Keeping in touch in Korea

[pplwatching]

My wife is taking the kiddos to Korea for a little over 5 weeks. I would like to stay in touch as much as possible. I don't want her to have to lug around a lot of stuff, but she wants to take my laptop along with her iPod touch.

I am told that there's really good Internet infrastructure there. Does anyone have experience with Internet Cafes in Korea? Do they typically have video and microphones for a video chat?

Anyone have experience using an iPod with Skype or other 'phone' software? Can it's camera do video? I am in the process of installing stuff now, but have very little experience with an iPod. Hopefully she can take just it, and not have to worry about keeping track of a laptop.

Suggestions are much appreciated!

 

[SweetErika]

I can't really answer your specific questions, but I do think she should take the laptop. It's one more thing to carry, but it'll give her a lot of flexibility, even in terms of being able to upload photos she's taken as well as communicating with you.

It doesn't look like she can use her Touch as a webcam, but if your laptop has a webcam, you can communicate easily with her and the kidlets via Skype. If not, you can get her an inexpensive webcam (I'm pretty sure they all have microphones now) and set it up before she goes. My husband and I use Skype w/ webcams a lot when he's on the road, even though we talk on the phone several times a day. It's good to be able to see your loved ones, you know?

I'm not sure what the wifi situation is in Korea, but if she has access to an open network, she won't have to bother herself with an internet cafe if she takes the laptop.

Hopefully someone else will be along shortly to answer your questions on infrastructure and such.

 

[pplwatching]

Thanks Erika. She decided to take the laptop, but having done the road warrior gig myself for many years I can't see why she wants the hassle. I guess I'm just more jaded about keeping track of it. I went ahead and removed all of our personal data and such in case it gets stolen.

I hope things are working out for you guys.

 

[SweetErika]

Thanks Erika. She decided to take the laptop, but having done the road warrior gig myself for many years I can't see why she wants the hassle. I guess I'm just more jaded about keeping track of it. I went ahead and removed all of our personal data and such in case it gets stolen.

I hope things are working out for you guys.

Does she have a backpack with a laptop compartment? That might be a good way for her to tote it around without advertising she's carrying something valuable.

On the bright sides, the crime rate in Korea is extremely low and now you can probably look forward to chatting more and webcamming with her and the kids.

The situation is a tiny bit better. He read the thread and understands where I'm at more, I think. Hopefully we'll go spend a week or so with him starting Wednesday, and I'm guessing it'll help just to sleep in the same bed for more than a night here and there.

 

[peachykeen]

I live in China, but I am here in the US for the summer with my daughter. I keep in touch with my husband (who is still in Shanghai) via Skype. Sometimes the connection is a bit slow and occasionally we get cut off, but some of that may be due to, erm, China-internet-control related issues. Usually though the connection is very clear and very fast. I am sure your wife will find many cafes and such with free wi-fi, there really shouldn't be too much of a problem.

 

[SweetErika]

I live in China, but I am here in the US for the summer with my daughter. I keep in touch with my husband (who is still in Shanghai) via Skype. Sometimes the connection is a bit slow and occasionally we get cut off, but some of that may be due to, erm, China-internet-control related issues. Usually though the connection is very clear and very fast. I am sure your wife will find many cafes and such with free wi-fi, there really shouldn't be too much of a problem.

FWIW, we had the same problems with Skype when my husband was in California. Thinking back, we had a better connection when we chatted when he was in China, so I'm guessing it's the way bandwidth throttles up and down here. We've noticed more issues during peak usage times and when one or both of us is downloading something.