Forums | MacLife

Mercury52 · 2009-07-07 4:25 pm

My dad just arrived in Italy for a little vacation, and writes back that he's having some technology issues. He's on a 15" Unibody MBP that he got back in February.

First off is power. He's using a US to Euro power adapter, but his MBP isn't charging when plugged in. Might this have to do with the fact that he's connecting a grounded US 3-prong plug into a 2-prong Euro adapter? Should he try to get a different adapter over there?

Second is Internet connectivity. He says he's able to access a Wifi signal and get a decent strength, but he's not able to log into any websites, or get past the Italian ISP home page, despite having the proper password. Not sure what to do there.

In the meantime, he has access to a hotel computer when/if he really needs it, and he'll be bouncing from one city to another, so hopefully these problems might only be localized to the current city.

Anyone out there done some European traveling with an American MBP that can offer any advice?

Thanks!

Last edited by Mercury52 (2009-07-07 4:26 pm)

sturner · 2009-07-07 5:11 pm

He should get some help from the Italian ISP if he's having conneciton problems with a proper password.

I have no idea about the adaptor. It should be charging. Is the power adapter simply a plug form adaptor, or is it actually a power convertor. He needs a power convertor.

dv · 2009-07-07 8:03 pm

sturner wrote:
He should get some help from the Italian ISP if he's having conneciton problems with a proper password.

I have no idea about the adaptor. It should be charging. Is the power adapter simply a plug form adaptor, or is it actually a power convertor. He needs a power convertor.

He shouldn't need a converter - most modern laptop adapters automatically switch between 110/220 as needed.

Robert B Technician · 2009-07-07 10:33 pm

Correct that he doesn't need a power converter. I bet the adapter is just not making a good connection in the socket (I've had issues like that, had to put play with it a little, try different sockets, etc). He may want to try another adapter. If he is going to be traveling for a while it may be a good idea to pick up one of these:

http://www.myservice.com/blog/2009/06/a … e-a-local/

As for internet, the ISP should be able to help. Also a lot McDonalds have free wifi so it may be worth a trip (and an Il Big Mac)

http://www.mcdonalds.it/#/op-special-wifi/

Mercury52 · 2009-07-08 9:13 am

Thanks for the tips.

He got some relatively inexpensive plug adapters, so maybe they're the culprit. It was hard for me to get a lot of info from him due to the time difference, and the fact that he wasn't online too long. We only exchanged a couple of emails. I did suggest trying a different adapter and outlet, which I imagine he's tried since we last spoke.

I'll send your tips along to him. He'll only be there for 2 weeks, and is hitting about 4 different cities. Since most of his time will be spent seeing the sights, if his only online access for the next few weeks is via hotel computers, McDonalds, Internet cafes, etc, he should be fine. Web access is only being used for a bit of personal email, and for searching for interesting local things to do. I know he'd prefer to do it at night in his hotel (who wouldn't?) but he still has the means to get web access if he really needs it. And these problems might go away once he moves on to the next town.

Forums | MacLife

#1 2009-07-07 4:25 pm

MBP International Use

#2 2009-07-07 5:11 pm

Re: MBP International Use

#3 2009-07-07 8:03 pm

Re: MBP International Use

sturner wrote:

#4 2009-07-07 10:33 pm

Re: MBP International Use

#5 2009-07-08 9:13 am

Re: MBP International Use

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