Going to Peace Corps, sell/keep comp?

[donga]

So I got nominated to serve in Africa for the Peace corps (leave in june) after I graduate college in May. My question is if I should keep or sell my powerbook, and how to store all my data files (DVD's, external HD)?

If I sell the comp, how do I erase important files on it?

I was thinking of maybe giving the pbook to my parents (they've got an hp, and need a lot of help on comps, I think switching to mac would help them out) but they've also expressed interest in buying a mac desktop.

Let me know what you think!

 

[iSaint]

Wow, what an opportunity to see the world! Do you know where you will be going yet?

Give your parents the Powerbook. Keep your important files on there, maybe create a backup somehow, and let them run free! You will have done your first service to the world by switching your parents to Macdom.

 

[watchmainspring]

you should join the army.

no,no, just kidding. But id sell, you can store the money to buy an updated model when you get out

 

[igmolinav]

Take it with you !!!

I would sell it or give it to my parents, as a first choice.

I only wonder, if it won´t be helpful for you and for the community you´ll be serving in Africa someway.

Perhaps your computer may be helpful to write your experiences, store new pictures, teach children.

I don´t know how "urban" your setting will be. I remember reading about a priest living in Africa in a rural area. He would go once a week to the closest city to him where there was a community house. Once in the city, he would send some e-mails he had already written. Then, he would leave the computer to charge for two to three hours while he was running earrinds in the city.

Best of luck with your experience in Africa,

igmolinav

 

[jamdr]

how long will you be gone? 2 years? You should sell it or give it to the parents. Otherwise it'd just be sitting around getting no use.

 

[hhlee]

So I got nominated to serve in Africa for the Peace corps (leave in june) after I graduate college in May. My question is if I should keep or sell my powerbook, and how to store all my data files (DVD's, external HD)?

If I sell the comp, how do I erase important files on it?

I was thinking of maybe giving the pbook to my parents (they've got an hp, and need a lot of help on comps, I think switching to mac would help them out) but they've also expressed interest in buying a mac desktop.

Let me know what you think!

take it if you can, document, take pictures. help peace corp out

 

[yoda13]

I would take it, and use it to communicate if you aren't too remote, and even if you are, use it to store photos and document your experiences. Good luck, glad you are going to serve.

 

[miloblithe]

I loved having my iBook with me during my time in the Peace Corps. It was great for writing my epic letters home, writing up lesson plans for my school, providing me with music, movies, games, a place to store m pictures, and eventually even Internet access (at 1400kbps!). I strongly recommend taking one with you if it makes sense for the kinds of sites you're likely to be assigned to. I was in Russia, and although Russia is pretty laptop friendly (I lived in my own apartment), I think many if not most countries are.

Once you learn what country you're going to you should be able to contact volunteers currently serving in that country and find out aout their living situations and see what they recommend. Take their advice to heart but with a grain of salt. People have their own opinions and you will (or should) get a range of advice depending on peoples' diverse personalities and beliefs.

One thing you might want to consider is selling your powerbook and buying a used iBook; use the extra money to get a digital camera, perhaps. Although I only knew one person who got their computer stolen, going into Peace Corps service with thousands of dollars of electronics equipment is not a good idea. Be willing to lose whatever you take.

 

[donga]

so i was nominated, and I'm taking care of medical stuff, then they'll officially invite me with a specific country, etc.

My concerns were about electricity to power the powerbook... whether or not i'd have any electricity, also, does anyone know if the plugs are different or if i need an adapter? (i read somewhere some dude fried his comp b/c he had the right plug but didn't have the right converter or something ?)

also, miloblithe, I appreciate the advice now like months ago. would i be able to charge a digital camera? what do you know about africa pcv's?

other ideas/comments? thank you for the ones thus far.

 

[gammamonk]

Keep in mind tho, that something expensive is also a burden in a poor area of the world. My friend did Peace Corps in Bulgaria and you literally had to ship one boot at a time or it would be stolen from the mail.

 

[yoda13]

U can get apple's travel adaptor package and supposedly it will work anywhere. Since you have a laptop, I don't think it should have a country specific voltage regulator...

Good luck with this wonderful opportunity. I hope you really enjoy it. Again, I would take the laptop if at all possible!!!

 

[miloblithe]

Laptops are great for international travel because as yoda mentions you don't have to worry about a voltage adaptor. Also, unreliable current isn't a problem because if the power goes out for a few minutes or even longer, the laptop can run off batteries. Desktops require devices that act as a reserve power supply in these places. You will want a good surge suppressor though.

But overall I'd wait to hear where you're going before you decide anything. Like volunteers I met in Mongolia who lived in tents (gers) hundreds of miles from an electric outlet would have had little use for a laptop. The only PCV I know who worked in Africa was in Morocco, which is not Africa Africa. Laptops were great there.

Oh, and 12" all the way. Easier to hide and carry. Cheaper.