Laptop In Madrid

[mlazenby]

I'm wondering how useful a laptop would be in Madrid.  Around Atlanta, it's pretty easy to find a Wifi hotspot or plug in just about anywhere, but I'm a little concerned about over there.  I think it would be ideal for lesson planning(I'm going to teach english) and emails since I wouldn't have access to my school's computers 24/7.  Does anybody have any thoughts about this?  Me digas algun consejo, por favor.

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[tonytorero]

Hi there mlazanby. Personally, I'm a big proponent of taking a laptop with you when you travel anywhere internationally. For one, laptops are made for travel so you don't need to buy a voltage transformer to use it abroad. The only thing you'll need is a plug adaptor and those are pretty inexpensive.

Wi-fi hotspots in Spain may be just a tad behind the US still but they're cropping up more and more. If you're in the know, of course, you could set your own up there. The equipment to do this is pretty economical. You just need an internet connection. Standard internet connection in Spain is achieved via ADSL as opposed to the US's more prevalent Cable Internet connections. ADSL is a bit slower but arguably a bit more secure. Anyway, both beat the heck out of dial-ups. That's for sure.

Hope that helps. Please let us know how things turn out for you.

Happy  :nybaby: !!

 :nydance:  

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[RebeccaG]

Hello mlazenby! Welcome to our forum!

I agree with Tony about the indispensiblity of a laptop computer. Just for English teaching alone it has so many uses. In fact, I started THIS THREAD a while back soliciting input from other teachers out there. You might want to take a look at it. If you are going to be teaching English, I highly recommend that you bring a laptop computer. If you are lucky enough, the flat that you will be living in will have an internet connection. Many consulting agencies and academies do not give you materials to use, or very minimal resources, so there is always a wealth of information available on the internet to enhance your teaching. Better to have your own computer than to wait in line at an internet café (locutorio) and pay high prices, or hope that the place that you work for has one.

There are various places throughout Madrid that offer free WIFI connections.  Check out this discussion thread for a list of free places in Madrid.  There are also several cheap internet cafés in the center of Madrid if you happen to live in that area.

I firmly believe that an internet connection for expats in this day and age is an absolute must have. I keep in contact with my friends and family around the world through the internet and it sure as heck saves on the phone bills!

Even better, if your laptop has a DVD or CD recorder it's a great way to organize your teaching materials and have a permanent record of your lesson plans that you can recycle with your different clients.

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[Iron Jeff]

I will jump on the pro-laptop bandwagon.  I love having my powerbook here, it's a serious lifeline.  Now, a PRINTER... that would be something.  (Seriously).  

Also, a tip: if you're looking for a two-pronged european adapter (in madrid at least), and NOT a converter (you don't need a converter, more than likely, your laptop's ac will do it for you), probably the only place to find one that actually fits is El Rastro, where they sell them for €1.50.  I looked all over the city, and finally, this guy at FNAC confessed that's where he gets his.  Now, everytime an American lands in Madrid, I take them to buy a handful of adapters.

Good luck,
Jeff

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