Kindles/technology and travel?

[confuseddotcodotuk]

I'm going travelling in 2012 and am starting to look at everything now for convinience.

I would really like an e-reader, preferably a Kindle as Amazon seem to do some of the cheapest e-books on the market atm (and if not, software to convert files to Kindle formats is everywhere) but I'm really worried about damaging it.

If I were going on a relatively short trip I wouldn't mind as much, but I'm planning to be away for years, quite literally, and would rely on this piece of technology for all of my guidebooks and leisure reading.

Are they of good enough quality that I could take it travelling for prolonged periods?

Also, I'd like to get a netbook before I go as well. Any recommendations on good quality but relatively cheap ones?
Same again for cameras.

It worries me how much I'll be depending on technology whilst travelling!

I would think if you got one of the good quality covers available you should be OK. Mine seems quite robust when it's in its cover.

So a nice but very robust cover? The other thing I'm worried about is putting it or a netbook in my backpack before a flight/coach ride and forgetting so therefore it'd get damaged! It's a very me thing to do

My Kindle has spent the last 18 months being slung in my handbag and hauled round the world, and has not had a single problem. It has no moving parts so is v robust really.

If you download the Kindle apps for pc and whatever smartphone, you'll have all your books there too

I don't own a smartphone! But will definately be downloading software for my netbook when I buy that. (I have a laptop now, not the best in terms of usage and size though!)

The 3G is what attracts me to the kindle more, so I can get books or Lonely Planet guides wherever I am, without having to worry about finding a hotspot for my laptop! Can you swap e books with other people as well? Or more likely transfer them from their device or PC to yours? I'm put off by the price of the LP guides in e-book format but I live by them!

I thought that if you brought the kindle with the 3G and wifi that you'd never have to pay for it? I assumed that was the point of it anyway? Though I know it's becoming more popular now...

Oo, I get you :) That'd be a pain in the arse if they did.

Kindle would be great. Get a good cover for it and it should be no problem. 3G definitely, as you don't want to have to search for wifi hotspot.

Think about a smartphone - it does not have to be an iPhone (although they are the dogs bollocks).

You can download the Kindle app on your iPhone and synchronise it with your Kindle. That way, should you have a technical problem, you are not without books.

You can also use Skype on iPhone, when you have wifi, so that would be handy.

If you do go for one, then I can highly highly recommend the Otterbox case.

My DH has this one and it is fab. The thick rubber lip on the front really protects the screen well. And it is not the top of the range one, the Defender is even more rugged.

Oh, look. They do a Kindle case too.

I did think about the smartphone thing, but I must admit that simple phones still hold their appeal to me, I was planning on getting an old Nokia actually, as they're virtually indestructable! I only want it for calling in emergencies anyway, and I'm also worried that a smart phone or relatively new model would have potential to get snatched. I want to look as worthless as possible, in a money sense!