going digital

[trg7]

I've succombed to technology and broke down and bought a digital camera, an Ipod, and will be carrying an international cell phone with me through Europe and Asia for the next 6 months. Obviously, there are advantages to this hightech gadgets, but what about all these damn wires I have to bring to recharge everything!!! Help! any suggestions on how to cut down on carrying all these usb cables and recharging stuff? All 3 have different size cables and battery packs for recharging, and recharging these things in a hostel , where it takes 4-6 hours to do recharge... do I just sit there next to it by the socket at the hostel to protect my equipment?? can I let it recharge while I'm out and about?

how do you handle this issue???
thanks!

[TheJake]

I always try to find a bed next to a socket and let em charge while I sleep. I haven't had a problem with it yet.... knock on wood

[lemlern]

ARG! I feel you about all those cords. I have one for my digital camera, one for my Ipod, and of course one for my phone as well. Most of these gadgets use a data cable where one end is a standard plug in and the other end is a little tiny plug much like a USB 2.0 only smaller (my blackberry and i think my camera, and possibly an Ipod, though I havent tried using my other cord with mine yet, all use this). You might be able to skate by with buying this one cord (hopefully retractable) to use with everything. They need to make everything universal! Half my carry on bag is filled with my cords.

Twist ties help keep the cords untangled as well.

[aliz]

its good to buy a spare battery for your camera if you can, that takes the pressure out of having to charge it urgently. i was surprised how easy it was to charge things in europe actually. a lot of trains have powerpoints, usually one between four seats, and long trips are a perfect time to charge stuff so keep your chargers where you can easily reach them if you have an opportunity to use them on a train. some hostels have a powerpoint by each bed so you can charge stuff while you sleep, as jake said. when oh when will a hostel owner get the idea to have powerpoints in the lockers?

oh and also if you've got a long wait in an airport, train station etc, go hunting and look for a powerpoint. there'll always be one somewhere because cleaners need to plug in their vacuum cleaners! when you find one, plug your stuff in and set up camp next to it. i spent a night leaning against the wall near the travelators at heathrow charging my iPod for the trip home the next morning!