International Travel with Your Laptop

120 volts, 60 cycles, is a standard (household) voltage and frequency for the US, but the rest of the world uses different voltages, frequencies, and most important, even different plugs. For example, most of Europe uses 220-240v, 50 cycle power. What to do with your laptop? The good news is that most laptops already have a multi-voltage power supply that can handle the different world voltages and frequencies automatically. What you WILL need is an adapter to allow your US-standard plug to mate with the various different socket configurations in other parts of the world. You'll generally be able to pick up an "adapter kit" consisting of several different styles of adapters for not much money. You don't need the more expensive kits that include transformers for (in most all cases) stepping down the higher voltages to the standard 120v (actually, it's 117v) household voltage. Do read your laptop's instruction manual. You may have to change a switch setting before plugging in.

Can They Do That?

We've all had the experience. You're out shopping, dining, or having that quick lunch, and you present your charge card to the merchant for payment. THEN they inform you that if you want to use your credit card, you have to pay a "service fee," often up to 3%, and/or you have to charge a minimum amount. Both of these practices are forbidden by the VISA/MasterCard merchant agreement. Some merchants attempt this blatant rule violation in an effort to recover more of the fees they themselves are charged by the card companies. Sure, some mom-and-pop stores may be unaware of the rules, but you can bet the larger stores and chains are very much aware of the rules. You'll rarely have a problem there, but it does happen, generally with franchises. What to do? Gently inform the merchant they're violating the rules. This will generally result in your being charged for only your proper cost. To report any instances of this transgression, call VISA at 800-847-2911. For MasterCard, call the 800 number on the back of your card.

Got Glitches? Get a Tech!

Computer manufacturers are also caught up in the current "recession-that's-not-a-recession," and one of the first things to go is their technical help options for the consumer. Fewer incoming phone lines, reduced hours of operation, longer hold times, less-experienced techs, shorter "free support" time, and even the imposition of fees and/or non-toll-free numbers, etc. And with all the stuff we photographers attempt to connect to our computers, like digital cameras, flatbed and film scanners, network cards, CD-RW and DVD drives, tape backup systems, photo printers, etc., it's often a wonder the whole system works as well and as often as it does (I know it's no consolation, but it happens to me, too). But for those times when it doesn't (and it's always just before deadline), the computer manufacturer is often the first we go to, and is often of little help, since the real problem is getting one piece of equipment to work with another. (Ever try to fix an AOL problem? The computer manufacturer says it's an AOL issue, and AOL says it's not their software that's at fault.) So it's no surprise that some entrepreneurs have come to the front lines. While we can't recommend any, here are a few choices for you PC users. If you use any, let us know how it went (don't let the outlandish names bother you...). www.speakwithageek.com (also offers Mac help); www.tech24inc.com; www.askdrtech.com; www.supportfreaks.com; www.liverepair.com.