen on it to watch tv shows or movies. This is my best way to catch up on old or missed episodes of Lost….my new addiction.
Of course! One of the nicest features is a font size selector, where you can choose from teeny-tiny mouseprint to enormous. I have used the enormous when sitting in the eye doctor’s office after they took my glasses off somewhere. . .
Hi Future Expat,
Essential technology overseas? Well first off my business is in my Macbook (laptop), but would not be secure without double offsite backup (Mozy). Skype or any VoIP program would also be a must. And lastly, my iphone allows me to access everything, wherever I happen to be – plus allows me to listen to great music and audiobooks when I am traveling.
Great to see another voice talking about tools and strategies for expat living!
Megan Fitzgerald
Expat Career & Personal Branding Coach
Hi Megan, Didn’t mean to imply computers aren’t important overseas. Do you have a preference between Skype and other VoIP programs? Do you have any experience with this new Majic Jack we’re seeing advertised here in the States?
Like Megan, my business is “portable”, so my laptop and VoIP are key. I use Skype and am quite happy with it, although it does have its idiosyncrasies… it works brilliantly with Europe, but last time I used it within Canada to call Calgary, the audio quality was so poor that I had to phone the client from my landline instead.
I am not familiar with Majic Jack; I don’t remember seeing it advertised in Western Canada.
iPods are great for people on the move. I used to carry mine everywhere I went, but these days I only use it to drown out the ambient noise on long flights. Once I get to my destination, I would rather be fully present and soak up the surrounding sounds, because they are part and parcel of the experience, even if they are loud or jarring.
At home, I mostly use iTunes and last.fm. to listen to music.
I also rely on Google Docs and similar applications to temporarily back up my most important files while traveling, just in case something happens to my laptop.
I wonder if your difficulty with Skype in Canada had anything to do with the fact that broadband speeds in North America (at least in the US) are much slower than those readily available in Europe, Japan, and a few other places. I use Skype here occasionally, but it’s always had its little glitches.
Hi FutureExpat,
I had a client in Lebanon who tried to use Majic Jack for our appointments and it did not work well.
I like Skype for the most part – it has recording features, group call features, video chat features and their are new features coming that allow me better engage with clients, colleauges, family and friends. However the dependability of the line can be spotty sometimes – I can’t seem to get around that. But such is the adventure of having a portable business!
My very best,
Megan
I use Magic jack extensively in Japan. It gives me the opportunity to have a local US number and send and receive phone calls for 19.95 a year. Japan cell phone calls to US is about $1.99 per minute. So the MJ pays for itself in about 15 minutes for me. I have read that some can’t get the phone to ring….but my system works flawlessly when I wish to use the handset. But often I just use the laptop built in Mic an speakers….and it works fine.
yes you must have a PC or laptop on a broadband internet connection.
The sound quality is almost the same as a land line for me. But when your broadband connection is under heavy use or the internet is slow….yes you can miss a word or two.
But 99.99% of the time…I cannot distiguish it from a land line.
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