Time names Apple MacBook, iPod touch among best travel gadgets

The astronomical cost of roaming data makes the iPhone (and any other smart phone for that matter) no better than an iPod touch and a freebie Wi-Fi hotspot. I love my iPhone but I daren't even consider turning on data roaming while abroad for fear I'll have to re mortgage when I see my phone bill.

It's a real shame too, because using Google Maps with the compass is so handy in a new city.

In order for the iPhone to rise to the next level of usability for me it needs to have the ability to use a bluetooth keyboard. Then real work can get done!

Dave,

If you don't mind me asking, what do you do for a living that requires you to travel frequently? I've always been curious why many business people travel a lot, but the only thing that I could come up with was settling contracts or attending seminars.

Thanks,
VJ

It would feel awkward to nominate iPhone because so much has been done deliberately to reduce its (foreign) travel worthiness. Operator locks, SIM card impossible to extract without tools. For years, bandwidth-hogging Google Maps were the only navigation option, practically useless without connection.

Most apps (like Evernote) still largely depend on being always online without fundamental need for it to be so. Reason? Intentionally crippled syncing capabilities of iTunes.

Well, and reading books from iPhone sucks compared to higher resolution WinMobile devices.

That being said, iPhone is still good value for travels - just annoying like hell that a few choices stopped it from being excellent.

No kindle. ;-)

TIME is a far left cesspool. Who cares what Obama loving scum think?

'Partners with CNN'

Hmm....

iphone is excluded because it's tied to AT&T, and the combo is a total piece of shit.

The Droid is Verizon. End. Of. Story.

Also nothing like lugging around a laptop and inviting thieves to stealz your shit.