More stuff...

So there are a number of things that have been going on of late that I haven't written about yet.  I got my backpack yesterday, and am expecting the Hammock today.  I got this specific backpack pretty much strictly because it had the special airflow back and it was the one of that style that fit best.  As a result, I have no idea what all these pockets and straps are for!!  lol.  Actually, a lot is pretty self explanatory, and makes complete sense given my experience, but still I was going through it last night... so many little intricacies.  Very amusing...

I checked google analytics today and saw that we have officially gotten our first visit to the website from someone actually in Sierra Leone.  May not seem like much, but is still a good step.  I have specifically been holding off on doing much of the marketing until I get closer to actually leaving.  I figure its easier to have people maintain interest in the actual trip once I am there or about to leave, rather than the less exciting build up to it.  So to get visits that seem to just be coming of their own accord is positive.

I have continued to email with Cyril at Zain telecom, and he said that I could very easily just use a modem to plug into the computer and use the internet.  $70-75 for the modem and then $10 for 100mb.  I'm asking him for a full rate card for more usage.  But it is pay as you go so that is positive, no contract or anything.  With this I wouldn't have to buy a $400 smart phone, which would REALLY help my budget.  But I still need to get a phone and I need it to double as a descent camera, so still not out of the woods yet.  But it could give me more flexibility.  I tried calling Nokia yesterday and asking, but think I got hung up on... I'll have to find out more of the technical aspects to it and go from there.  It may be more worth while to do the full-on smart phone given the $75 modem, the cost of another phone with good camera, and future considerations but time will tell.

I have been working on flash cards for Krio, but I must admit am not getting far.  I just can't seem to be too successful without being in country and listening and learning right there on the spot.  This brings me to another thought that has been slowly growing in my mind given multiple conversations I've been having with people associated with the country.  Maybe it would be worth it to spend the beginning of the trip a bit more settled.  Yeah, I know not a new idea, I was already thinking to spend a week in Freetown getting acclimated.  But Kaps with Child Help and I have been talking about some project ideas and with others people about security and not getting taken advantage of - basically involving getting to know my way around the people and language.  This makes perfect sense given all my other time abroad, some places and people will try to take you for all you're worth as a foreigner 'with money'.    I am going to put together an entire post on this in a little bit though that will get into the possible project and these other considerations.  For now though, I just thought I'd put up another update...  

A day in the life.

So I am trying a little experiment using google docs in an effort both not to lose my work so quickly, and also in respect to the idea of use this format while I am in Sierra Leone (as you can see by the formats on this post, the experiment didn't go so well). Who knows what could happen over three months time out on my own in every corner of Sierra Leone.  It would be a travesty if I have a lot of things written and saved on the computer and then something happens to the computer and everything is then gone!!  So I will be trying to work with google docs a bit to see if it could be an avenue worth using.  So I’m writing this there first, and then will copy paste into the blogger program.

Yesterday seemed to be a fairly progressive day.  I spent a good deal of time on the phone with my father (technology advisor).  We were trying to talk through the computer and phone set up that I will use there.  I put another email in to “Cyril”, my contact with Zain telecom in Sierra Leone, asking what seems like the last substantial question.  He recommended a Nokia N series phone for internet browsing there, and my question is; is this if I want to have internet capabilities on my phone, as opposed to on my computer via my phone?  Basically, can any phone plug into a computer and connect it to the Internet?  All phones need to have the right SIM card (smart chip) configuration - which they can easily do there - but do I need to spend $400 on a smart phone that does all the same things as a computer or can a regular phone let me just use the computer for my needs?  Zain also has the modem that you plug into the computer and connect from there.  I just don’t want to spend money I don’t have.  At the same time though, I have to go prepared for all or I might get nothing.  Tricky.  

Ideally, should money not be an issue, I’d get both, but this is not the loosest budget out there!!  lol.  There is always the old option of just a smart phone and a keyboard, but fact is, I need a computer.  I need it now, and after no matter what, so I have to start here.  I was looking at the number of posts I have had and since my computer died, my posts and productivity has dropped a lot.  I can’t have that happen, need to keep pushing.  So the computer has to be purchased.  

My father and I have for months been talking about the ASUS Eee netbook and honed in on more specifics.  He did some research after the conversation and he sent me the specs on one that seems to match the criteria:



Asus Eee PC 1001PX-MU27-BK Seashell 10.1 inch Atom N450/ 1GB/ 160GB/ Windows 7 Starter Netbook Computer
Specifications

   * Mfr Part Number: 1001PX-MU27-BK
   * Processor: Intel Atom N450 (1.66GHz, 512KB L2 Cache)
   * Memory: 1GB DDR2 SODIMM memory, Max Capacity upto 2GB
   * Display: 10.1" WSVGA (1024x600) Non-Glare Screen LCD w/ LED-backlit
   * Graphics Module: Integrated Graphics Controller
   * Hard Disk: 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
   * Audio: Integrated Hi-Definition Audio CODEC; Built-in Speakers and Microphone
   * Connectivity: Fast Ethernet; 802.11b/g Wireless LAN
   * Interface: 2x USB 2.0 Ports; 1x VGA Port; 1x RJ45 LAN Port; 1x Microphone-in; 1x Headphone-out
   * Card Reader: 3-in-1 Card Reader, Support MMC/ SD/ SDHC
   * Camera: Built-in 0.3 Megapixel Camera
   * Battery Pack & life: 6 cells Lithium Battery, upto 9 hours
   * Color: Black
   * Dimension(WxDxH): 262 x 178 x 25.9 ~ 36.5 mm
   * Weight: 1.27 kg
   * Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Starter

I had seen longer battery life, and a better webcam, but as he said: “there are going to be trade offs and balances” and 1.27 kg is one fabulous trade off.  That’s 2.8 pounds with a 9 hour battery.  Those two are really my key concerns (as well as temperature) and I think this machine will do a good job with those key concerns.  I saw online that bluetooth was optional for this machine, and that would be something I would need to try to get if it isnt’ already included, but otherwise this looks pretty good.

The one discussion that we did have that is a bit disappointing was regarding the operating system.  I would like to use Linux as it is open source and thus much more in tune with my ideals.  There are however legitimate concerns over whether a phone’s software package would work with Linux, so this may not be an option at this time.  I will however be running through the city tomorrow and perhaps will look for a Nokia store to ask a few questions.  It may be easier to get answers from them than Sierra Leone as the questions are more technical than country specific.    



So there you have it, that was yesterday.  Close to solidifying another item.  As for this google docs experiment, my web browser has crashed twice in the writing of this and the doc was still there.  So that’s good, but how quickly does it auto save??  If I erase all now will I loose it??  Experimenting...  NO!!!  I won’t, I just deleted it and let the auto save do its thing, but I still was able to use the back arrow.  Why can’t google do that for its Blogger software just as it does it for this software?  Hmmm... the world is of course a mystery after all...

Whooopss... something seems to not be working so well with the copy pasting and formats from google docs... pictures are not going in right, and font is off at spots... I wrote this post in less than an hour, and its been another hour plus just to get it into blogger with pics... wasted time... and now I'm late...

More Communications

So I spent a moment yesterday in 'The Mall" (Poughkeepsie Galleria), no not reliving junior high glory days, but looking into some communication options.  I went to the AT&T booth and hung out with Jesse and Kevin (hoping I got the names right - not my strength!).  They were great, and with lots of good information and interest in my trek.  I went to AT&T because that's who I use right now and also because they use sim cards/the types of phones I could use abroad.

Their solution - which seemed pretty ideal - was the i phone.  I can basically do everything I want to do with it from wireless keyboard to messaging to email and blog posting, pictures, video, etc.  All seems quite simple.  And I could get the old one for $99 or the new one for $199, if I go onto my parents plan (I'm currently on the pay as you go/highway robbery plan).  I would have to change my current number though, but wouldn't pay anything more than I am now to be on their plan, and my communications issue would be solved for about $130 plus tax (keyboard and phone), or $230.  the newer phone has a better camera and a flash, unfortunately possibly both needed and worth the extra layout.   I had been budgeting about 200 each for phone and netbook (at a possible family discount), and was pretty aware that was an incredibly optimistic estimate.

So it seems ideal, BUT, can the i phone work in Sierra Leone?  They were saying that it requires a data package, but what is the service there like?  The country has plenty of mobile phone service, but how advanced is that specific service?  Would an i phone work on it and to what extent of coverage?  The one company Zain offers Blackberry Enterprise services, but I didn't see anything about an i phone.  Another service, Africell has a pretty poor web page and I didn't get far.  Comium markets mobile internet (using GPRS), but still no word on the i phone.  I'll have to contact them and see where that gets me.  But it still is encouraging that I should be able to get the keyboard and simply use the internet over the phone for all my needs.  It may have to be with a blackberry though or something like that, but we shall see.  What I had hear about blackberries was that they were not great for international stuff.  Maybe I was wrong...  ;)