Web communication from Australia - suggestions please

[elsiegee40]

Seems likely that Mr gee will be despatched to Sydney by his employer in the next few days and be out there for 6 months with occasional visits home.

 

Company laptop and blackberry have webcams disabled and have all useful websites blocked.

 

What would you suggest we look at getting so that he can use skype or similar and maintain contact with us while he's enjoying the sunshine? Laptop? Mobile?...

 

Please bear in mind that Mr gee has zero technical competance, so if he ends up getting it in Oz, he's going to have to set it up himself!

[jdoyle]

get one of the cheap telephone tariffs and phone him regularly (make sure you pay no heed to the time differences ;-) ). Oz often has cheap deals for ringing the UK so get him to look out for them but might be more difficult if he's hotel based.

 

Try and persuade his employers that it would be far more efficient and cost effective for them to leave him there and fly you out to see him rather than allowing him home visits.

[p858snake]

I would recommend just a cheap netbook (or laptop depending on preferences) and grab a webcam then a portable broadband dongle (most major phone companies offer these, eg: Telstra, optus, vodaphone, 3, i know the first two do prepaid versions but i'm not sure on the rest).

[elsiegee40]

get one of the cheap telephone tariffs and phone him regularly (make sure you pay no heed to the time differences ;-) ). Oz often has cheap deals for ringing the UK so get him to look out for them but might be more difficult if he's hotel based.

 

Try and persuade his employers that it would be far more efficient and cost effective for them to leave him there and fly you out to see him rather than allowing him home visits.

 

Unfortunately one teenager has GCSE modules in November and early January and the other has AS modules with similar timings, making trips out there not sensible until Easter. In theory Mr gee should be home by then, but dates might slip!

 

I would recommend just a cheap netbook (or laptop depending on preferences) and grab a webcam then a portable broadband dongle (most major phone companies offer these, eg: Telstra, optus, vodaphone, 3, i know the first two do prepaid versions but i'm not sure on the rest).

 

It's useful know the names of the aussie broadband proviers... we'll have to do some internet research on which he should get when he gets there.

[p858snake]

Where is he staying whilst he is here? renting a place?

[bossman]

@elsiegee40:

 

Take six months leave of absence and go with him, I am sure you would enjoy being there with him in Aussie land.

[laserblazer]

Why not send rabbieburns a PM? He's bound to know what's available.

[elsiegee40]

[

@elsiegee40:

 

Take six months leave of absence and go with him, I am sure you would enjoy being there with him in Aussie land.

 

I refer you to my earlier answer

 

Unfortunately one teenager has GCSE modules in November and early January and the other has AS modules with similar timings, making trips out there not sensible until Easter. In theory Mr gee should be home by then, but dates might slip!

 

 

 

Where is he staying whilst he is here? renting a place?

 

Initially he'll be hotel based as he'll be travelling back and forward to Hong Kong, but they have promised a serviced appartment.

[mac_shinobi]

Wish I knew a company who did tickets out there at a decent price during the summer time or near the summer time.

[FN-GM]

If yout go to the aussie post office they can provide a phone card. It will allow you to call the UK for next to nothing on a normal phone.

 

I will happen to be in Sydney in a few months. I could nip in and sort him out

[plexer]

Get one of these for him:

 

Mobile Telepresence | Lifesize Passport

 

Ben

[mikeruelles]

Seems likely that Mr gee will be despatched to Sydney by his employer in the next few days and be out there for 6 months with occasional visits home.

 

Company laptop and blackberry have webcams disabled and have all useful websites blocked.

 

What would you suggest we look at getting so that he can use skype or similar and maintain contact with us while he's enjoying the sunshine? Laptop? Mobile?...

 

Please bear in mind that Mr gee has zero technical competance, so if he ends up getting it in Oz, he's going to have to set it up himself!

 

Well, the most basic communication is e-mail. Other possible method of communication via the web are IM or VoIP.

[jamesb]

I would recommend just a cheap netbook (or laptop depending on preferences) and grab a webcam then a portable broadband dongle (most major phone companies offer these, eg: Telstra, optus, vodaphone, 3, i know the first two do prepaid versions but i'm not sure on the rest).

 

Many cheap netbooks actually come with a webcam built in, as well as skype pre-installed, so that'd probably be the best option. Lets him carry it easily (the smaller ones will fit relatively comfortably in a coat pocket). Throw in a budget headset for if he wants to call you while out and about, and again as p858snake said a broadband dongle, and you should be fine.

 

The MSI Wind seems to be one of the cheapest, comes with a webcam built in and a decent battery life.

[p858snake]

Many cheap netbooks actually come with a webcam built in, as well as skype pre-installed, so that'd probably be the best option. Lets him carry it easily (the smaller ones will fit relatively comfortably in a coat pocket). Throw in a budget headset for if he wants to call you while out and about, and again as p858snake said a broadband dongle, and you should be fine.

 

The MSI Wind seems to be one of the cheapest, comes with a webcam built in and a decent battery life.

From experience I've found on some built in the res was pretty shocking but others might of had other experience.