HawthorneVillager.com

I'm one of those luddites that doesn't own a cellphone, but work would like to have a way to stay in touch with me for emergencies while I'm on holidays. My thought is that I would specifically like to rent some kind of smartphone that can also connect via Remote Desktop so I can just fix any problems from where I am without interrupting my vacation too much. I tried googling it and there are hundreds of companies, without too many reviews that I could find.

Has anyone used such a service before that they could recommend?

How often are you in the States?? A good option is a prepaid phone..you can buy a very cheap one at T-Mobile or Verizon, and then buy the cheap-o minute cards as you need them from most gas stations (cheaper there then in the store)

But that would be about a $50 or so (maybe not even) investment for the phone....not sure how often you are there or need it.

Jessica

One vacation every two-three years, usually only one week but I got them to bend their "no more than one week off in a row" policy for a special trip.

Would one of the $50 prepaid phones be able to run remote desktop? I have to admit I don't pay any attention to them, but assumed one capable of that (I know iphone, windows phone, and android phones can for sure, maybe some blackberries too) would be a higher end model that would cost a lot more... if it's only $50 for that kind of phone then definately it's worth it, since rental rates look to be at least $20/week anyway.

No they won't. Those phones are basic cheap phones, they won't have the features you want...

I don't know if you'll find a phone for rent... lol

You are best to find a pay as you go Data plan with a Blackberry; And tether your laptop to the internet. Then you can VPN, or use a program like gotomypc and just remote into the desktop of your choice.

The iPhone and iPad also have apps that allow you to remote to your desktop, but again you'll never find one to rent.


on a side note... using a Canadian carrier cellphone data in the States is TERRIBLY expensive. You might want to run to Buffalo and see if you can get a pay as you go data plan and pick up a cheap BB.

that is all i can think of.

Edit...

Look into the Rogers rocket stick for your laptop... they might have US data plans.

_________________
Pain is Temporary Pride is forever

I was trying to avoid the laptop... I'm going to Disney World with lots of family, including young kids, so the last thing I need is to cart a laptop around with me for two weeks just in case I'm needed... but on the flipside, if I do get the call, I don't want to have to leave the crew and head back to the hotel to deal with it.

I may just give up and tell them I'm taking nothing and they can leave a message at the room if they need something, and the soonest they'll hear back is the next morning. My last week off I made a lot of preperations, including borrowing a cellphone, and they didn't need me once.

It's not practical since the emergencies tend to be things like "Who was that guy we talked to about that thing a couple years ago?" or "Can you forward me another copy of that email you sent me a week ago and now I can't find?".

Haha, that reminds me of my very first vacation when I worked for a sister company to the one I'm working at now. This was way back before cellphones were reasonable and 386's were the big thing. I call in to the office and one of the ladies there has a problem.

"My monitor is blank", she says. I ask all the questions I can think of to trouble shoot the problem from my end. Is the light on the front of it? (Yes). Is the cable from the monitor to the box plugged in tightly? (Yes) Is there any smell of smoke or burning? (No). Finally, I realize I'm talking with an older lady who knows nothing about computers.

"Press any key on your keyboard", I say. "Oh, it's back on now, thanks!".

I "forgot" to call in for the rest of that vacation after that