07/11/2006

Technology takes a vacation

More people taking computers with them for camping and other trips

By
Record-Eagle staff writer

Record-Eagle photo illustration/Tyler Sipe
Campers bring more than cook stoves when they head into the great outdoors these days. They now bring laptops to watch movies and even use wireless Internet that is accessible at sites like Traverse City State Park, where Rochester native Bryan Culver, 12, was camping with parents Dale and Sandy Culver last week. The family brought a computer to catch up on e-mails and register for a marathon online.

TRAVERSE CITY — There's a new piece of camping gear making the scene in state parks.

Along with the camp stoves and flip-flops, many people are bringing their laptops.

"I just check in with work once in a while," said Jim Mossner, a facilities engineer and Frankenmuth resident who was a recent visitor at Traverse City State Park. The park began offering wireless Internet service, or wi-fi, this year.

As select state parks are added to an ever-increasing number of hotels and motels and other businesses offering the service, people are bringing their portable computers along to keep up with their e-mail, monitor their checking accounts, check the weather, make campground and motel reservations, and look for miniature golf courses and other tourist attractions.

Mossner doesn't mind keeping up with his work while on vacation, and said he uses it for personal tasks, too.

"I like it," he said. "I use it for checking weather conditions and any information you might need."

The signal is spotty and he sometimes has to leave his campsite to use his laptop.

"I wish the signal was stronger so I could use it right in our camper," he said.

The parks are joining the many hotels and motels that also offer the service. The Best Western Four Seasons in Traverse City has had wireless Internet for about 1.5 years in its main building and is looking to expand it to other buildings. It does not charge an extra fee for the service, assistant general manager Russ Cole said.

"Pretty much everybody now has it, even mom-and-pops," he said.

Shane Crawford, owner of the Mancelona Motel, said he doesn't have it and hasn't had customers demanding it.

"Most of the people here just come to go to the lakes and stuff," he said. "It's more of a destination to do stuff than sit around in the motel."

Some people take their computers on vacation "just in case," while others depend on them heavily.

Rob Semak and Angelina Roberts of Belleville, staying at the state park, took a laptop while camping in a tent at the state park so they could watch DVDs if it rained. They had also hoped to check their e-mail or listen to online music. But when they got to the park, they found that there is a fee for the service and decided not to use it.

"It's been nice out so we decided to hang out by the fire," Semak said.

Mark Kreuzer of Dallas, Texas, on the other hand, has a computer mount installed in his Volkswagen camper van next to the steering wheel.

The former owner of a technology firm uses the computer to hook up to a Global Positioning System while he's driving. The system gives him directions, even telling him when he's approaching an intersection.

He also uses it to keep an eye on the van's engine during his 8,000-mile, summer-long trek around the country. And he listens to music and even uses the laptop to find out where else he can find wireless Internet access.

"You almost can't get away from it," he said.